The Importance of Magnesium and Vitamin D

Due to poor diet and an unsustainable society the normal American is deficient in magnesium. Through all of my recent research, doctors visits and conversations I am learning how important it is for our bodies to have an adequate amount of magnesium present to function properly.  Unlike calcium and potassium, magnesium is one of the essential minerals in our bodies that gets little to no attention. 

Magnesium deficiencies can lead to a long list of problems that have become common and are now viewed as the norm.  Some symptoms of magnesium deficiencies are:

• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Depression
• Migraine Headaches 

These symptoms are usually treated with a prescription drug without addressing the underlying issue. You can get magnesium from a diet rich in foods like green vegetables, almonds, black beans, spinach and sunflower seeds.  Magnesium is also absorbed through the skin.  One of my favorite sites, Food Renegade, has a recipe for a magnesium spray that you apply to your skin daily to help with your levels. 

With one important mineral missing from our synergistic systems an array of other deficiencies can result. In this case, without the presence of magnesium our body also has a difficult time absorbing Vitamin D, which in turn leads to other problems.  One of the main ways we get Vitamin D is through sunlight. A doctor from Steiner Medical Practice told me that if you don't get at least 15 minutes of sunlight a day you are not allowing your body to produce enough Vitamin D.  At a glance, 15 minutes seemed like no time at all, but most of us work indoors and are only exposed to the sun when we walk from our car to our house going to and leaving work, that is if the sun is even out. Other sources of Vitamin D are through supplementation. My doctors recommends Vitamin D drops or Cod Liver Oil.  I recommend mixing the Cod Liver Oil in a drink so it is bearable.

Deficiencies in Vitamin D can lead to symptoms such as:      

• Chronic Fatigue
• Osteoporosis
• Muscle Cramps and Weakness
• Bone Weakness and Fractures 

Deficiencies in Vitamin D can lead to other deficiencies, but you get the idea.  Our bodies are synergistic units that can only be operating at optimal levels if they are given the proper ingredients.  This is a starting point, but a balanced diet high in vegetables, fruits, nuts and certain proteins will help balance the levels that the body needs.