Top Signs That You Have Magnesium Deficiency And What to Do About It

Jun 01, 2018

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals on the planet and in our bodies. It helps keeps our bones strong and our blood pressure manageable, and it alleviates depression and anxiety.

And yet, millions of people live with a magnesium deficiency without knowing it. 
 

While you should speak with your doctor if you suspect this is the case for yourself, you might be magnesium-deficient if you experience the following symptoms: 

• Sleep disorders
• A sensitivity to loud noises
• Infertility
• Frequent headaches
• Indigestion
• Depression
• Overly tense muscles

These are some of the more common symptoms of magnesium deficiency. If your deficiency is particularly severe, you could experience issues such as a lack of appetite, osteoporosis, drastic mood swings, and even seizures. 
 

Why Are We Magnesium-Deficient, and What Can We Do About It? 

It's been estimated that 60 to 80 percent of Americans do not get enough magnesium in their diets. This could be due to a few different factors. First of all, industrial agriculture often depletes the soil of the mineral. Instead of fertilizing our crops with natural compost, industrial farmers have begun to use synthetic fertilizers that leave topsoil without the magnesium that should be found there. Our crops aren't receiving the magnesium that they should, so neither do we. 

Second of all, we as a nation eat way too many processed and refined foods. The refining process often strips food of its vitamin, mineral, and fiber content. This leads not only to a deficiency of magnesium, but a deficiency in vitamin D, calcium, and other important nutrients. 
 

Finally, our municipal water treatment facilities have stepped up their efforts to remove lead and other contaminants from our water. While this is hardly a bad thing, the processes that are used also remove minerals such as calcium and magnesium, things that our bodies need. 
 

So now that we've gone over why so many of us are magnesium-deficient, let's talk about what we can do about it. The easiest way to do this is to increase our intake of magnesium-rich foods such as spinach, kale, lentils, beans, brown rice, avocado, and bananas. However, simply including more of these foods into your diet won't be enough to overcome a magnesium deficiency. Since so many of our vegetables are being depleted of their magnesium content by industrial agriculture, you will need to seek out more organic foods that aren't processed. Failing that, you can always take magnesium supplements if it's too hard to change your diet. 

While you should always speak to your doctor if you have any real concerns about your health or your diet, chances are good that you should have more magnesium in your diet. Look for more options to include more organic fruits and vegetables in your diet, and don't hesitate to spread the word about why these foods are so important to our health! 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!