PCBs found in 10 fish oil supplements
A California lawsuit is accusing several fish oil supplement manufacturers of selling fish oils that contain unsafe levels of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds, also known as PCBs. The state's Proposition 65 requires products that may contain toxic ingredients above safe levels to have warning labels for consumer safety.
Five supplement companies, CVS and Rite Aid drug stores, and Omega Protein, Inc., the world's largest producer of omega-3 fish oil, are all named in the suit, which the plaintiffs hope will bring light to fish oil contamination problems. They also hope to see more accurate labeling of fish oils that includes specifics about contaminants like PCBs; that way, consumers will be able to make better decisions about which kinds are safe to buy.
The PCB chemical family consists of 209 different chemical compounds, all of which were tested for in the lawsuit by a California lab. That same lab also tested each of the product samples for 12 of the most toxic PCB compounds. It then evaluated each sample in terms of daily exposure to PCBs overall, and daily exposure to PCBs in terms of toxicity.
The brands tested included Nature Made, Twinlab, Now Foods, Solgar and GNC. Each brand included various types of fish oil, including cod liver, shark liver and salmon. Those that tested the lowest for PCBs contained one-70th the amount of those with the highest levels, indicating a significant difference in contamination among various brands, and types, of fish oil.
According to David Roe, the man who filed the lawsuit in San Francisco's Superior Court, the oils that tested highest exceed California's daily limit for PCBs by a factor of ten in terms of cancer risk. On the same token, some of the oils tested very low, and are not of particular concern to consumers. Read more
Monday, August 31, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Vitamin B12 Benefits: 4 Types and Their Health Benefits
Vitamin B12 Benefits: 4 Types and Their Health Benefits
Vitamin B12 is a lot like a key, opening up doorways that lead to an array of metabolic, cellular processes. Like a key, vitamin B12 is unique among all other vitamins in both structure and function. Plants, animals, and fungi do not create it, unlike most dietary nutrients. While bacteria in the gut can create B12, it is unproven as to whether or not the production is adequate. Without this important nutrient, cellular function would cease and energy would plummet. Considering that B12 contributes to the production of ATP, many people with low energy levels will often get vitamin B12 injections. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among both vegans and meat eaters alike, and more people today are reaching for supplementation.
Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
This essential nutrient, mostly available from animal sources, protects nerve and brain cells from free radical damage. B12 has also been shown to reduce pain associated with neuropathy. [1] The vitamin contributes to the creation of healthy DNA and RNA (the human body’s genetic material). It also works with other B vitamins to form red blood cells, support immune system health, improve mood, protect the cardiovascular system, and maintain overall energy levels.
The only natural sources of B12 are animal foods. This includes organ meats (liver and kidney), eggs, beef, pork, seafood, and dairy products. These foods, however, often carry a heavy toxic burden, so supplementation with a vegan B12 supplement is often advised for most people. While vegetarians can get vitamin B12 through dairy, vegans need to supplement so as not to become deficient. Early symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, digestive problems, nausea, and loss of menstruation. Advanced symptoms include nerve pain, mental health disorders, infertility, impaired immune function, and anemia.
What are the 4 Types of B12?
Everyone should understand the importance of getting enough B12 in the diet, something that is usually easier said than done. Some estimates show up to 40% of the US population suffer from some form of B12 deficiency. That’s almost half of the population! Knowing the four different types of B12 will allow you to choose the right one for you.
1. Methylcobalamin
This is the most active form in the human body. It converts homocysteine into methionine, which helps protect the cardiovascular system. Methylcobalamin also offers overall protection to the nervous system. This B12 form can also cross the blood-brain barrier–without assistance–to protect brain cells. It contributes essential methyl groups needed for detoxification and to start the body’s biochemical reactions.
2. Cyanocobalamin
This synthetic version of vitamin B12 is created in a lab, which makes it the cheapest supplement option. It offers the most stable form of B12, although it does so through the presence of a cyanide molecule. While the amount of cyanide is not dangerous, it does require the body to expend energy to convert and remove it.
3. Hydroxocobalamin
Bacteria naturally creates this form of vitamin B12, making it the main type found in most foods. It easily converts into methylcobalamin in the body. Hydroxocobalamin is commonly used via injection as a treatment for B12 deficiency as well as a treatment for cyanide poisoning. Read more
Vitamin B12 is a lot like a key, opening up doorways that lead to an array of metabolic, cellular processes. Like a key, vitamin B12 is unique among all other vitamins in both structure and function. Plants, animals, and fungi do not create it, unlike most dietary nutrients. While bacteria in the gut can create B12, it is unproven as to whether or not the production is adequate. Without this important nutrient, cellular function would cease and energy would plummet. Considering that B12 contributes to the production of ATP, many people with low energy levels will often get vitamin B12 injections. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among both vegans and meat eaters alike, and more people today are reaching for supplementation.
