Magnesium: Getting to the Heart of the Heart

Did you know magnesium is used in many enzymatic reactions, and it’s necessary for normal muscle function? Unfortunately for many people, they’re seriously low in this mineral. It is estimated that 70-80% of the American population is deficient in magnesium.

Since magnesium is vital for muscle function, let’s look at its role in the most important muscle of all, the heart. There are many heart ailments that can be possibly optimized with improving magnesium levels in the body such as those who suffer with congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, chest pain, high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, heart attack and even sudden cardiac death. As you can see these are very serious. Also, do you notice that with each of these heart ailments there are scores of medications being given to help people to bring these conditions under control? Why are we ignoring the importance of magnesium?
​
Let’s look at what depletes magnesium from the body and why we are seeing a rise in these heart conditions.
 
Stress
If your stress level is chronic, then you are losing magnesium from your cells and into the urine. If you do not replenish your magnesium, overtime you will see ailments appear that will be easily corrected by supplementing with magnesium instead of drugs. Make sense?
 
Drug Depletion
Dr. Stephen Sinatra quoted a heart study that sheds some light on the importance of receiving optimal magnesium intake to help with cardiovascular problems.
“In a landmark study reported in the early 80s, men with high blood pressure on diuretic therapy had a higher death rate than those whose high blood pressure was left untreated.
It was suggested that many of these men suffered sudden cardiac death from heart rhythm disturbances resulting from a deficiency of magnesium and/or potassium. The study created chaos in the medical establishment, since treating hypertension was thought to reduce cardiovascular complications, including sudden cardiac death.
As a result of this study, many physicians now prescribe magnesium supplements and potassium to their patients who must take diuretics. Hydrochlorothiazide is the diuretic most likely to deplete magnesium and potassium levels; newer-generation drugs such as indapamide cause fewer problems.”
 
As you can see magnesium as well as potassium is important for heart health. A little trivia for you to share. Magnesium and potassium are needed for the regulation of the heartbeat and the amino acid Taurine needs to be present to move these minerals in and out of the heart for the heart to beat correctly. Taurine is an amino acid that helps to regulate nerve transmission. Both magnesium and potassium are part of the body’s electrical system so we need both at all times!
 
Magnesium-rich Foods
Foods rich in magnesium include whole grains, fish and seafood, leafy green vegetables, brown rice, bananas, apricots, seeds and nuts. The foods highest in magnesium include kelp, figs and pumpkin seeds. Eating these foods daily will help to prevent a magnesium deficiency. The average intake of magnesium is now around 110mg per day whereas a hundred years ago the daily intake was about 500mg. We need to be in the 500mg range again.
 
For myself, I use Natural Vitality’s Natural Calm magnesium supplement to ensure that I am receiving optimum levels of magnesium in my body every day. We all live in a fast paced world and I know everyone is not eating healthy foods as they should be. Supplementation is something we must embrace if we are to prevent nutrition-related diseases such as those in the cardiovascular category.