If you’re on a low carb diet you should determine whether or not you have low magnesium levels. Check to see if you have any of these symptoms:
General
- anxiety, lethargy, weakness, agitation, depression, dysmenorrhea, hyperactivity, headache, irritability, dysacusis, low stress tolerance, loss of appetite, nausea, sleep disorders, impaired athletic performance
Musculature
- muscle spasm, cramps in the soles of the feet, leg cramps, facial muscles, masticatory (chewing) muscles, and calves, carpopedal spasm, back aches, neck pain, urinary spasms
Nerves
- nervousness, migraine, depression, nystagmus, paraesthesia, poor memory, seizures, tremor, vertigo
Gastrointestinal tract
- constipation
Cardiovascular
- risk of arrhythmias, hypertension
Electrolytes
- hypokalaemia (low potassium), hypocalcaemia (low calcium), retention of sodium
Metabolism
- increased blood triglycerides and cholesterol, decreased glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, increased risk of metabolic syndrome, resistance to vitamin D
Misc
- asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, hypertension, altered glucose homeostasis (pre-diabetes)
If you think you need to increase the level of magnesium in your body, try to implement these solutions (the more the better):
- Dietary – nuts (almonds, cashews, brazil, peanuts), seeds (especially pumpkin), dark chocolate (you might be craving this because your body is asking for magnesium), avocado, cooked spinach, sea vegetables, mineral water
- Supplements – ask your doctor (you don’t want to imbalance electrolytes)
- Topical – one of the most efficient and safest ways is through magnesium oil. The reasoning is that it might be able to get into the lymphatic system beneath the dermis and enter the circulatory system, bypassing the regulation through the GI tract and hereby increasing serum magnesium. The most popular brand is Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil Spray. It worked for my leg cramps within days. You can read their guide to applying it here.
- Homeopathic – mag phos is a nerve and muscle relaxant. It’s especially effective for those with prolonged magnesium depletion because it opens shut down receptor sites. Magnesium is directly added to your blood and gives instant relief from twitching. It’s also been reported that it helps you to ‘feel comfortable within your body’.
Conserve your existing magnesium stores by:
- eating organic produce (herbicides & pesticides deplete magnesium)
- cutting down on alcohol
- taking time out for yourself to de-stress
- using a tap filter (fluoride)
For further reading: The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me as I’ve been through magnesium deficiency myself.
