An antidote to Stress

This simple mineral “is an antidote to stress, the most powerful relaxation mineral available, and it can help improve your sleep,” says acclaimed metabolism expert and functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman.

The mineral in question? Magnesium.

Dr. Hyman calls magnesium the most powerful relaxation mineral available. He also says that anything ‘that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff — whether it is a body part or an even a mood — is a sign of magnesium deficiency.’

Magnesium is involved in numerous biological processes in your body. Just a few health benefits of magnesium include relieving migraines, PMS, insomnia, depression, high blood pressure, backache, constipation, kidney stones, chronic fatigue, reversing osteoporosis, preventing heart disease and helping to treat diabetes.

According to a study published in The Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, a magnesium deficiency makes you twice as likely to die as other people. The great news is that a deficiency in magnesiun is easily preventable.

7 Ways to Prevent Magnesium Deficiency

1. Eat a diet full of fresh and organic foods. Avoid or limit processed foods.

2. Eat foods rich in magnesium. This includes sea vegetables, nuts, kelp, wheat bran, wheat germ, almonds, cashews, buckwheat, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, rye, tofu, soy beans, brown rice, figs, dates, collard greens, shrimp, avocado, parsley, beans, barley, dandelion greens, and garlic.

3. Limit foods/beverages that deplete your body of magnesium. This includes sugary soft drinks, alcohol, coffee and excessive salt.

4. Check with your doctor to see if other conditions and/or medications are decreasing your magnesium levels. Examples include diuretics (water pills), antibiotics and other drugs.

5. Relieve stress levels. Magnesium levels are decreased by prolonged or intense stress.

6. Take a hot bath with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate). This is an excellent way to absorb extra magnesium and to sooth stiff muscles. It is also very relaxing.

7. Take a magnesium supplement, but avoid magnesium carbonate, sulfate, gluconate, and oxide, which are difficult for the body to absorb. The RDA for magnesium is 300mg, but many benefit from taking up to 1,000mg. Check with your doctor to see what dose is right for you.

For more on the risks of magnesium deficiency, see http://drhyman.com/magnesium-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available-577/

Now we would like to hear from you! Have you taken magnesium or another supplement that has helped you with stress relief? Have you experienced a vitamin or mineral deficiency and if so, how did you remedy it?