Magnesium: an essential mineral
Magnesium is essential for life. It is found in every cell and is a critical co-factor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body.
The best way to ensure you are getting enough magnesium is to eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds.
Chronic stress, eating processed foods and excessive alcohol consumption, as well as some prescription medications can deplete your magnesium levels.
While it’s relatively easy to become mildly deficient in magnesium, making dietary changes or introducing supplementary magnesium can restore your intake to an optimal level.
​
​
The Benefits of Magnesium
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. It is found in every cell and is required for more than 300 enzymatic reactions in your body.
Magnesium is necessary for:
• normal electrolyte balance
• normal nerve and muscle function
• teeth and bone structure
• normal protein synthesis
• normal cell division.
In addition, magnesium contributes to:
• normal energy metabolism
• normal psychological function
• reducing tiredness and fatigue.
Critically, in children magnesium contributes to normal growth and development.
Could You Have Low Magnesium?
Most of the magnesium in your body is stored in your bones, tissues and intracellular fluid, less than 1% is circulating in your bloodstream. This makes it quite difficult to assess whether your magnesium stores are adequate.
Studies suggest that around 50% of people in western countries may be deficient in magnesium due to a range of factors including poor diet, processing of foods, intensive agriculture and degraded soils. In addition, the water we now drink is highly processed and very low in minerals.
You can use the calculator at nutritiondata.self.com to estimate how much dietary magnesium you are consuming and assess whether you are meeting the recommended daily intake.
​
How Much Magnesium Do I Need?
Ideally, all your magnesium would come from your diet; one filled with plenty of vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
If your diet is inadequate, or you have symptoms of magnesium deficiency, our natural, magnesium-rich bitterns will help you to increase your intake.
The most absorbable forms of magnesium are those found in their ionic form, which makes the magnesium more bio-available. Ancient Lakes ionic magnesium contains 98 000 parts per million of readily absorbable magnesium.
​
This table shows the adequate intake of magnesium from all sources by age and sex.
​
Recommended Daily Intake (RDIs) for Magnesium
This table shows the adequate intake of magnesium from all sources by age and sex.
​
Age Male Female Pregnancy Lactation
1-3 years 80mg 80mg
4-8 years 130mg 130mg
9-13 years 240mg 240mg
14-18 years 410mg 360mg 400mg 360mg
19-30 years 400mg 310mg 350mg 310mg
31-50 years 420mg 320mg 360mg 320mg
51+ years 420mg 320mg)
​
How much do I need?
Start with 10 drops on the first day, then each day increase by one drop. You will have achieved tolerance on the day you reach the laxative stage. At this point simply revert to the number of drops you administered the day before and this is the correct amount, specific to your body.
