What is Magnesium Deficiency?
What is Magnesium Deficiency?
Magnesium plays an essential role in our bodies. It is involved in energy production, muscle function, nerve function, and even DNA replication. Low magnesium levels has been linked to depression and heart disease.
What Does It Mean To Be Deficient In Magnesium?
Having a magnesium deficiency means that you are not intaking enough magnesium through your diet. Here is the recommended magnesium intake developed by the Food and Nutrition Board:
Why Does Magnesium Deficiency Occur?
While magnesium deficiencies mostly occur from a diet lacking the sufficient amount of the mineral, you could also experience a deficiency due to certain medications, hospitalizations, type 2 diabetes, or pregnancy.
Symptoms
There are several signs to indicate that you may have a magnesium deficiency.
Early warning signs include:
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
In more severe cases, the symptoms include:
- Muscle cramps
- Seizures
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Palpitations
- Hypokalemia
- Hypocalcemia
- Migraines
In prolonged cases there is a possibility of going into a coma, intellectual disability, or even death.
Treatments
If you’re experiencing a magnesium deficiency, the best place to start is by eating more foods with magnesium. You could find magnesium in spinach, black beans, peanut butter, avocados, bananas, salmon, and more.
People with poor magnesium absorption may need to take a magnesium supplement. Absorption decreases with age, so a supplement might be the best place to start if you’re over the age of 60.
If you feel like you are suffering the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency, it’s best to consult with a doctor before beginning a new diet or supplement regime.
