The importance of magnesium in our diet
Magnesium is an essential mineral for the human body, necessary for the activation of more than 300 enzyme systems. It plays an essential role in numerous biological mechanisms, contributes to energy production and helps regulate calcium levels, as well as copper, zinc, potassium, vitamin D and other important nutrients in the body.
All organs of the body, especially the heart, muscles and kidneys, need the mineral magnesium. It also contributes to the composition of teeth and bones.
What is the best way to supplement magnesium?
In an ideal world, we should get all the nutrients and minerals from the foods we eat every day. However, due to food refinement and processing, the nutritional values of foods and crops have significantly decreased.
For example, the use of herbicides containing glyphosate that are commonly used to kill weeds, cause crops to grow that are deficient in minerals and, as a result, only a fraction of what we need.
Therefore, it is important to supplement with products that contain a representative amount of elemental magnesium as stated in the nutritional tables found on food and supplement labels.
So, Is it advisable to take any supplement containing magnesium?
Inorganic magnesium salts are commonly used in the market due to a cost issue, higher magnesium content that can be declared with a small amount of the salt, etc. However, it is recommended to supplement with organic magnesium salts.
Is there a difference if I supplement with organic or inorganic salts?
The main difference between organic and inorganic compounds is that organics always contain hydrogen-bonded carbon in their structure, while most inorganic compounds do not.
Another difference between them is that inorganic mineral salts have low bioavailability, high heavy metal content and that, in addition, the presence of contaminants that are not recognized by the body can cause stomach problems such as diarrhea and flatulence.
While organic salts have a high bioavailability, are assimilable in our body, participate in biochemical synthesis and have no side effects.
What other potential benefits do I get from supplementing with magnesium?
According to guidelines from the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Washington (National Academy of Sciences), magnesium supplementation may have the following benefits:
Reducing tiredness and fatigue
Normal functioning of the nervous system
Muscle relaxation
Protein synthesis
Electrolyte balance
Maintains the proper functioning of bones and teeth
In general, magnesium is an essential mineral for the body that fulfills multiple functions and it is of great importance to maintain an adequate supplementation of this mineral in the form of organic salts in order to have a high level of absorption.
Published by:
Héctor González del Valle
Chemical Engineer