Monday, Mar 15th 2010

Are You Deficient in Magnesium? Your Body (and Mood) May Be Suffering

Unlike vitamin D and omega-3s, which seem to be all over the health headlines, magnesium isn’t a vitamin that we hear about all that often. However, research has found that a lack of this valuable mineral can make us feel pretty lousy; it can worsen premenstrual symptoms, bring on migraines and other aches and pains, and leave us feeling anxious and fatigued. And according to health experts, women frequently have insufficient amounts of magnesium in their system.

Getting ample magnesium in your diet cannot only help alleviate uncomfortable physical symptoms like cramps, headaches and constipation, but it can lift your spirits as well. Magnesium has been found to help improve mood and energy by producing and supporting the brain chemical serotonin. Increasing certain foods in your diet can help.

Try adding some of these magnesium-rich foods to your shopping cart:
Almonds
Avocados
Spinach
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
Peanuts
Soybeans
Black beans
Salmon
Halibut
Oysters
Grains: buckwheat, quinoa, oats, brown rice and amaranth