Health Benefits of Vitamin B12
This essential nutrient, mostly available from animal sources, protects nerve and brain cells from free radical damage. B12 has also been shown to reduce pain associated with neuropathy. [1] The vitamin contributes to the creation of healthy DNA and RNA (the human body’s genetic material). It also works with other B vitamins to form red blood cells, support immune system health, improve mood, protect the cardiovascular system, and maintain overall energy levels.
The only natural sources of B12 are animal foods. This includes organ meats (liver and kidney), eggs, beef, pork, seafood, and dairy products. These foods, however, often carry a heavy toxic burden, so supplementation with a vegan B12 supplement is often advised for most people. While vegetarians can get vitamin B12 through dairy, vegans need to supplement so as not to become deficient. Early symptoms of B12 deficiency include fatigue, digestive problems, nausea, and loss of menstruation. Advanced symptoms include nerve pain, mental health disorders, infertility, impaired immune function, and anemia.
What are the 4 Types of B12?
Everyone should understand the importance of getting enough B12 in the diet, something that is usually easier said than done. Some estimates show up to 40% of the US population suffer from some form of B12 deficiency. That’s almost half of the population! Knowing the four different types of B12 will allow you to choose the right one for you.
1. Methylcobalamin
This is the most active form in the human body. It converts homocysteine into methionine, which helps protect the cardiovascular system. Methylcobalamin also offers overall protection to the nervous system. This B12 form can also cross the blood-brain barrier–without assistance–to protect brain cells. It contributes essential methyl groups needed for detoxification and to start the body’s biochemical reactions.
2. Cyanocobalamin
This synthetic version of vitamin B12 is created in a lab, which makes it the cheapest supplement option. It offers the most stable form of B12, although it does so through the presence of a cyanide molecule. While the amount of cyanide is not dangerous, it does require the body to expend energy to convert and remove it.
3. Hydroxocobalamin
Bacteria naturally creates this form of vitamin B12, making it the main type found in most foods. It easily converts into methylcobalamin in the body. Hydroxocobalamin is commonly used via injection as a treatment for B12 deficiency as well as a treatment for cyanide poisoning. Read more
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Dr Joel Fuhrman dares to speak out about medicine, health care
Dr Joel Fuhrman dares to speak out about medicine, health care
Dr Joel Fuhrman speaks out about the root cause of food addictions, why "enriched" processed foods actually lack the nutrients we need, and how to remove metabolic waste products from your body more easily. It's all part of an exclusive new video released by the Raw for Thirty group about the healing power of raw, living foods.
Watch the video here:
Dr Joel Fuhrman is one of the few doctors who really understands (and teaches) the healing power of nutrition. Rather than throwing pills at patients, Dr Fuhrman prefers to teach them how to unleash their own inner healing potential through high-nutrient foods and superfoods that bathe the body's cells in vitamins, minerals and a symphony of phytonutrients.
Symptoms are not always diseases
Dr Fuhrman really "gets it" when it comes to understanding the body's signals, too. He grasps the deeper truth that so-called "symptoms" of disease are often biological strategies used by the body in an attempt to heal. "Very often, the symptoms of disease could be the body trying to repair, trying to rejuvenate and detoxify from the cause of disease," he says in this video interview.
Watch the full interview
In it, Dr Fuhrman speaks out about the drug companies using much the same language that I've often written here on NaturalNews. He says:
"Drug studies are funded by the drug companies themselves. So you could say the fox is watching the hen house. They produce these studies, and if they're not favorable, they don't publish them. And they pay people to produce these, and the interpretation of the data is all done by the drug companies themselves, and there's a very powerful bias going on."
On the issue of the success or failure of conventional medicine, Dr Fuhrman once again lays it out and explains the link between modern medicine and the rapid loss of jobs in America:
"We're coming to a certain crisis in America because health care costs have skyrocketed to such a degree that businesses can't function anymore. And we're not seeing the benefits. We're spending more and more money on health care, but we're not seeing a healthier population for it."
The MSM conspiracy to silence the truth about health
In this exclusive interview, Dr Fuhrman even talks about how his interviews have been canned by the mainstream media:
"I've been interviewed by major media shows that have then taken the interview and canned it because their advertisers didn't allow it on. Many times! 20/20 was doing a major interview with some of my patients, but the higher ups decided at the last moment they're not gonna air the show!"
