Heart Help Magnesium cuts blood pressure

Magnesium helps control blood sugar and pressure, and doctors in one study wanted to see if magnesium could improve insulin sensitivity and blood pressure in healthy overweight people.

About 150 overweight, non-diabetic people took 300 mg of elemental magnesium per day or a placebo for 12 weeks. While insulin sensitivity did not change, magnesium lowered blood pressure in those with higher blood pressure.

Compared to placebo, magnesium decreased peak (systolic) blood pressure by more than two times and resting (diastolic) blood pressure by more than four times.

Reference: Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases; April 7, 2009, Electronic Pre-Publication.

Metabolism Booster # 3 The Right Nutrition

Magnesium is essential for life, as it plays a major role in the metabolism of glucose. It is also used in the production of cellular energy and to create protein. In addition, magnesium may help to protect against cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have found that eating a diet low in minerals, specifically calcium, potassium, and magnesium, is associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). Studies have also shown that people with diabetes tend to have low magnesium levels. In one study, middle-aged people with the lowest serum magnesium levels were twice as likely as those with the highest levels to develop type 2 diabetes.

Source: Ronald Klatz, MD, and Robert Goldman, MD

Magnesium and Health

Magnesium is a mineral that is involved with over 100 chemical reactions in the human body. Guess what? Seventy-five percent of Americans are deficient in this mineral! Muscles will cramp up quickly if deprived of magnesium. Think that one through athletes.

Magnesium works with potassium to perform its functions. Calcium and magnesium should be taken in a 2-1 ratio for optimal benefits.

Magnesium can be found in the following foods: oatmeal, bananas, yogurt, avocados and baked potatoes. The recommended daily amount of magnesium is 500-1000 mg.

Potassium For Heart Health

Potassium is a main factor in keeping blood pressure at the correct level for maximum cardiovascular benefits.

Potassium must be in balance with sodium for proper water balance in the body. It is more effective when taken with magnesium.

Heartbeat irregularities are a sign of potassium deficiency. Other signs are loss of appetite, constipation, fatigue, weakness, numbness and tingling in legs, nausea, and confusion.

Potassium is found in baked potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe, spinach and bananas.

The daily recommended dosage for potassium is 99mg.

Dr. Moulas on Building Strong Bones Part I

More and more doctors today are recommending that their patients take calcium to protect them from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, is a condition of accelerated loss of bone, is a major health problem in the United States and is responsible for well over one million fractures a year. More woman die from the complications of these fractures annually than from the combined deaths resulting from cancers of the cervix and breast. Furthermore, the gradual loss of bone may result in disfigurement, wrinkles, decreased mobility and/or calcium deposits in soft tissue (joints, kidney, arteries, etc.) leading to further complications.

Many have assumed that simply increasing dietary calcium or taking a calcium supplement will prevent bone loss. But this is not the case! Bone loss can be caused by many things, including deficiencies of other nutrients besides calcium. Nutrients like magnesium, silica, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and fluoride, to just name a few.