In my Health History Questionnaire, I have the following question:
- Do you get leg cramps at night?
And the answer is almost always, yes.
Well, let me tell you, leg cramps suck! They hurt. It’s not fun.
If you get those awful leg cramps at night that jolt you into spasm and pain, it’s often a sign that your body is screaming for more magnesium. It’s a signal that the system responsible for telling your muscles to relax is short on its most important tool
A magnesium deficiency is all too common these days for a variety of reasons, including:
- deficiencies in the soil (and therefore the foods you eat from that same soil)
- Other causes can include dietary restrictions
- increased age
- inadequate hydration
- stress
and medications such as diuretics or blood pressure medications, inadequate kidney function, increased urination, and digestive ailments. Deficiency can result from many causes, including the extended use of proton-pump inhibitors, such as Nexium and Prilosec. All contribute to electrolyte deficiencies.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. Found in bones, teeth, and red blood cells, magnesium serves as a building block for DNA and is an essential element required for the proper functioning of the nervous, muscular, and cardiovascular systems.
When it comes to your muscles, magnesium is critical. Every time a muscle tightens or relaxes, magnesium is there managing the process.
