Anxiety and Stress
Feeling anxious or stressed out? You are not alone. According to a recent survey by the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 45% of Americans are more worried in 2017 than they were in 2016! While several factors contribute to anxiety and stress that you can’t control such as feeling anxious or hectic schedules, deficiency of magnesium is a factor that you can readily take action to correct.
Research shows that low levels of magnesium are associated with high stress levels. A study by the University of Adelaide confirmed that hypomagnesemia is linked to conditions like headaches, physical stress, and mental stress. In the brain, magnesium interacts with the stress pathways uniquely, so when its levels are low, anxiety and stress can kick in. Supplementing with magnesium or incorporating foods rich in magnesium (like green veggies) is a simple way you can help to reduce your stress.
Magnesium deficiency is one of the widespread health problems. Studies suggest that more than 75% of Americans do not meet their RDA for magnesium. However, true deficiency (that can produce signs and symptoms) is much less common.
The signs and symptoms of hypomagnesemia are usually subtle unless your levels become critically low. Deficiency may lead to muscle cramps, fatigue, mental problems, osteoporosis, and irregular heartbeat.
If you believe you have magnesium deficiency, your suspicions can be verified with a simple blood test. Whatever the outcome, try to bring lifestyle and dietary changes to your daily routine. You should focus on regularly eating plenty of mineral-rich whole foods, such as nuts, seeds, beans, or grains.
These foods are also loaded with healthy nutrients. Including them in your daily diet not only promotes your overall health, but also lowers your risk of magnesium deficiency.