So, where would our bodies be without the minerals considered essential not only for our survival, but for our quality of a healthy life us well? Look at it this way: you might be up a creek without a paddle, putting it lightly and metaphorically. The presence of essential minerals in our body – and we’re not talking silver and gold here (unfortunately?) – is crucial because our bodies cannot endure for the long haul without them.
Warning: your body does not manufacture essential minerals by its own devices. It depends on you to provide a consistent dose of magnesium through what you eat. That entails following a well-rounded, healthy diet. No skimping.
We have started this series looking at seven major essential minerals – calcium and chloride have already been covered – and then we’ll hop over and present a similar one-at-a-time study of trace minerals. By the time we have finished this series, you might be well on your way to earning the Mining merit badge
One facet about essential minerals important to note – although each can provides its own unique offering of health benefits, together they team up to provide assistance for an assortment of physiological processes. These can range from generating healthy bones and teeth to aiding in the viability of our nerves and muscles, while also converting ingested food into energy.
Magnesium as an Essential Mineral
In Part III of this relatively new series, we examine magnesium, extolling its various virtues as an indispensable contributor to our good health. If minerals wore hats, magnesium would need a hat rack to accommodate all the health benefits it imparts to your body. Start by considering this one valuable role that quantifies magnesium’s MVP (most valuable provider) candidacy for our bodily health: empowering healthy enzyme function, “Magnesium is involved in more than 300 different enzyme activities that help to regulate biochemical reactions in our body,” says Dr. Dana Habash-Bseiso, an internist affiliated with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Such activities can include regulating biochemical bodily reactions such as protein synthesis, control of blood-glucose levels, and maintenance of healthy blood pressure levels.
Some of the signs of a magnesium deficiency are muscle cramps and spasms, diarrhea or vomiting, lack of energy, sleeplessness, and heightened anxiety or depression.
Three More of Magnesium’s Health Benefits
Following in no particular order are three other possible health benefits often associated with this major essential mineral and its active role in helping us to stay healthy (provided we faithfully eat the right foods and consume the right liquids to keep our supply chain of magnesium running like clockwork):
- Bolster exercise performance. Magnesium can contribute to this by aiding in the transport of blood sugar into our muscles at the same time it expels fatigue-causing lactose that likely builds up through heightened physical activity such as running hills. Note: One study involving more than 2,700 female subjects found a link between boosting magnesium intake with an uptick in muscle mass and power.
- Assist in bone development. Without the proper abundance of magnesium in our bodies, healthy bone structure throughout would be a mess – even standing up straight with proper posture might be tricky. That’s because magnesium chips in considerably to bone formation as well as sustaining bone density as we age into our golden years, where weak bones and other issues can quickly take “golden” out of the equation.
- Curtail depression symptoms. Maybe, but no promises. Consider this, however: insufficient levels of magnesium in your body have been linked to a heightened chance of depression. Note, too, that being subject to stress for extended periods can deplete your supply of magnesium, ramping up your vulnerability to being afflicted with depression. Magnesium also plays an important role in brain function and mood.
Do yourself a favor and work hard to find the right foods in the right kind of diet to add to your plate while you strive to maintain proper levels of magnesium. Supplementation can help immensely in that process as well, but always be sure to discuss that with your personal physician or other health-care professional before adding any supplement, nutrient, or vitamin to your regimen.