Do you suffer from osteoporosis, hyperexcitability or hypomagnesemia? You should consider consuming more magnesium. The element is very important to the functioning of our bodies’ muscles and cells, and it is the 11th most abundant element of the body. Supplements of the element can be acquired over the counter or online, and they have been proven to help with things like constipation, acid problems and help with eclampsia. The supplements’ element is also the 9th most abundant in the universe.
The first interaction with this element dates back to 1618 when a farmer in Epsom tried to hydrate his cows using water from a nearby well. Unusually the cows refused the water, and it had a bitter taste. The farmer realised that the elements in the water helped to heal scratches and rashes, and these were later termed ‘Epsom salts’. They were eventually identified as hydrated magnesium sulfate. As a metal, its first uses date back to WWI when it was used in construction for German military aircrafts, and even more extensively for the same reason in WWII.
Now it is a recognised element and essential to our bodies, with supplements widely available to purchase and in a variety of forms such as carbonate, gluconate oxide and chloride. The common issues they aid are constipation, indigestion, hypomagnesemia and (pre-) eclampsia. In construction, it is a very commonly used metal, behind only iron and aluminium.
If the incorrect amount of this supplement is consumed, however, there could be a risk of side effects and complications. Recommended intake for men aged 19-64 is 300mg per day, and 270mg for women of the same age. Less than this can lead to deficiencies and carry side effects including hyperexcitability, fatigue, irritability, muscular issues, anxiety, apathy and more. These side effects worsen the longer this lifestyle is maintained and habitual low intake can lead to osteoporosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Those in higher risk of these conditions include people whose bodies dispose too much of the element, alcoholics or older adults.
Consuming too much is also risky. Excessive amounts of the element through food consumption is usually nothing to worry about as our kidneys naturally excrete additional amounts through the urine. Excess due to supplements, however, is a different story. The main use of them is to combat constipation, so it comes as no surprise that a common side effect is diarrhoea. More severe side effects and complications include toxicity (characterised by hypotension, nausea, ileus, vomiting, lethargy, etc.), muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extreme hypotension, irregular heartbeat, and in some cases even cardiac arrest.
Although the risks associated with consuming too much or too little of this element may seem overwhelming, it is vital to understand how important the correct levels in our systems are. It is essential to our bodies, and most of the time it can be obtained through a balanced diet alone. The only people who should consider taking magnesium supplements are those whose conditions inhibit their ability to keep enough in their bodies.