Magnesium
Magnesium, with the chemical symbol Mg, is one of the minerals that human beings need to have healthy bodies. About half of the magnesium in your body is found in the bone. The rest of the body's level of this mineral is distributed throughout the body with only about 1% being present in the blood.
The body does have to work hard to ensure that the level of magnesium stays constant in the blood because of the small amounts it contains. There are over 300 body functions that depend on magnesium, such as:
- nerve function
- a healthy immune system
- regulation of blood sugar levels
- maintenance of strong bones
- regulation of the metabolism in the body.
The best food sources of magnesium are green, leafy vegetables. This is because the chlorophyll, which gives the leaves their color, is an excellent source of this mineral. Other food sources include peas and beans, nuts and seeds and whole unrefined grains.
When grain products are refined, much of the magnesium is taken out of the grains in the production and refining process. You can also get trace amounts of this mineral from the tap water you drink, but hard water is better than soft water. Halibut also contains high concentrations of magnesium.
continue to Magnesium Part 2