Magnesium supplements: what's the excuse? page

[Hilary]

OK, deliberately silly-provocative title, I admit it. But...

Vitamin D supplementation, because we're not running round outdoors naked on the savannah all day. Makes sense.

Fish oil supplementation, because the meat we eat nowadays has a messed-up ratio of Omega 6:3. Also makes sense.

Magnesium supplementation - which seems to be pretty common, with lots of people needing it to prevent night cramps - why?

Did Grok suffer from chronic night cramps for lack of magnesium pills? If not, why not?

(Are we getting mineral deficiencies because we're running scared of nuts and seeds?)

[naiadknight]

Nope. Most of the soil veggies areis grown in now has been depleted of so many of those micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, manganese and others that there's only a small percentage in them compared to what Grok saw. In order to compensate for that, we'd have t eat much more organ meat, which now many people do. So, to compensate for both of those, I/ we supplement as necessary.

[FairyRae]

One of the best ways to get magnesium is by swimming in mineral rich sea water. (Which is a major reason some folks like to supp w/ mag chloride oil, transdermally.) Swimming in mineral rich water, you will absorb lots of minerals through your skin. Most of us don't do this all that often though. This along w/ the (now lacking) minerals in soil mentioned by naiad are two big reasons to supplement.

[mayness]

I think I also heard that our water has less minerals than the water Grok would have been drinking out of streams and whatnot... but I don't remember the source so I have no idea if it's true.

[Tommy7]

Lol....I just posted about this curiosity in another thread. I'll paste my post here:

"Since I stared browsing these forums and others like it I've seen the mention of magnesium many times. Then sooner or later it was suggested that I may need it. I was also told that everyone needs to supplement because most everyone is low due to the SAD. When I was last at my cardiologist I suggested we might check my magnesium and also thyroid (something else suggested might be a problem by forum members). He told me they don't normally check mag anymore because it is rare that they find anyone is low . He said we would check mine. It turned out it was fine, just like he said it would.....thyroid too. I was also told on forums that my potassium might be low.....that too was fine also. My doc is starting to think I'm nuts."

[naiadknight]

As one on the trade for water treatment for small towns, I can tell you that, in TX at least, that's actually true, Mayness. It usually filtered out to soften the water or to make it meet USDA/ FDA/ EPA/ state agency water quality requirements.

[Hilary]

Ah - soil depletion - gotcha. Makes sense.

I'd still prefer to find it in food if I can. Hm. Is there any actual, direct evidence of people suffering bad effects from eating plenty of nuts and seeds? I know the theory about omega balance and phytic acid... I'm just wondering how it works out in practice with real food.

[naiadknight]

Im more concerned about the calories and carbs than o6's, just because they're such little macronurtient bombs.

[cillakat]

OK, deliberately silly-provocative title, I admit it. But...

Vitamin D supplementation, because we're not running round outdoors naked on the savannah all day. Makes sense.

Fish oil supplementation, because the meat we eat nowadays has a messed-up ratio of Omega 6:3. Also makes sense.

Magnesium supplementation - which seems to be pretty common, with lots of people needing it to prevent night cramps - why?

Because in an environment more closely resembling that in which we evolved, magnesium rich water was a significant source of said mineral - both orally, transdermally and via food caught from those waters.

Plus, grok didn't salt his food and got a *ton* more potassium than we do.


K

[Hilary]

Im more concerned about the calories and carbs than o6's, just because they're such little macronurtient bombs.

True - though so far I seem to be able to eat them without putting the weight back on.

Because in an environment more closely resembling that in which we evolved, magnesium rich water was a significant source of said mineral - both orally, transdermally and via food caught from those waters.

Plus, grok didn't salt his food and got a *ton* more potassium than we do.


K

Also makes sense. You often do .