Magnesium

Is there a link between heart disease and lack of magnesium in our food?

“Widespread research shows that our diets are seriously low in magnesium, that heart disease is widespread, and that many heart disease cases might be prevented and even treated through magnesium supplementation.” Dr. Andrea Rosanoff PhD, a mineral nutrition specialist whose book, The Magnesium Factor, co-written with the late Dr. Mildred Seelig, has made big waves in the nutrition study community. Dr. Rosanoff, founder of the Center for Magnesium Education and Research, confided to me that many of the “blockbuster” drugs that account for much of pharmaceutical companies’ large profits are treating the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency rather than going to the root cause.

Magnesium can be valuable in treating hypertension and migraine headaches, and is important in keeping bones strong, Dr. Rosanoff told me. “Many of us take calcium supplements to stave off osteoporosis, but without enough magnesium, this practice won’t help our bones and could even make things worse. We need magnesium, especially, in a stress filled life. It is richly supplied by leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. But, magnesium is lost in milling away the bran and germ of the wheat grain to make white flour. Our national diet contains too much white flour and white sugar, which not only lack magnesium, but actually require magnesium to metabolize [digest].”

Recently, Dr. Rosanoff began offering Magnify, a product she invented; it’s a topical cream to apply to muscle spasms and strains. I always keep a good supply of it at home. You can buy it online here.