Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that has many functions in the body. It plays a role in supporting bone health, energy, the nervous system, heart health, inflammation and blood sugar levels.
7 reasons we need magnesium
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Bone Health
Magnesium helps regulate calcium absorption to maintain bone density.
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Energy
Magnesium is a key cofactor for chemical reactions that produce energy.
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Nervous System
Magnesium plays a role in the activity of brain receptors balancing our mood.
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Heart Health
Research shows an association between higher blood levels of magnesium and lower risk of heart disease.
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Inflammation
Magnesium has been shown to prevent unwanted increases in inflammatory processes.
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Blood Sugar
Magnesium is an important cofactor for glucose metabolism so helps to stabilise blood sugar levels.
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With Calcium
Along with calcium (another mineral), magnesium is involved in muscle contraction, blood clotting, blood pressure regulation and dental health.
How much magnesium do we actually need?
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of magnesium is 300mg per day for adults.
What foods contain magnesium?
We can get magnesium from our diets by consuming a range of foods. Here are 8 foods that are rich in magnesium – try to incorporate a mix of these throughout the week.
- Spinach
- Pumpkin seeds
- Courgette
- Legumes (e.g. kidney beans)
- Whole grains (e.g. brown rice, oats)
- Dark chocolate
- Avocado
- Almonds
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Check out my other nutrition-related blog posts below
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- The Gut Microbiome: Fun Facts
- Gut Health: 6 Top Tips
- Prebiotics vs. Probiotics
- Plant-Based Protein
- Nuts About Nuts
- Benefits of Matcha + 3 ways to have it
