If you are also experiencing things like fatigue, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, or sleep problems, then this could be due to magnesium deficiency. Know which symptoms can make it beneficial to get magnesium tested.
Magnesium Deficiency: Magnesium is a small mineral but its deficiency can cause major problems in the body. If things like fatigue, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat or sleep problems are happening continuously, then getting the magnesium level checked can be beneficial. This deficiency can be overcome with the right diet, balanced lifestyle and timely medical advice.
Magnesium is an extremely important mineral for our body which helps in maintaining the strength of bones, proper speed of muscle development, heartbeat and balance of the nervous system. But due to today's hectic life and poor eating habits, many people suffer from magnesium deficiency.
What causes magnesium deficiency?
There can be many reasons behind magnesium deficiency. The most common reason is bad eating habits, i.e. a diet that lacks green vegetables, nuts, whole grains or fruits. The second major reason is eating highly processed food, which has very little amount of nutrients.
Stomach diseases are also the cause of magnesium deficiency-
Apart from this, stomach diseases like IBS, chronic diarrhea or celiac disease also do not allow the body to absorb magnesium properly. Some people take excessive amounts of diuretic medicines or antibiotics, which also causes this mineral to be expelled from the body. Excessive consumption of alcohol also causes magnesium deficiency.
What are the effects of magnesium deficiency on the body?
– In the beginning, the symptoms of its deficiency may seem very common – like fatigue, lack of appetite, muscle cramps or spasms. But if it is not cured in time, it can take the form of many serious problems.
– Due to deficiency, a person may often feel irritable, have trouble sleeping, and have irregular heartbeats. Muscle cramps and tingling in hands and feet are common symptoms of this. In many cases, increased blood pressure, weakened bones, and problems related to thyroid or diabetes can also be caused by this.
– Some studies have found that long-term magnesium deficiency also increases the risk of depression and migraine. It can also disturb the balance of calcium and potassium in the body, which has a bad effect on the heart and muscles.
What is prevention and treatment?
To avoid magnesium deficiency, it is important that you include green leafy vegetables (spinach, fenugreek), dry fruits (almonds, cashews), seeds (flaxseeds, sunflower), whole grains and pulses in your diet.
If you already have any digestive disease or this deficiency is happening due to medicines, then supplements can be taken after consulting a doctor. But do not take supplements without testing, because excess of magnesium can also be harmful.
