February 10, 2022
Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men. When you think about preventing heart disease, cholesterol is probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, there is an important mineral essential to heart health that is often overlooked: magnesium.
What is magnesium?
Magnesium is a mineral that is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps to maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, keeps the heartbeat steady, and helps bones remain strong. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels and aid in the production of energy and protein.
How does magnesium protect your heart?
Your heart can’t function properly without magnesium. Magnesium prevents muscle spasms of the heart blood vessels, which can lead to a high blood pressure and a heart attack. Magnesium prevents calcium buildup in cholesterol plaque in arteries, which leads to clogged arteries.
Research on How Optimal Magnesium Levels Affect Your Heart
Magnesium levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
Research shows that magnesium was associated with a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and 22% lower risk of ischemic heart disease.(1)
Optimum tissue levels of magnesium and potassium are essential to the structure and function of the myocardium (muscular tissue of the heart).
Subjects dying suddenly with ischemic heart disease had significantly lower levels of myocardial tissue magnesium and potassium than the control group. (2)
Low magnesium was associated with higher prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery calcification.
The Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease (GEA) Study showed that low magnesium was associated with higher prevalence of hypertension (high blood pressure), type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery calcification, which is a marker of atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Subjects with the highest magnesium had 48 % lower odds of hypertension, 69 % lower odds of type 2 diabetes, and 42 % lower odds of coronary artery calcification score compared to those with the lowest magnesium. The analyses also showed that an increment in magnesium was independently associated with 16 % lower coronary artery calcification. (3)
Magnesium intake is significantly and inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein levels.
C-reactive protein is a predictor of heart disease because it is an indicator of inflammation, and it is the inflammation and injury of the blood vessels that cause heart disease. (6) A meta-analysis review indicates that magnesium intake is significantly and inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein levels. The potential beneficial effect of magnesium intake on chronic diseases may be, in part, explained by inhibiting inflammation. (4)
Magnesium helps lower blood pressure.
It’s important to keep your blood pressure in check since it is a risk factor for heart disease. Magnesium has been used successfully to treat high blood pressure for over half a century by doctors. (5)
Causes of of Magnesium Deficiency
Most people are deficient in magnesium because foods such as caffeine and sugar deplete the body’s magnesium levels. Not eating enough green vegetables can also contribute to a deficiency since green vegetables contain magnesium. Chemicals like fluoride and chlorine in the water supply bind to magnesium so your body can’t use it. Medications such as antibiotics and diuretics deplete magnesium by impairing absorption or increasing excretion by the kidneys.
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
How to Test for a Magnesium Deficiency
It is possible to test for a magnesium deficiency by obtaining the red blood cell magnesium level. It may be listed by the lab as RBC Mg or Mg RBC. A level of 6 or more is optimal.
How to Optimize Your Magnesium Levels
We must get magnesium through food, supplements or topical applications.
Foods Rich in Magnesium
Foods rich in magnesium are spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, avocados, romaine lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, turnip greens, collard greens, bok choy, salmon, mackerel, squash, papaya, raspberries, tomato, strawberries, and watermelon. Seeds and nuts have magnesium, with pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds having the highest amount. You can also get magnesium from herbs and spices such as parsley, coriander, chives, cumin seed, mustard seeds, fennel, and basil.
Magnesium Supplements
While each form of magnesium serves its own purpose, after much research, the two most superior forms of magnesium are magnesium citrate and magnesium glycinate, and each for their own reason.
• Magnesium citrate is one of the forms with the highest bioavailability, at 90%, which means that it is easily assimilated by the digestive system and used for maximum health benefits. In addition to offering heart health benefits and aiding in optimal nerve and muscle function, magnesium citrate is commonly used to help induce a bowel movement, encourage bowel regularity and has been studied for its ability to reduce the chances of developing kidney stones. Magnesium citrate is available in tablet form, however, is also offered in a liquid form and is great for children, too.
• Magnesium glycinate offers the same heart, nerve and muscle health benefits of magnesium citrate, however, for those who are sensitive to magnesium citrate and its bowel regularity properties, magnesium glycinate is a better solution.
• Transdermal magnesium is a topical magnesium gel that is used externally, versus being ingested orally. Rubbed directly on the affected area, transdermal magnesium can offer almost immediate relief for many symptoms, such as dry skin, muscle aches and cramps, migraine headaches, tension and stress.
Don’t wait – work on increasing your magnesium levels today so you can help ensure have a healthy heart.
We Can Help
Do you struggle with symptoms of hormone decline such as weight gain, brain fog, difficulty sleeping, depressed moods, joint and muscle pain and more? Take our Symptom Checker to find out what could be going on. Call our Wellness Consultants for a complimentary wellness consultation at 281-698-8698. It will be our privilege to serve you!
Related Content
10 Tips for Heart Health
Surprising Cause of Heart Disease
How Obesity Leads to Heart Disease
Source
Dr. Carolyn Dean, The Magnesium Miracle
5. Nutritional Epidemiological Study on Mineral Intake and Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease
"*" indicates required fields
Since 1989, Hotze Health & Wellness Center has helped over 33,000 patients get their lives back using bioidentical hormones that restore hormones to optimal levels, strengthen immune systems, and increase energy levels. Our treatment regimen addresses the root cause of hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, and candida.
Led by best-selling author, radio host and leading natural health expert, Steven F. Hotze, M.D., our medical team has over 100 years’ combined medical experience backed by a staff of nearly 100 caring professionals who provide an environment of hope and extraordinary hospitality for each of our patients, who we call our guests. It is our deepest desire to help you obtain and maintain health and wellness naturally so that you may enjoy a better quality of life, pure and simple.
Do you want to live a healthy, happy, purpose-driven life? Do you want to restore your health so that your loss of energy, weight gain, joint pain, depression and lack of drive or motivation won’t hold you back from achieving your personal and professional goals?
Dr. Steven Hotze wants that for you, too. In fact, in his powerful and passionate video entitled, “What I Believe”, Dr. Hotze shares how his Christian worldview and pivotal experiences have ignited a deep desire to offer the message of hope and optimal health to all who need to hear it.
At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, our doctors are changing the way women and men are treated through the use of bioidentical hormones. Our natural treatments have helped over 33,000 individuals with hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, candida, detoxification and nutritional deficiencies.
Meet our doctors"After just 3 weeks into the program, my joint pain was gone, climbing stairs became easy, my energy level increased from 2 to a 9 (out of 10) and I lost almost 30 pounds! ”
Holistic, functional medicine doctors in Houston, Texas specializing in bioidentical hormones, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies and LDI treatment, candida, detoxification, nutritional deficiencies, longevity and aesthetics.
© Braidwood Management, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only, and does not constitute any medical advice. By using this website you fully waive all legal claims based on any information contained herein, and fully agree to this disclaimer.
20214 Braidwood Dr., Houston, TX 77450
Copyright © 2024 Hotze Health & Wellness Center. All rights reserved.
Dear Linda,
Thank you for your comment – we will work on having this corrected so that it is easy to read the content. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
Have a wonderful evening!
Sincerely,
Hotze Team