“Magnesium is one of the main minerals in your body,” says Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D,, holistic nutritionist, and author of Super-Powered Immunity. “It’s necessary for strong bones and teeth, and helps muscles to relax—not just when we’re tense, which it does help, but for proper muscle movement as well. It’s nature’s relaxant and natural anti-inflammatory and is important for cardiovascular health.”
Since magnesium is a mineral not made in the body, you have to get it from dietary sources, Cook says. And if your diet falls short, you’re at higher risk for certain health problems.
“A magnesium deficiency is linked to a wide range of disorders, including cardiovascular disease, menstrual problems, and psychiatric disorders,” Schoffro Cook says.
Research has confirmed the many benefits of this important mineral. Here are a few to note.
Supports cardiovascular health
Ensuring you have the proper amounts of magnesium in your diet helps keep your heart healthy, by reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
How? High blood pressure can make your arteries less flexible, which reduces the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart, potentially leading to heart disease. Magnesium helps relax blood vessels.
Several studies confirm that a deficiency in magnesium increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. In 2022, The Food and Drug Administration agreed that “the totality of scientific evidence supports a qualified health claim on the relationship between magnesium and a reduced risk of high blood pressure in conventional foods and dietary supplements.”
Strengthens bones
Fun fact: 60% of your body’s magnesium is in your bones and helps bone formation.
“Bone mineral density is the measure of the amount of minerals within the bones and is usually an indicator of bone strength,” Schoffro Cook says.
Studies have shown that men and women with higher magnesium diets have higher bone mineral density. A…