Magnesium comes in several forms. Magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed, even though it has the most elemental magnesium. Your body will only absorb about 4% of it.  Magnesium is an extremely important mineral. It regulates more than 325 enzymatic reactions in your body, most of which produce, transport, store and utilize energy. 

Magnesium has many physiological roles i.e.: nerve action, heart activity, neuromuscular transmission, contraction, blood pressure, and vascular tone. It modulates and controls the entry and release of calcium from the cell (muscle activity).

Magnesium is almost totally lost in the processing of packaged and fast foods. It’s absorption is blocked by several things: certain medications, supplemental iron, high protein diets, high doses of calcium, physical or emotional stress, and reduction of stomach acid. Moreover, research has shown that stress (physical and emotional) causes us to lose magnesium.   

How to take Magnesium:

·         The only side effect is loose stools

·         Start with a low dose and increase based on tolerance

·         Take in divided doses

·         If you take blood pressure medications, monitor your BP, as it may decrease

·         You do not need to take magnesium with food

·         A smaller amount more frequently also helps if you have loose stools.

·         Be aware that you also have magnesium in a multivitamin/mineral or in a calcium supplement if you take one.

(You can look on the back of the bottle to  see how much magnesium you  are already getting and add it to your daily total)  

Magnesium is very safe, but you should not take higher doses if you have kidney failure, excessively slow heart rate, a bowel obstruction or myasthenia gravis.