Magnesium

Originally posted on  https://jakefood.com/2018/magnesium/.

Magnesium is produced in aging stars. When stars become supernovas and explode, magnesium is dispersed into space. And that’s the short story of how it ended up on Earth, particularly in the Greek district of Magnesia, where it was first found by man and got its name. It’s probably safe to say that magnesium came a long way to end up on your plate. Let’s have a look.

What is magnesium?

Magnesium is abundant in your body. It’s mostly in your bones and soft tissues, and it makes up about 25 grams of your weight. Only about 1% of the magnesium in your body is found in the blood, where its concentration levels are kept under tight control by the kidneys. They make sure that any excess amounts of magnesium in your blood are excreted. In case your magnesium consumption is low occasionally, your kidneys reduce magnesium excretion accordingly.

Health benefits of magnesium

As an important electrolyte, magnesium is crucial for maintaining the fluid balance in your body. It also assists the functioning of more than 300 enzymes. This makes magnesium a key part of protein and DNA synthesis, muscle and heart function, as well as blood pressure regulation.

The key functions of magnesium are:

• Structural development of bones: Together with calcium and phosphorus, magnesium is important for healthy, rigid bones.
• Production and release of energy within cells.
• Regulation of muscle and heart functions: Magnesium transports calcium and potassium across cell membranes. This process is important for the transmission of nerve impulses and the normal contraction of muscles, including the heart.
• DNA and RNA synthesis.
• Blood glucose and blood pressure regulation.

According to some studies, taking 100 mg of magnesium supplements per day next to your regular intake from food might help decrease the risk of stroke.However, most research to date has not controlled for the potential role of other nutrients in this effect. As a result, it’s not currently possible to determine the individual role of magnesium on stroke prevention…

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