A relatively high concentration of magnesium protects against arteriosclerosis. Epidemiologists from Mexico City write that in Nutrition Journal. According to their study, in which 1267 Mexicans participated, magnesium also protects against high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes.
Magnesium is a mineral that is necessary for bone building, building up body protein, the transmission of stimuli in muscles and nerves and is important for the proper functioning (stretching and contracting) of muscles, such as the heart muscle. It is necessary for the proper functioning of a large number of enzymes in the body cells and has an important role in metabolism or enzyme reactions.
The substance is in whole grain products, nuts, dark chocolate, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and soy. Because magnesium is mainly found in honest plant-based animal foods, we get less and less of it. After all, we eat more and more industrially produced foods with a poor nutritional value.
In countries where the food industry determines the diet, the intake of magnesium is still sufficient to prevent illness, but no longer at the level that nutritionists consider optimal.
Gastric acid inhibitors also cause a magnesium deficiency. Two million Dutch people use antacids such as Omeprazole every day. Some users experience a serious magnesium deficiency that can cause painful muscle cramps and even heart rhythm disturbances.
Nighttime muscle cramps can also indicate a magnesium deficiency.
Study
The researchers studied 1276 Mexicans aged 30-75, all of whom were free of cardiovascular disease. The researchers used scans to determine whether the study participants had arteriosclerosis. The scientists measured the concentration of magnesium in the blood of their study participants. Based on this, they divided the study participants into four equally sized groups.
Results
The more magnesium the study participants had in their blood, the healthier they were. A relatively high magnesium level not only reduced the risk of arteriosclerosis, but also the risk of high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes. The researchers suspect that magnesium inhibits inflammation in the blood vessels that play a role in calcification. They also think that the positive effect of magnesium on blood pressure has to do with magnesium's ability to displace calcium. Calcium causes the walls of blood vessels to squeeze shut, magnesium does the opposite. The researchers do not know exactly how magnesium reduces the risk of type-2 diabetes, more research is needed.
Source: Ergogenics – nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-016-0143-3
Nb If you decide to take magnesium tablets (possibly in consultation with your doctor), remember that these tablets can sometimes cause stomach and intestinal problems, such as diarrhoea. You can prevent this by choosing Chelated Magnesium from Solgar. These tablets are a bit more expensive but do not cause stomach and intestinal complaints.
The limit on the amount of magnesium that the body may contain is determined by the body itself. If this limit is exceeded, the body reacts with diarrhea. The pharmacy is reluctant to sell unbranded magnesium tablets because they are cheap and hardly make any money on them.
By consuming 5 pieces of almonds per day, see also the photo, you get enough magnesium and you don't need pills, that can vary quite individually, then you eat 10 pieces per day.
Indeed, magnesium does a lot in the body and is indispensable, especially by regulating the Calcium in the body.
Magnesium also makes a significant contribution to combating stress and depression.
Enjoy your meal.
Nico B
Totally unnecessary to swallow tablets. A banana, some nuts and a piece of dark chocolate, or other things that contain magnesium, every day is a lot better.
Here's a website where you can find out what's in what:
http://www.voedingswaardetabel.nl/voedingswaarde/mineralen/
I would also like to note that with Magnesium pills it can take up to 1/2 year with a current large deficiency before your magnesium level is up to standard. Now if you have a serious deficiency, consult your doctor and see that you get magnesium in the form of water soluble, then take a foot bath with it or dissolve it in the bathtub and sit in it, that way you can make up for the deficiency replenish in a few days, because it does not have to pass through the gastrointestinal tract, which gives large losses. But hey, anything is better than doing nothing about it.
Success.
Nico B