Asurprise reason up to 75% of us struggle to lose weight and sleep soundly: “We need more of the mineral magnesium,” reveals Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of The Magnesium Miracle and Magnesium: The Missing Link to Total Health. Turns out, the mineral is required to help active enzymes that ignite over 600 body functions, with a huge impact from head to toe. Of concern: At least half of Americans aren’t getting enough magnesium. Dr. Dean says deeper sleep and effortless weight loss follow once a deficiency is reversed, especially for women over the age of 50. That was certainly the case for Las Vegas retiree Emily Piaseczny, 72, who credits magnesium-rich foods and magnesium powder with ending her sleeplessness and helping her drop 97 pounds. Keep reading to learn about the connection between magnesium and weight loss and find out how much the mineral can help you.
Why magnesium is important to total health
Magnesium is an “essential” mineral, which means our bodies require it for survival but can’t produce the stuff on their own. Magnesium is also an electrolyte, notes Dr. Dean. That means it helps ferry nutrients into our cells, helping our hearts beat, our muscles contract and our nerves function. On top of that, electrolytes are key to helping maintain a proper balance of fluid in the body. Translation: If you want to feel your best, you need magnesium.
The good news is that magnesium is richly supplied by many common foods, especially greens, nuts, seeds, dry beans, whole grains, wheat germ, wheat and oat bran. The bad news: It’s often missing from processed foods. “Much of our current food supply is monumentally depleted of magnesium,” says Dr. Dean, noting it’s a big reason hundreds of millions of us fail to get the recommended daily allowance of 310-320 milligrams for most women, 350-360 milligrams for anyone pregnant or nursing and 400-420 mg for men.