- Magnesium: The Essential Nutrient that Sugar Depletes
It is estimated that 85% of Americans do not get enough magnesium in the diet! So everyone is already deficient in magnesium and regular sugar consumption reduces already low levels.
Magnesium is absolutely necessary for:
- Energy production, improving stamina and reducing physical and mental fatigue. Magnesium is essential to make the energy molecule ATP. Without magnesium you will never have enough energy or endurance. Most high performance athletes are aware of this and supplement with magnesium daily for peak performance.
- Deep and restorative sleep. Yes, higher intake of magnesium enhances your level of sleep. Keep in mind that sleep is the ultimate antioxidant, the deeper your sleep the better.
- Maximum brain function and capacity. Higher levels of magnesium improve learning and remembering. Without adequate magnesium intake your IQ suffers and so does your ability to think.
- Peak muscular function and fitness. If you are trying to get in the best shape you will want to be certain you are consuming magnesium rich foods and consider supplementation. Muscles rely upon magnesium to help strengthen contractions and for expediting recovery time.
- For over 360 biochemical reactions. This means magnesium acts to reduce disease associated-inflammation. The more sugar you eat or drink the more inflammation is cascading in your body. Higher levels of inflammation increases your odds of developing many disease states. Ideally you cease eating refined sugar and increase your magnesium intake to keep inflammation levels low and your body healthy.
- A long healthy life. Aging research shows that a longer telomere length on your DNA is associated with a longer, healthier life. Studies have shown that a higher intake of magnesium along with a low intake of refined sugar maintains telomere length. So a lifetime of higher magnesium intake and avoiding things that deplete it like sugar, may increase your health and lengthen your life.
So what foods should you be eating to increase your magnesium intake?
- Spinach
- Kale
- Cashews
- Brazil Nuts
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Quinoa
- Wild rice
- Yogurt
- Bananas
- Real dark chocolate
Ideally you should be eating at least 6 servings of these foods everyday. If this is impossible for you then magnesium supplementation should be considered. If you already eat or drink a lot of sugar everyday then a magnesium supplement would be especially helpful for you. Never take a magnesium supplement if you have kidney disease.