I would only add to that by saying this is a very common story among those doctors and nutritionists who know what they're talking about. Ask Dr Gary Null some time about how often he's been silenced, censored or had his stories stolen by the mainstream media, and you'll be really stunned into silence about the truth of what goes on behind the scenes in the media. (I've had major media shows cancelled too, thanks to pressure from MSM advertisers.) Read more
Dr Joel Fuhrman speaks out about the root cause of food addictions, why "enriched" processed foods actually lack the nutrients we need, and how to remove metabolic waste products from your body more easily. It's all part of an exclusive new video released by the Raw for Thirty group about the healing power of raw, living foods.
Watch the video here:
Dr Joel Fuhrman is one of the few doctors who really understands (and teaches) the healing power of nutrition. Rather than throwing pills at patients, Dr Fuhrman prefers to teach them how to unleash their own inner healing potential through high-nutrient foods and superfoods that bathe the body's cells in vitamins, minerals and a symphony of phytonutrients.
Symptoms are not always diseases
Dr Fuhrman really "gets it" when it comes to understanding the body's signals, too. He grasps the deeper truth that so-called "symptoms" of disease are often biological strategies used by the body in an attempt to heal. "Very often, the symptoms of disease could be the body trying to repair, trying to rejuvenate and detoxify from the cause of disease," he says in this video interview.
Watch the full interview
In it, Dr Fuhrman speaks out about the drug companies using much the same language that I've often written here on NaturalNews. He says:
"Drug studies are funded by the drug companies themselves. So you could say the fox is watching the hen house. They produce these studies, and if they're not favorable, they don't publish them. And they pay people to produce these, and the interpretation of the data is all done by the drug companies themselves, and there's a very powerful bias going on."
On the issue of the success or failure of conventional medicine, Dr Fuhrman once again lays it out and explains the link between modern medicine and the rapid loss of jobs in America:
"We're coming to a certain crisis in America because health care costs have skyrocketed to such a degree that businesses can't function anymore. And we're not seeing the benefits. We're spending more and more money on health care, but we're not seeing a healthier population for it."
The MSM conspiracy to silence the truth about health
In this exclusive interview, Dr Fuhrman even talks about how his interviews have been canned by the mainstream media:
"I've been interviewed by major media shows that have then taken the interview and canned it because their advertisers didn't allow it on. Many times! 20/20 was doing a major interview with some of my patients, but the higher ups decided at the last moment they're not gonna air the show!"
I would only add to that by saying this is a very common story among those doctors and nutritionists who know what they're talking about. Ask Dr Gary Null some time about how often he's been silenced, censored or had his stories stolen by the mainstream media, and you'll be really stunned into silence about the truth of what goes on behind the scenes in the media. (I've had major media shows cancelled too, thanks to pressure from MSM advertisers.) Read more
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Walnuts improve the health of sperm, research suggests
Walnuts improve the health of sperm, research suggests
Eating a couple of handfuls of walnuts a day can improve the health of sperm, according to new research just published in the medical journal Biology of Reproduction.
According to the study, sperm shape, movement and overall vitality improved in men who added walnuts to their diets over the course of 12 weeks, the BBC said in detailing the study's findings.
Fatty acids found in walnuts are believed to have aided in sperm development, the study said, though it wasn't clear if they contributed to improving male fertility. About one in six couples are infertile, according to separate research, with 40 percent of those due to a male deficiency.
"It would be relatively easy to poke fun at studies like this, but there is increasing evidence to show that aspects of a man's diet can affect the number and quality of sperm produced by his testicles," said Dr. Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield in England, told the BBC.
Scientists said the next step in researching the findings would be to work with couples who are currently attending fertility clinics, to see if placing men with fertility issues or those with poor semen qualities, into a walnut-enriched diet would result in high conception rates.
No fooling - Walnuts
The study by UCLA's Fielding School of Public Heath involved 117 men between the ages of 21 and 35 who were divided into two groups. One of the groups added 2.6 ounces of whole-shelled walnuts to their daily diets, while members of the second group continued their same diet but avoided tree nuts.
Both groups ate typical Western-style fare.
"We found a significant improvement in sperm parameters in the group that consumed the walnuts," said Prof. Wendie Robbins, lead author on the study. "The men who ate no tree nuts saw no change."
