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The Importance Of Magnesium

Magnesium is a trace metal found throughout our bodies and is the fourth most abundant of the trace metals. It is necessary in every cell for oxygen usage so is essential for life. In fact magnesium is critical to the integrity of the double helix of DNA.

The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) is 400 mg for women and men who are 18 years of age and older.However, dietary intake of magnesium in the United States have been declining over the last 100 years, from about 500 mg/day to 175-225 mg/day. (Source: Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, 54 supplement 217: 5-9 - 1994).

Another recent national survey (Clinical nutrition of the essential trace elements and minerals: 49-67 - 2000) suggests that the average magnesium intake for women is as low as 228 mg/day.

Meanwhile, the UK Food Standards Agency estimates that the average daily intake of magnesium in Britain for both men and women is just 227 mg/day.

The range of cellular functions magnesium is involved in are broad and critical to life.

Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body, being required for 325 enzymatic reactions, including those involved in the synthesis of fat, protein and nucleic acids, neurological activity, muscular contraction and relaxation, cardiac activity and bone metabolism.

Even more important is magnesium's pivotal role in both anaerobic and aerobic energy production, particularly in the metabolism of adenosine tiphosphate (ATP), the 'energy currency' of the body.The synthesis of ATP requires magnesium dependant enzymes called ATPases

The ratio of Calcium to Magnesium is vital for all cell membrane functions and in the function of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). These membranes control the uptake and release of various molecules including hormones, nutrients, neurotransmitters and heavy metals.

Magnesium also chelates heavy metals such as mercury and lead, helping remove them from our bodies. Thus, magnesium protects the brain from the toxic effects of chemicals. It is highly likely that low magnesium levels throughout the body will contribute to heavy metal toxicity in children and is likely a strong factor in the causation of learning difficulties.

Magnesium prevents enzyme degradation, allows cellular pumps to function and it increases the efficiency of white blood cells.

Dr Jerry Nadler of the Gonda diabetics centre in California studied 16 healthy individuals and gave them a magnesium deficient diet, the results showed that all individuals became insulin resistant, an effect that causes diabetes and heart disease.

Dr Paul Ellis did the same study but monitored DHEA in his participants (a hormone known to attack tumours that is also converted into oestrogen and testosterone) and also found that levels dropped dramatically, showing the critical importance of Magnesium to bodily functions.

It is paramount to the overall proper functioning of our bodies.

One of the most effective ways to see the effects of magnesium in nature is in the chlorophyll cells in plants. They are the atoms that store the light energy of the sun and convert it into small energy rich molecules which are incredibly easy for plants to use, The chemical make up of chlorophyll is an exact copy of haemoglobin but with magnesium instead of iron and is recognised as natures richest source of natural energy.

It is estimated that around 80% of the worlds population may have a magnesium deficiency and that all kinds of ailments both simple and complex may be resolved by replenishing magnesium imbalances within the body. The most effective and simple way to do so being the application of Transdermal Magnesium Chloride to the skin.