You probably know you need calcium for your bones.
You may also know you needpotassiumfor your muscles.
But did you know thatmagnesiumis a mineral your body makes and is vital for your heart health?
Magnesium is essential for hundreds of biochemical reactions in your body.
It helps keep bones strong, nerves and muscles working properly, and blood sugar under control.
Magnesium is also necessary for maintaining a steady heartbeat and normalblood pressure.
Read on to find out why magnesium is important for heart health and good sources of this important nutrient.
How Much Magnesium Is Enough?
The body uses magnesium for energy production and to break down glucose.
Magnesium is also used to synthesize DNA and RNA.
He adds that this is because in healthy individuals the body is good at eliminating magnesium as needed.
About half of daily intake of magnesium is absorbed by the intestine.
Magnesium levels may, however, go unregulated in people with kidney disease.
Healthy Individuals withlow magnesiumlevels are uncommon.
Magnesium is a key electrolyte in the body and is necessary for proper homeostasis.
Especially in cells that are electrically excitable, like those in the heart, Dr. DeSimone explains.
Electrolytes are all important for nerve signals and the muscle contractions of a normal heartbeat.
Who Is At Risk for Magnesium Deficiency?
The amount of magnesium in the body depends on several factors, like diet and a persons kidney function.
As we age, for example, magnesium absorption decreases in the body.
Patients who are on diuretics are also of concern for both Campbell and DeSimone.
This includes patients being treated for high blood pressure or heart failure.
The reason being that these patients are usually on high dose diuretics.
When they are fluid overloaded and diuresed aggressively these levels can drop into dangerously low levels, notes DeSimone.
Campbell adds, Patients on diuretics need to have their magnesium followed closely.
Prolonged use of certain medications can also cause too much magnesium excretion.
Check out our roundup of thebest magnesium supplementsfor specific health concerns, as recommended by experts.
You may have heard some companies suggesting dietarysupplementsfor your nutritional needs.
Campbell notes, Supplements can be recommended in people who have low magnesium levels despite dietary changes.
The best forms are magnesium citrate, gluconate, or glycinate, Campbell says.
Too much magnesium from food isnt a danger because the kidneys excrete what the body doesnt need.
But extremely high doses ofmagnesium from supplementscan cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramping.
Extreme doses of magnesium, over 5,000 mg daily, can cause magnesium toxicity and be fatal.
Additional reporting by Alexandria Jones-Patten.
Her work has appeared on numerous websites, including HealthDay, KidsHealth, Healthgrades, and Baby Gooroo.
Dallas conducted extensive research for ABC’s20/20.
Dallas is an avid tennis player.
When she is not researching and writing, you could often find her on the court.
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