Magnesium: The most overlooked Mineral

Magnesium: The most overlooked mineral 

You wouldn't think a mineral that is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body, is overlooked as often as this one is, but it is.

In the wellness space, Magnesium doesn't always receive the attention and the love that it deserves, but it is beyond crucial for our overall health and wellbeing.

Today we're diving into the importance of magnesium and why it deserves a little bit more love in our dietary lineup:

1. Muscle and Nerve Function

One of magnesium’s most critical roles is in the contraction and relaxation of muscles, including the heart muscle, highlighting its importance for heart health. It acts as a natural calcium blocker to help muscles relax. Without adequate magnesium, muscles can cramp and tense up, leading to physical discomfort and pain. This mineral also supports a healthy nervous system by regulating neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout the brain and body 🧠

 

2. Mental Health and Sleep Quality

Magnesium’s benefits extend to the realm of mental health, where it plays a role in combating stress and anxiety. It helps regulate the body’s stress-response system, and studies suggest that adequate levels of magnesium can enhance sleep quality by promoting relaxation and regulating the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for guiding our sleep-wake cycles 💤

 

3. Bone Health

While calcium and vitamin D usually get most of the credit for maintaining bone health, magnesium is the unsung hero supporting their efforts. It contributes to the physical structure of bones and is essential for the metabolism of vitamin D, which in turn, helps absorb calcium more effectively 💪🏼

 

4. Heart Health and Blood Pressure

Magnesium’s ability to relax blood vessels is also beneficial for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels - a key factor in cardiovascular health! By assisting in the transport of calcium and potassium into cells, magnesium helps influence heart rhythm and supports overall heart function. 🫀

 

5. Incorporating Magnesium into Your Diet

Fortunately, magnesium is abundantly available in a variety of foods (and supplements), making it relatively easy to incorporate into your diet. Leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes are rich in magnesium, and so are our beautiful cacao products. Small changes, like switching your chocolate treat for a warm mug of cacao can significantly boost your magnesium intake 🍫
In-fact one serving of cacao per day contains 78mg of magnesium which is approximately 22% of your daily recommended daily intake (RDI).

 

6. Listening to Your Body

Our bodies have a gentle way of signalling when something is amiss, and magnesium deficiency is no exception. Symptoms like muscle cramps, fatigue, and irregular heart rhythms can all indicate a need for more magnesium. Cravings for specific foods could be an indication of a deficiency in a micro or macro nutrient. In particular, a craving for chocolate could highlight a magnesium deficiency (even more of a reason to drink cacao 😉).

If you experience these symptoms, it might be time to evaluate your diet and consider whether you’re getting enough of this crucial mineral 🤎

 

In embracing the importance of magnesium, we are not only supporting our body’s immediate needs, but we are also investing into our long-term health and wellbeing.
It may not always be the star of the show, but its need for over 300 enzymatic processes in the body means it certainly deserves more love than it gets.

 

Let’s give this powerhouse nutrient the appreciation it deserves and ensure that we are reaching our recommended daily intake of magnesium for a healthier and happier life 🥰