| Benefits: May help prevent heart attack. Eases PMS. Beneficial for high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, asthma and kidney stones.
Good food sources: Brown rice, avocados, spinach, haddock, oatmeal, baked potatoes, navy beans, lima beans, broccoli, yogurt, bananas, soybeans, bran, nuts.
Cautions: People with kidney or heart problems should check with their doctor before taking magnesium supplements.
Substance interactions: Decreases absorption of magnesium: vitamins A, E and K. Magnesium reduces absorption of ketoconazole and tetracycline. Vitamin D may raise magnesium level too high.
Signs of toxicity: Vomiting, extremely low blood pressure, extreme muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, heartbeat irregularity. Discontinue and consult doctor immediately.
* Very important for cell energy production. Influences calcium
levels inside cells. Helps transport sodium and potassium across
cell membranes. Aids bone growth.
* Helps transmit electrical impulses across nerves and muscles,
which generates a neuromuscular contraction, causing your muscles
to flex. Absence of magnesium will cause muscles to cramp.
* The body loses magnesium due to excessive calcium intake, stress,
prescription asthma drugs, diuretics (water pills), digitalis and
other cardiovascular medications, alcohol and caffeine. Diabetics
lose magnesium through the kidneys.
* Several types of magnesium including gluconate, oxide, and
chloride. Magnesium gluconate may be taken on an empty stomach;
it is absorbed more quickly than the other forms; less may be taken
due to better absorbability.
* May help in the treatment of alcoholism.
* Most diabetics are deficient in vitamins and minerals, including
magnesium. These deficiencies may reflect a reduced ability to
absorb and utilize nutrients.
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