The Importance of Magnesium
By Dr. Janine Lex

April 2007

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is alarmingly prevalent yet most easily remedied deficiencies in the American diet by Paul Mason in his report in Life Extension magazine. Magnesium deficiency has reportedly caused Eight Million sudden coronary deaths in America during the period 1940-1994, based on census data and studies of similar deaths from magnesium deficiency conducted in Canada, Great Britain, Finland, and India. Fatal Chronic
magnesium deficiency shows few recognized symptoms until cardiac arrhythmia occurs. Fortunately, magnesium is known for correcting arrhythmia, decreasing spasm and pain, improving exercise endurance and lowering blood pressure. It also reduces cardiac mortality. Magnesium deficiency may cause migraine and premenstrual syndrome. This deficiency has become evident over the years to many physicians working with pain patients and the chronically ill.

Almost 70% of the American population today consumes less than the RDI (recommended daily intake) of Magnesium, about 300 mg daily. The RDI is considered a minimum and as many of you know that amount will not support living fully nor keep you physiologically turned on!!

Per NIH’s (National Institute of Health) website:
“Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. There is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.”

In June 2005, an article published in the Journal of American Collative Nutrition states a connection between magnesium (Mg) deficiency and CRP (C-reactive protein). CRP is a measurement of inflammatory response in the body and is related to heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and other age related disorders.

NIH is recurrently funding research after paramedics in LA found that administering Mg to stroke victims reduced brain damage significantly. (I nearly had a stroke reading that. Let me take my Mg now, before I forget.)

I think I experienced such strong and violent reaction to this news because for years, I have been “saving” women from Mg deficiency induced by the media. Also well meaning, but under-informed physicians dose patients with calcium without counter-balancing with the biologically necessary Mg. Usually these people experience muscle spasm of a particular nature and constipation. The pain clinic where I studied acupuncture
was particularly conscious of Mg intake for their patients as one of the MD’s there had found that nearly all of her patients receiving Mg responded better to care. Mg, I knew was important but now its evident that it is vital.

Foods high in Mg include any food with lots of chlorophyll. (That means leafy green vegetables.) The difference between a hemoglobin molecule and a chlorophyll molecule is the center element. Hemoglobin has iron and chlorophyll has magnesium. Natural water sources are often high in Mg. Hard water contains more Mg than soft. So the bottom line is taking Mg daily even if you are eating well. I suggest 500mg per day. You will be amazed at the difference it can make. If you drink bottled water check to see how much Mg is present…shop for the one with the most Mg. On my shelves, it is Evian.

In the best possible world, water will contain more minerals and we will all eat fantastic green veggies at every meal. Until then stay safe and healthy with supplementation.