Robbins added that sperm quality improved overall, in terms of concentration, shape, vitality and chromosome abnormalities. Read more
Eating a couple of handfuls of walnuts a day can improve the health of sperm, according to new research just published in the medical journal Biology of Reproduction.
According to the study, sperm shape, movement and overall vitality improved in men who added walnuts to their diets over the course of 12 weeks, the BBC said in detailing the study's findings.
Fatty acids found in walnuts are believed to have aided in sperm development, the study said, though it wasn't clear if they contributed to improving male fertility. About one in six couples are infertile, according to separate research, with 40 percent of those due to a male deficiency.
"It would be relatively easy to poke fun at studies like this, but there is increasing evidence to show that aspects of a man's diet can affect the number and quality of sperm produced by his testicles," said Dr. Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield in England, told the BBC.
Scientists said the next step in researching the findings would be to work with couples who are currently attending fertility clinics, to see if placing men with fertility issues or those with poor semen qualities, into a walnut-enriched diet would result in high conception rates.
No fooling - Walnuts
The study by UCLA's Fielding School of Public Heath involved 117 men between the ages of 21 and 35 who were divided into two groups. One of the groups added 2.6 ounces of whole-shelled walnuts to their daily diets, while members of the second group continued their same diet but avoided tree nuts.
Both groups ate typical Western-style fare.
"We found a significant improvement in sperm parameters in the group that consumed the walnuts," said Prof. Wendie Robbins, lead author on the study. "The men who ate no tree nuts saw no change."
Robbins added that sperm quality improved overall, in terms of concentration, shape, vitality and chromosome abnormalities. Read more
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Think pink to prevent dementia: natural pigment astaxanthin
Think pink to prevent dementia: natural pigment astaxanthin
It's time to "think pink". No, that's not just the familiar marketing slogan used to promote breast cancer awareness (and, it can be argued, to push the multi-million dollar breast cancer industry). Instead, thinking pink is something that could literally save your brain.
Scientists have documented that daily supplements of the natural pigment astaxanthin reduces the accumulation of compounds called phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) which are known to accumulate abnormally in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of people with dementia. Bottom line: the researchers from Tohoku University who are behind the study believe the pink pigment may well "contribute to the prevention of dementia."
That's great news because the mind-robbing malady known as dementia is a growing problem in the U.S. -- and mainstream medicine and Big Pharma have come up with little help and hope for the condition. In fact, according to the Alzheimer's Association, about 5.4 million Americans currently have the best known and most feared kind of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD). That number is expected to rise as the population ages.
Astaxanthin is a phytochemical known as a carotenoid. Like many carotenoids, it is a colorful, fat soluble pigment. Astaxanthin is found in types of microalgae and fish that eat them -- including salmon and trout as well as krill, shrimp, crayfish and other crustaceans. Its what gives salmon its pink color.
The new Japanese study, just published in the British Journal of Nutrition, involved thirty healthy subjects between the ages of 50 and 69 who were randomly assigned to receive or 6 or 12 mg of astaxanthin or a placebo each day for 12 weeks. The results showed that PLOOH levels in erythrocytes plummeted in the people taking the astaxanthin supplements -- falling 40% and 50% in the 6 and 12 mg groups, respectively, compared with no change in the placebo group. Read more
It's time to "think pink". No, that's not just the familiar marketing slogan used to promote breast cancer awareness (and, it can be argued, to push the multi-million dollar breast cancer industry). Instead, thinking pink is something that could literally save your brain.
Scientists have documented that daily supplements of the natural pigment astaxanthin reduces the accumulation of compounds called phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) which are known to accumulate abnormally in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of people with dementia. Bottom line: the researchers from Tohoku University who are behind the study believe the pink pigment may well "contribute to the prevention of dementia."
That's great news because the mind-robbing malady known as dementia is a growing problem in the U.S. -- and mainstream medicine and Big Pharma have come up with little help and hope for the condition. In fact, according to the Alzheimer's Association, about 5.4 million Americans currently have the best known and most feared kind of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD). That number is expected to rise as the population ages.
Astaxanthin is a phytochemical known as a carotenoid. Like many carotenoids, it is a colorful, fat soluble pigment. Astaxanthin is found in types of microalgae and fish that eat them -- including salmon and trout as well as krill, shrimp, crayfish and other crustaceans. Its what gives salmon its pink color.
