Vitamins are an essential part to maintaining a healthy mind and body. We’ve previously discussed the importance of Omega Oils but there are two vitamins in particular that are important to your overall physical health– magnesium and vitamin D.
Magnesium is naturally present in many foods, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines. According to population studies of average magnesium intake, less than 30% of adults consume the recommended daily allowance of magnesium and 20% only consume half the recommended amount. So what happens when you have a magnesium deficiency?
If you are not getting enough magnesium you can experience anxiety, times of hyperactivity, difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep, painful muscle spasms, muscle cramping, Fibromyalgia, facial tics, eye twitches or other involuntary eye movements. Magnesium deficiency has also been associated with a number of health issues such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, atherosclerotic vascular disease, sudden cardiac death, osteoporosis, migraine headache, asthma and colon cancer.
Magnesium is a required element of muscle relaxation, and without it our muscles would be in a constant state of contraction. It is extremely valuable to the body because every single organ in the human body needs it to function properly. Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate different biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation.
In addition to magnesium, Vitamin D is also essential. According to a study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, “43% of patients scheduled to undergo orthopedic surgery have insufficient levels of Vitamin D and two out of five of those patients had levels low enough to place them at risk for metabolic bone disease”.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is essential for bone growth and bone remodeling. Without enough Vitamin D, bones can become thin or brittle. Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation.
You can obtain Vitamin D in several ways—by eating certain foods, receiving sun exposure, and by taking supplements. Foods that contain Vitamin D include salmon, sardines, shrimp, fortified milk, eggs, and mushrooms.
Take a Free Nutritional Health Assessment at: https://valeopt.idlife.com
Want to know more about magnesium and vitamin D and how they can help you? Contact us at Valeo Physical Therapy— we would love to discuss it with you!
