Do you experience cramps? PMS? Depression?
These can be signs of magnesium deficiency.
Signs of magnesium deficiency
Insulin resistance, heart disease, depression, diabetes, osteoporosis, stress, PMS, cramping, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia, to name only a few, are conditions that have been linked to low levels of magnesium. Check out www.mgwater.com to learn more.
How can one nutrient be so powerful?
Magnesium is essential in helping to produce energy from our food, maintaining correct insulin function, and relaxing muscles. When someone is deficient in the critical mineral magnesium, the location of the muscles involved determines the effect:
- The muscles in the gut, which can potentially lead to constipation.
- The skeleton, causing restless legs and body cramps.
- Arteries, which may result in high blood pressure.
- Chocolate cravings!
Magnesium deficiency and PCOS
When we look at magnesium deficiency and PCOS, we find low levels have been found in patients with diabetes (who, as in PCOS, are insulin resistant).
Folks with metabolic syndrome and systemic, low-grade inflammation (again, common in PCOS–see Chapter 8 of my book Conquer Your PCOS Naturally) were also found to be low in magnesium. Low-grade inflammation is thought to be a significant cause of chronic illnesses and death, ie cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. PCOS elevates the risk of these illnesses.
Unsurprisingly, those with PCOS have also been found to have significantly lower serum levels of magnesium.
Magnesium-rich foods
It’s not hard to increase your magnesium intake!
Magnesium-rich foods include:
- Nuts (almonds, brazil, cashew, hazelnut, pecan, etc)
- Tahini
- Dried apples
- Banana
- Licorice
- Legumes
- Spinach
- Parsley
- Dark Chocolate (just not too much!)
- Passionfruit
- Blackberries
- Rasberries
- Sesame seeds
- Dried fruits, such as apples, apricots, dates (just don’t overdo it as they can be high in sugar and sulphites)
- Organic chicken
- Organic red meat
If you have PCOS, it’s essential to ensure you are getting sufficient amounts of magnesium and that you can effectively absorb it from your diet.
You can, of course, supplement as I do. After all, the magnesium levels in our food have dropped considerably over the past decades.
From PCOS to perfect health, with love,
Dr. Rebecca Harwin
The PCOS Expert
Chiropractor & Bestselling Author of
Conquer Your PCOS Naturally
www.ConquerYourPCOSNaturally.com
P.S. For more success strategies and scientific secrets, head to our Facebook page and hit ‘like’. There is so much more I have to share with you to balance your PCOS hormones!
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