Magnesium Deficiency: Symptoms and Supports

Magnesium deficiency can be difficult to diagnose as it does not show up in routine blood tests. Only 1% of the body’s magnesium is stored in the blood, so most doctors and laboratories don’t include magnesium status in their tests. This lack of attention to magnesium deficiency leads to misdiagnosis and millions of Americans suffering unnecessarily or being treated with expensive drugs when they could be cured with magnesium supplementation.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in the body, regulating calcium, potassium, and sodium, and is essential for the proper functioning of hundreds of enzyme systems. A deficiency can cause a wide range of symptoms, including muscle twitches, fatigue, numbness, tingling, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, and even hallucinations.

Magnesium deficiency is often overlooked by doctors, and even when they do test for it, many standard oral supplements are not easily absorbed. Children with autism spectrum disorders are particularly vulnerable to magnesium deficiency due to poor absorption, the stripped-down nature of many modern diets, and the fact that many processed foods are lacking in real nutrition.

Magnesium deficiency is also associated with diabetes and heart disease, with studies showing that those who consume more magnesium are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, many pharmaceutical drugs can drive down magnesium levels, and surgery performed without increasing magnesium levels can be dangerous.

Overall, magnesium deficiency is a significant health concern that is often ignored by the medical community, leading to unnecessary suffering and harm. Dr. Norman Shealy, a prominent figure in the field of holistic medicine, has stated that magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient. Despite this, allopathic medicine has largely overlooked the importance of magnesium, creating a significant gap in patient care.