The new Japanese study, just published in the British Journal of Nutrition, involved thirty healthy subjects between the ages of 50 and 69 who were randomly assigned to receive or 6 or 12 mg of astaxanthin or a placebo each day for 12 weeks. The results showed that PLOOH levels in erythrocytes plummeted in the people taking the astaxanthin supplements -- falling 40% and 50% in the 6 and 12 mg groups, respectively, compared with no change in the placebo group. Read more
Monday, August 24, 2015
Dr. Fuhrman Discusses Vitamins and Supplements
Dr. Fuhrman Discusses Vitamins and Supplements
In his books and in his practice, Joel Fuhrman, M.D. advocates eating foods that deliver optimal health. Yet he also recommends taking certain vitamins and supplements, like his Gentle Care Formula multiple. Here he discusses that recommendation.
Why Take Vitamins and Supplements?
Since most people's diets are not ideal and individual absorption and utilization varies from person to person, it makes sense to recommend that all people take a high-quality multiple to assure most favorable vitamin D, B12, zinc, iodine, and selenium status, to name a few.
Even if your diet is ideal, some people require more of certain nutrients than others. For example, it is not uncommon for some people to need extra vitamin D, or extra B12, even when their diets contain typical amounts of these vitamins. This is especially true regarding vitamin D because of the depletion of the atmosphere's ozone layer and subsequent increase in skin damage from the sun. Because of this, many people practice sun avoidance and wear sunscreen, which decreases their vitamin D production.
I also took into consideration my recommendation to avoid all salt added to food. Salt is iodinated, making it the primary source of iodine in most people's diets. Therefore, a multiple will assure adequate iodine intake in those who avoid adding salt to their diet.
Are there any problems with taking supplements?
The main problem with taking a typical multivitamin is that it may expose you to extra nutrients that you do not need. Sometimes too much of certain nutrients can have toxic or harmful effects. For example, I do not recommend taking supplements that contain vitamin A, isolated beta-carotene, or iron, because there are risks associated with consumption of these nutrients above what we receive in our diet.
Ingesting vitamin A or beta-carotene in isolation--from supplements, instead of from food--may interfere with the absorption of other crucially important carotenoids, such as lutein and lycopene, thus potentially increasing cancer risk. 1
The precursor to vitamin A, beta-carotene once was regarded as a safe and beneficial antioxidant and even recommended as an anti-cancer vitamin, but it has recently been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers when administered as an isolated supplement. Scientists now suspect that problems may result when beta-carotene is ingested without other carotenoids that would have been present had it been ingested from real food. Beta-carotene is only one of about 500 carotenoids that exist. Beta-carotene supplements are poor substitutes for the broad assortment of carotenoid compounds found in plants.
Why did researchers think that beta-carotene had such a powerful anti-cancer effect?
They had found that populations with high levels of beta-carotene in their bloodstream had exceedingly low rates of cancer. Recently, it was discovered that the reason these people were protected against cancer was because of hundreds of carotenoids and phytochemicals in the fruits and vegetables they were consuming. It wasn't that beta-carotene alone was responsible for the benefit; it was merely that it had served as a flag or marker for those populations with a high fruit and vegetable intake. Unfortunately, many scientists confused the flag for the ship. Read more
In his books and in his practice, Joel Fuhrman, M.D. advocates eating foods that deliver optimal health. Yet he also recommends taking certain vitamins and supplements, like his Gentle Care Formula multiple. Here he discusses that recommendation.
Why Take Vitamins and Supplements?
Since most people's diets are not ideal and individual absorption and utilization varies from person to person, it makes sense to recommend that all people take a high-quality multiple to assure most favorable vitamin D, B12, zinc, iodine, and selenium status, to name a few.
Even if your diet is ideal, some people require more of certain nutrients than others. For example, it is not uncommon for some people to need extra vitamin D, or extra B12, even when their diets contain typical amounts of these vitamins. This is especially true regarding vitamin D because of the depletion of the atmosphere's ozone layer and subsequent increase in skin damage from the sun. Because of this, many people practice sun avoidance and wear sunscreen, which decreases their vitamin D production.
I also took into consideration my recommendation to avoid all salt added to food. Salt is iodinated, making it the primary source of iodine in most people's diets. Therefore, a multiple will assure adequate iodine intake in those who avoid adding salt to their diet.
Are there any problems with taking supplements?
The main problem with taking a typical multivitamin is that it may expose you to extra nutrients that you do not need. Sometimes too much of certain nutrients can have toxic or harmful effects. For example, I do not recommend taking supplements that contain vitamin A, isolated beta-carotene, or iron, because there are risks associated with consumption of these nutrients above what we receive in our diet.
