A mineral that helps the cells in our body to function properly, magnesium offers multiple benefits to the human body.
Magnesium assists the body in processing protein, helps with bone formation, reduces bone loss, improves muscle function, and regulates our body temperature and blood pressure.
But with the use of commercial pesticides and fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, the magnesium in our foods is more poorly absorbed and our vegetables have become nutritionally unbalanced. Modern farming techniques have slowly depleted the soil of necessary nutrients. Therefore, many Americans do not obtain enough magnesium from their daily diets of fruits, grains, and vegetables.
If we have enough amounts of magnesium in our body, we are healthier; if not, we increase our risk of developing illnesses and reducing our life expectancy. A recent meta-analysis of one million people from 40 studies revealed that increasing magnesium intake by 100 mg per day reduced the risk for the following illnesses (and mortality in general).
Type 2 Diabetes
According to the American Diabetes Association, 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. Diabetes remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States as of 2015, with 79,535 death certificates listing it as the underlying cause of death, and a total of 252,806 death certificates listing diabetes as an underlying or contributing cause of death.
In a 2015 study published in the journal Diabetes Metabolism, 116 patients aged 30-65 with prediabetes and low magnesium were given 325 mg of magnesium for four months. In all recipients, fasting glucose, post-meal glucose, and triglycerides were all significantly reduced.
Overall, an increase in magnesium correlated to a 19 percent reduction in the risk for Type 2 diabetes.
Pancreatic Cancer
The correlation between insulin, glucose (sugar), and diabetes are all related to how the pancreas functions or does not function. A weakened or diseased pancreas will lead to diabetes. The research finds that insulin production depends on adequate amounts of magnesium in the body. If there is too much insulin in the body because the pancreas is sick, urinary magnesium is excreted from the kidneys, and not enough magnesium is distributed to the rest of the body. This cycle then can lead to pancreatic cancer or diabetes.
For more information, visit your local vitamin or health food store to discuss which magnesium supplement is right for you.
