Magnesium good for heart health?

Foods contain magnesim - photo by FFit.com

The daily stress of modern life can take its toll on our health. Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for obtaining deep relaxation and maintaining overall wellness.

While many are familiar with its roles in heart health, bone strength, and a healthy immune system, fewer people are aware of magnesium’s role in muscle relaxation and nervous system balance. During times of stress, magnesium stores in the body can be depleted.

Magnesium is an important element critical to bone development, and the proper development and maintenance of organs, tissues, and blood.

Magnesium sources include spinach, legumes such as beans and peanuts, nuts and seeds, whole grain bread and ‘hard’ tap water.  (Who really drinks ‘hard’ tap water anymore?)  Halibut is another excellent source of magnesium. Other foods that contain magnesium, although not in as abundant quantities include: milk, cheese, bananas, and avocadoes.

Here's a healthy snack for you and your children to enjoy. Ants on a Log: This classic camp recipe, is actually amazingly heart healthy. Ants on a log is celery, peanut butter, and raisins. Celery is very high in vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate, and dietary fiber. It is also low in calories, and helps in preventing high blood pressure. It lowers blood pressure because celery is full of pthalides, which are active compounds which can help relax the muscles around the arteries, thus lowering the pressure on the arties. Pthalides also help lower the hormones which cause stress levels to rise. All of that in a piece of celery! Peanut butter is very high in monounsaturated fat, the type of fat that is promoted in heart-healthy eating and is often heard in conjunction with the “Mediterranean Diet.” Peanuts are also high in vitamin E, niacin, and folate. New research has also shown that peanuts may be just as high in antioxidants as some fruits and vegetables. Peanuts are one of the best foods to eat, in moderation, to prevent cardiovascular problems and coronary heart disease. Raisins, the ants on the log, are one of the top sources of the trace mineral, boron. Boron is very important, especially for women, in bone health and prevention of osteoporosis. Who know that such a classic and simple after-school snack had such health benefits not just for the kids, but for the adults as well!

Magnesium sources are essential to helping the body regulate blood sugar, control blood pressure, maintain strong bones and a steady heartbeat. Research indicates that magnesium may also be beneficial in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The best way, if at all possible, to obtain a healthy amount of magnesium is to include natural magnesium sources, such as vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Introducing foods containing magnesium into the diet of a person, who has already developed a deficiency, may not be sufficient and it may be necessary to add supplements in order to raise magnesium levels to an acceptable point.

Great link for scientific evidence on magnesium:

Source Naturals National Science Educator Guy Devin, PhD, says, “Our western diet is sorely lacking in magnesium-rich foods—the deep green produce and whole grains rich with this mineral.” He adds, “Compounding this, low magnesium levels can lead to an increased release of stress hormones in the body.

Being nice is good for your heart!