Symptoms of magnesium deficiency are easy to recognize. These include: headaches, poor sleep, nervousness and difficulty to relax, stiff joints and high blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency is more common than calcium deficiency. Yet, it is just as important as calcium, if not more so, as it is involved in over 300 metabolic reactions in the body. Some of its most fundamental role is in the proper metabolism of cholesterol, triglycerides and carbohydrates. Foods highest in magnesium include green leafy vegetables, seeds (pumpkin, sun flower and sesame) as well as legumes and fish. A typical western diet is devoid of adequate levels of magnesium. Our modern western lifestyle and poor diet (high in refined carbs) increase our requirements for magnesium.

Often magnesium deficiency symptoms can be resolved by consuming enough magnesium however several factors limit magnesium absorption, and therefore limit recovery:

1. Magnesium in food or supplements is typically attached to another atom or molecule. Once ingested, the body has to free it up (make it an ion) for absorption. The freeing up (also known as ionization) of the magnesium is very limited and is even more restricted when a person’s digestive health is poor. Ionization is important because magnesium can only be used when it is in free (ionic) form, not when attached to other molecules (such as magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide, etc.)
2. Mineral and vitamin molecules aggregate into relatively large clumps. The body has to dissolve these clumps for optimal ionization and absorption of the magnesium.
3. Vitamin D deficiency – The ideal transport of magnesium and other minerals into cells is through ion channels. However, to do so successfully, there needs to be an adequate supply of ions on the edge of the ion channel. With poor ionization (described above), this type of absorption is not possible and he body needs to resort to a different type of absorption called active transport. Active transport requires adequate amount of Vitamin D. Most of us don’t get enough vitamin D, particularly in the fall and winter time. These obstacles are also true for optimal absorption of calcium. A Type of magnesium product that overcomes all these obstacles is nano-sized, liquid ionic magnesium. It allows quick absorption at almost a 100% and therefore, it also results in fairly quick improvement and resolutions of the types of symptoms described above.