Magnesium - Good info !!

[Janie]

Thanks Jo Anne
I read the article and did a foot soak and more lotion last night.
I keep plugging away at this.
I feel like I am doing this wrong when it comes to the Magnesium or something.

[Jumpindogs]

Just finished Magnificent Magnesium by Dr. Dennis Goodman. What an excellent read! Dr. Goodman is a highly credentialed cardiologist and his book not only describes the importance of magnesium in many physiological functions but also it's specific role in those functions and precisely how a mag deficiency affects the functions...that's like crack to those of us with science nerd brains.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/075 ... UTF8&psc=1

He also wrote books on K2 and Krill Oil. Reading both now.

About Dr. Goodman: "Dr. Goodman is board certified in cardiology, internal medicine, lipidology (cholesterol management), integrative medicine & cardiac CT. He has been consistently named as one of NEW YORK'S TOP DOCTORS, as featured in the New York Times and New York Magazine. In addition, he has been named as one of AMERICA'S TOP CARDIOLOGISTS and TOP PHYSICIANS. He is a renowned expert in in Preventative Medicine, Cholesterol Management, and complex cardiology."

More on Dr. Goodman: "Dr. Dennis Goodman, MD, FACP, FACC, FCCP, graduated Cum Laude and with distinction from the University of Cape Town Medical School in Cape Town, South Africa in 1979. He interned at Grootte Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa (where the first heart transplant was performed by Professor Christian Barnard in 1969). He completed his Internal Medicine residency and was Chief Medical Resident at Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He did his cardiology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine (associated with Dr. Michael DeBakey) in Houston Texas. He is Board Certified in internal medicine, cardiology, interventional cardiology, critical care, clinical lipidology, holistic (integrative) medicine and Cardiac CT imaging. In 1988 Dr. Goodman joined Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California. While at Scripps, Dr. Goodman's titles included Chief of Cardiology and Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. He spent 18 months at the renowned Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in La Jolla, California. Dr. Goodman is currently a Clinical Professor and the Director of Integrative Medicine at NYU. His area of special interest is prevention, early detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease with an integrative approach for optimal patient health care."

[Tarleigh]

Are there any foods you can eat instead of taking a magnesium supplement?

[Gabes-Apg]

some foods are high in magnesium, albeit the bad levels of minerals in our soils, mean that magnesium levels in foods is low and it would be impossible to consume enough food based sources to get the levels that our bodies require.
(heard a podcast the other day that said the actual mineral and nutrient content of our foods is about half what is claimed, as the soil condition has deteriorated that much in the past 10-20 years)

MC safe type foods that have magnesium, Kale, Mackerel
Nuts and seeds are high in magnesium - if you can consume a low fibre form like flour or nut butter. Almonds, Cashews
(100 grams of these will give you about 170mg elemental magnesium )

[Jumpindogs]

Are there any foods you can eat instead of taking a magnesium supplement?

Yes but the problem is that our foods are grown in nutrient depleted soils. Some foods are thus fortified to compensate for those deficiencies but foods are not fortified with magnesium.

[Tarleigh]

Thanks everyone, I wanted to try food first not sure if I am low in magnesium, my test said no but from what I have read in here you need extra, I love kale eat it most days so can add a bit extra and as for almonds and cashew can down a packet a day no problems ..LOL I usually eat a mix of them with brazil nuts too ( raw and unsalted)

[Lilja]

In the book, Carolyn says that the norm for how much mag to take used to be 'increase the dose gradually, once you start to have D, reduce back to the level that you don't have D'

She does suggest getting the test that will accurately show mag levels in the cells, the magnesium RBC test is more accurate than the serum (avail via direct labs if your doctor won't assist) then work on figuring out the type of mag, and delivery method that works best,
She also states that her recommended level for magnesium is basically the higher end of the 'normal range' of the rbc test.

Linda, forecast is for rainy weekend here, perfect for reading and sharing info with my pp mates !!

Pat, if you are still unsure maybe email her, the fact she has a free e-book and her very open helpful tone in the book I am reading, she sincerely wants people to be well!

Chris, great info,
I was already aware it was going to take me 6 months to correct the deficiency, now with my Pyrrole result, we know another reason why, and have some science as to how to fix various nutrient/mineral issues in my cells. We think it will be about 9 months to fix the various issues.

Gabes,

I'm just reading about magnesium and blood tests:

Only 1 % of the body's total magnesium can be found in our blood, while the rest is divided between the skeleton (60%), muscles (20%) and other tissues like heart and liver. That is why serum magnesium test is not an optimal way to measure the magnesium levels. 24-hour excretion of magnesium in urine is probably a better parameter.

Lilja

[Gabes-Apg]

as far as I know, the Magnesium serum test is different to the magnesium RBC test
regardless, the only ACCURATE test is tissue testing. (which is not really part of mainstream testing)

that is why like many things, 'listen to your body' is your best way forward...

[Jumpindogs]

In the book, Carolyn says that the norm for how much mag to take used to be 'increase the dose gradually, once you start to have D, reduce back to the level that you don't have D'

She does suggest getting the test that will accurately show mag levels in the cells, the magnesium RBC test is more accurate than the serum (avail via direct labs if your doctor won't assist) then work on figuring out the type of mag, and delivery method that works best,
She also states that her recommended level for magnesium is basically the higher end of the 'normal range' of the rbc test.

