The Wonders of Magnesium

Many people complain about muscle cramps at night, mainly in the legs. These cramps originate from a magnesium deficiency. This mineral has many properties, one of which is muscle relaxation, which can help in such cases. Magnesium can also help in other conditions, such as constipation. Constipation can result from various reasons, including contractions of the colon muscles. In such cases, magnesium can assist in relaxing these muscles, aiding in internal cleansing. High blood pressure can also stem from contractions of the blood vessels, which increases pressure within the vessels, thus resulting in high blood pressure. Magnesium can be a tool for treating high blood pressure by causing relaxation.

Magnesium is one of a large group of essential minerals crucial for our health. Another well-known example is iron, which is vital for the production of red blood cells, preventing anemia. Calcium is also an essential mineral for building teeth, bones, skin, nails, and hair. Iodine is essential for the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine, which is important for various bodily processes. There are many other minerals vital for maintaining our health.

As with vitamins, the question arises whether to take minerals in supplement form as in the muscle cramps mentioned earlier. Indeed, there is an approach claiming that to prevent a mineral deficiency, one should regularly take a supplement containing essential minerals necessary for our body's proper functioning. In contrast, another approach opposes dependence on supplements when minerals can be derived from food. Here are some examples:

Calcium – one of the minerals found in many foods, especially in whole sesame, whole tahini, almonds, cabbage, dried figs, cooked green beans, baked sweet potatoes, and more. Magnesium is also a mineral found in many foods such as quinoa, whole wheat, cornmeal, pumpkin seeds, oats, almonds, nuts, and more. Iron can be found in quinoa, tofu, chickpeas, red lentils, parsley, dried dates, and more.

Our diet contains many minerals essential for our health. Generally, it is possible to base our body's mineral levels on food. However, occasionally a deficiency of a specific mineral may develop due to various reasons, causing issues such as muscle cramps, constipation, and more. Therefore, while it is important to increase the intake of foods containing magnesium, it is also crucial, when necessary, to allow short-term consumption of magnesium as a supplement to solve the existing problem.

Eliyahu Schechter is an iridologist and naturopath