Magnesium SulfateĪ combination of magnesium, sulfur and oxygen that is sold as Epsom salt, magnesium sulfate is usually added to baths as it seeps through the skin, relieving sore muscles and promoting relaxation. Athletes sometimes use magnesium oil to increase energy and endurance, to dull muscle pain, and to heal wounds or skin irritation. It’s also given to people who have digestive disorders that prevent normal absorption of magnesium from their food. Magnesium ChlorideĪn oil form of magnesium, magnesium chloride can be applied to skin. Magnesium citrate may have a laxative effect in some cases when taken in high doses, but is otherwise safe to use for improving digestion and preventing constipation.

This is magnesium combined with citric acid.

Highly absorbable, magnesium glycinate is recommended for anyone with a known magnesium deficiency and less likely to cause laxative effects than some other magnesium supplements.

Here’s information about the different types of magnesium supplements: 1. Usually types that dissolve in liquid are better absorbed in the gut than less soluble forms. One study indicated that magnesium citrate and glycinate are better absorbed than magnesium oxide and sulfate, but more research is needed to determine the comparative bioavailability. The absorption rate and bioavailability of magnesium supplements differs depending on the kind. Magnesium supplements are available in a variety of forms. What does a magnesium supplement do for you? Because magnesium supplements pose little risk for side effects or toxicity, many health care professionals now recommend that adults take supplements regularly to prevent deficiency. While it’s best to get as much of this mineral as you can from natural magnesium-rich food sources, magnesium supplements can also help some people who are prone to deficiency, such as older adults, athletes and anyone under a lot of stress. What foods are high in magnesium that we should be including our diets? Some of the best choices include dark leafy greens like spinach, beans, avocado and almonds. Additionally, it’s found in some over-the-counter medicines, such as antacids and laxatives. Magnesium is naturally present in some foods, synthetically added to other food products, and available in dietary supplement form. That’s because the body loses stores of magnesium every day from normal functions, such as muscle movement, heartbeat and hormone production. Magnesium is actually the least abundant serum electrolyte in the body, but it’s still extremely important for your metabolism, enzyme function, energy production and much more.Īlthough we only need small amounts of magnesium relative to other nutrients, we must regularly replenish our stores, either from foods or magnesium supplements, in order to prevent deficiency symptoms. The kidneys primarily control levels of magnesium within the body and excrete magnesium into the urine each day, which is one reason why urinary excretion is reduced when magnesium and other electrolyte statuses are low. Magnesium also makes the process of photosynthesis possible by helping to form chlorophyll, the chemical that allows plants to capture sunlight and turn it into energy.Moving stools through the intestine and preventing constipation.Supporting proper function of nerves, muscles, and tissue.Supporting growth and development in babies and children.What is magnesium used for in the human body? Some of the main functions of magnesium include: Magnesium is an essential mineral and also an electrolyte.

Magnesium benefits include include involved in over 300 biochemical functions in the body, such as regulating heartbeat rhythms and helping neurotransmitter functions, which is why hypomagnesemia (another name for magnesium deficiency) is something you really want to avoid. What does magnesium do for the body, and why can it be detrimental to be deficient? Magnesium - which comes from the obsolete root word magnes, which was used to mean magnet or magnetic power - may not be the most present mineral in our bodies in terms of its quantity, but it’s certainly one of the most crucial to overall health. Of course, this is in addition to eating plenty magnesium-rich foods. Considering all of the important roles that magnesium plays in the body - and the fact that a magnesium deficiency is one of the leading nutrient deficiencies in adults, with an estimated 80 percent being deficient in this vital mineral - it’s a good idea to consider taking magnesium supplements regularly.

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