Linda, forecast is for rainy weekend here, perfect for reading and sharing info with my pp mates !!

Pat, if you are still unsure maybe email her, the fact she has a free e-book and her very open helpful tone in the book I am reading, she sincerely wants people to be well!

Chris, great info,
I was already aware it was going to take me 6 months to correct the deficiency, now with my Pyrrole result, we know another reason why, and have some science as to how to fix various nutrient/mineral issues in my cells. We think it will be about 9 months to fix the various issues.

Gabes,

I'm just reading about magnesium and blood tests:

Only 1 % of the body's total magnesium can be found in our blood, while the rest is divided between the skeleton (60%), muscles (20%) and other tissues like heart and liver. That is why serum magnesium test is not an optimal way to measure the magnesium levels. 24-hour excretion of magnesium in urine is probably a better parameter.

Lilja

I've read that too, Lilja. But as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (our fancy name :D), I can tell you that lab tests can be designed to account for such discrepancies and many lab tests are based on an indirect method of quantification. IOW, they measure a related substance then do some fun math and come up with a representative answer.

The defining challenge for measuring magnesium, as I understand it, is that the body "steals" magnesium from the tissues in order to keep circulating magnesium...the magnesium being tested in the serum magnesium test...maintained at a consistent level since it is such an important electrolyte. So your serum magnesium will be normal until your tissue stores are depleted to such a degree that they can no longer supply magnesium to your circulation. At that point your serum magnesium will drop indicating a critical low.

The serum magnesium test is like hiking a mountain blindfolded...you won't know you are gonna bite the dust until you feel yourself falling over the edge of that cliff. At that point it is painfully obvious.

[Jumpindogs]

as far as I know, the Magnesium serum test is different to the magnesium RBC test
regardless, the only ACCURATE test is tissue testing. (which is not really part of mainstream testing)

that is why like many things, 'listen to your body' is your best way forward...

Agreed! In my very limited experience that has been the case. Since supplementing with both oral (Doctor's Best) mag and topical (Life Flo lotion) mag, my leg cramps and heart palpitations have stopped. Maybe it's coincidence. But I doubt it.

[Sheila]

Interesting thread. When I changed brands and dosages of magnesium, I began getting toe and leg cramps again. The tiny health food store here in the NC mountains doesn't have the variety I find at home in Florida. I doubled the magnesium dosage and put the Life-flo cream on my feet when I feel a cramp coming. No more cramping. Magnesium is so important for those of us with MC and other AI diseases.

Thanks for the great explanation re magnesium depletion.

Sheila W

[Jumpindogs]

Thanks everyone, I wanted to try food first not sure if I am low in magnesium, my test said no but from what I have read in here you need extra, I love kale eat it most days so can add a bit extra and as for almonds and cashew can down a packet a day no problems ..LOL I usually eat a mix of them with brazil nuts too ( raw and unsalted)

Tarleigh, the vast majority of Americans are mag deficient based on our diets...not only because of what we eat but due to the depleted soils our food is grown on...and based on the many conditions and drugs that deplete magnesium. Most of us have taken antibiotics and calcium supplements. Many have also taken acid blockers, antacids, birth control pills, blood pressure meds...the list of mag depleting drugs goes on. Plus likely all of us here have absorption problems due to our GI issues. But back to diet...if mag is not in the soil the plant grows in that soil won't be able to absorb it. Unless you grow your own kale in soil you've had tested for adequate nutrient content or buy kale with the same qualifications, you prolly aren't getting much mag from that kale. It's safe to assume the same about nuts since most of the popular nuts are grown in the U.S. Brazil nuts are not but over consumption can lead to selenium toxicity so use caution with those. http://www.livestrong.com/article/50643 ... azil-nuts/

If you had the serum mag test it will be normal until your mag levels are critically low. So that test is useless for most folks.

Unless you have kidney problems, supplementing with mag won't hurt you although too much oral mag will be excreted via the bowel causing D...not what we want! If you are hesitant maybe start with some mag lotion. Life Flo mag lotion is a good bargain and you can prolly find it at your local health food store.

[Gabes-Apg]

Tarleigh
the brands mentioned by Joanne in her reply above are not readily available in Australia, (although you might be able to get them via Amazon or iHerb)

I buy magnesium lotion direct from manufacturer, NTS Health, Mag Sorb.
the best MC safe oral magnesium is the Ethical Nutrients one, and chemist warehouse frequently have it 40% off the tablets are easy to break in half so you can spread the dose of oral magnesium.

[tex]

The serum magnesium test is like hiking a mountain blindfolded...you won't know you are gonna bite the dust until you feel yourself falling over the edge of that cliff. At that point it is painfully obvious.

Excellent analogy.

And a lot of clinicians are apparently wearing blindfolds when they order those tests.

That quote is too good to allow it to just fade away. Would you mind if I use it in my next book? I won't mention your name.

Tex

[Tarleigh]

Thanks Cabes, I will try the chemist warehouse