Although I have written about this topic for 20 years, it is worth revisiting magnesium as it is such an essential mineral. Eighty percent of Americans are magnesium deficient! The ONLY simple accurate test for magnesium is intracellular!
Every known disease is associated with magnesium deficiency, from irregular heartbeat, auricular fibrillation, immune problems, allergies, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc, etc.
WHY are we so deficient in magnesium?
Magnesium is low in the soil. Cattle farmers know they must supplement with magnesium or the cattle die of grass staggers. Yet vegetable farmers do not supplement the soil with magnesium! So, we don’t get as much magnesium from our vegetables as previous generations did.
All stress also depletes magnesium in you!
Oral magnesium supplements are very difficult to absorb. It is the only nutrient I know that is not absorbed until the distal colon. Most magnesium salts are laxatives. If it is not in the intestines for a minimum of 12 hours, your body will not absorb it. Absorption is hampered by fat and perhaps calcium since calcium is preferentially absorbed. Under the best of circumstances, it takes 6 to 12 months of oral magnesium supplementation to achieve optimal magnesium levels. The best oral supplement is magnesium taurate.
Yet, there is a better source of magnesium for absorption by your body. It is Magnesium Lotion. With magnesium lotion, it only takes 4 to 6 weeks to restore intracellular levels AND it raises DHEA, which does not happen with oral magnesium.
I strongly prefer the lotion, but those who do not like it may prefer Magnesium Lotion Spray.
The Average Daily Need for Magnesium:
Adults & from age 14 on—- 300 to 400 mg
Food sources, under the best of circumstances:
- Low-fat yogurt, 4 oz.—113 mg
- Artichokes, 4 oz.—84 mg
- Raw spinach, one cup—24 mg!
- Orange juice, 8 oz.—24 mg
- Cooked spinach, 4 oz.—90 mg
- Sweet potatoes, 4 oz. cooked—127 mg
- Tomato paste, 4 oz.—131 mg
- Banana, medium—118 mg
- Broccoli, 4 oz.—92 mg
- Most nuts, 2 oz.—56 mg
- Beans, 4 oz. cooked—80 to 95 mg
- Halibut, 3 oz.—85 mg
- Beef, 4 oz.—42 mg
Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. is the father of holistic medicine. He recommends autogenic focus (the basis of the Biogenics System) as part of your overall commitment to self-health. Register to download your FREE autogenic focus MP3 now.