Ingesting vitamin A or beta-carotene in isolation--from supplements, instead of from food--may interfere with the absorption of other crucially important carotenoids, such as lutein and lycopene, thus potentially increasing cancer risk. 1
The precursor to vitamin A, beta-carotene once was regarded as a safe and beneficial antioxidant and even recommended as an anti-cancer vitamin, but it has recently been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers when administered as an isolated supplement. Scientists now suspect that problems may result when beta-carotene is ingested without other carotenoids that would have been present had it been ingested from real food. Beta-carotene is only one of about 500 carotenoids that exist. Beta-carotene supplements are poor substitutes for the broad assortment of carotenoid compounds found in plants.
Why did researchers think that beta-carotene had such a powerful anti-cancer effect?
They had found that populations with high levels of beta-carotene in their bloodstream had exceedingly low rates of cancer. Recently, it was discovered that the reason these people were protected against cancer was because of hundreds of carotenoids and phytochemicals in the fruits and vegetables they were consuming. It wasn't that beta-carotene alone was responsible for the benefit; it was merely that it had served as a flag or marker for those populations with a high fruit and vegetable intake. Unfortunately, many scientists confused the flag for the ship. Read more
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Warnings signs that you may have a magnesium deficiency
Warnings signs that you may have a magnesium deficiency
Magnesium has gained a lot of attention on blogs, social media sites and e-magazines dedicated to improving health. This is because research in the last several years has begun to uncover more and more information about all the amazing things that magnesium does for the body. To date, it has been found that magnesium is needed by the body for over 200 chemical reactions and that no bodily system is untouched by the need for this important mineral. Unfortunately, research is also coming to light that many Americans are magnesium-deficient and do not even know it! One important way to combat this problem is for the public to become aware of what the signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency are so that they can discuss the matter with their doctors and have the blood work done that can confirm – or rule out – this diagnosis.
The most common signs of magnesium deficiency are:
Fatigue
This is a difficult one, because there are many reasons why people could feel fatigue from day to day – including other mineral deficiencies such as iron deficiency (which can lead to anemia) or issues like poorly controlled blood sugar or undiagnosed sleep apnea. However, it is good to keep in mind that, because magnesium is needed by the body to maintain energy, low levels of it can result in feeling chronically tired.
Cramping and spasms
Because magnesium is needed by the muscles for their overall health, another sign that someone may be low on this mineral is cramping and spasms. So if this is a problem – particularly in absence of exercise or strenuous activity, it is definitely something that should not be ignored. Keep in mind, too, that is not an early warning sign, but rather an indication that the body has been suffering from low magnesium levels for some time.
Irregular heartbeat
The heart, of course, is a muscle and like any muscle it can be affected by a lack of magnesium. That is why people with magnesium deficiencies can often experience an irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia. This is a serious issue, because it can put someone at greater risk for forming a blood clot – and this blood clot can, in turn, cause a heart attack or a stroke. Read more
Magnesium has gained a lot of attention on blogs, social media sites and e-magazines dedicated to improving health. This is because research in the last several years has begun to uncover more and more information about all the amazing things that magnesium does for the body. To date, it has been found that magnesium is needed by the body for over 200 chemical reactions and that no bodily system is untouched by the need for this important mineral. Unfortunately, research is also coming to light that many Americans are magnesium-deficient and do not even know it! One important way to combat this problem is for the public to become aware of what the signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency are so that they can discuss the matter with their doctors and have the blood work done that can confirm – or rule out – this diagnosis.
The most common signs of magnesium deficiency are:
Fatigue
This is a difficult one, because there are many reasons why people could feel fatigue from day to day – including other mineral deficiencies such as iron deficiency (which can lead to anemia) or issues like poorly controlled blood sugar or undiagnosed sleep apnea. However, it is good to keep in mind that, because magnesium is needed by the body to maintain energy, low levels of it can result in feeling chronically tired.
Cramping and spasms
Because magnesium is needed by the muscles for their overall health, another sign that someone may be low on this mineral is cramping and spasms. So if this is a problem – particularly in absence of exercise or strenuous activity, it is definitely something that should not be ignored. Keep in mind, too, that is not an early warning sign, but rather an indication that the body has been suffering from low magnesium levels for some time.
Irregular heartbeat
The heart, of course, is a muscle and like any muscle it can be affected by a lack of magnesium. That is why people with magnesium deficiencies can often experience an irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia. This is a serious issue, because it can put someone at greater risk for forming a blood clot – and this blood clot can, in turn, cause a heart attack or a stroke. Read more
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