Magnesium and Vitamin D
Need Each Other
Low Magnesium Levels Inhibit
Health Benefits of Vitamin D
You need to know about the relationship between magnesium and vitamin D before beginning supplementation of vitamin D.
Why? One critical reason -
Magnesium is required to metabolize vitamin D. If you do not have enough magnesium in your tissues, your body will not be able to properly utilize the vitamin D you take.
What if you take the vitamin D anyway?
Trust me; you'll be sad you did. Especially if you took a high vitamin D dosage (say 5,000 IU and up).
That's because you'll experience unpleasant gastrointestinal problems like painful cramping, copious amounts of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Also common is a rapid or irregular heart beat.
If you didn't know about the connection between magnesium and vitamin D, you might just assume that you were experiencing vitamin D side effects.
That would be quite unfortunate, because it's not the vitamin's fault - it's the lack of magnesium in your body that is making the vitamin D difficult to break down into a usable form.
It is very common for one nutrient to depend on others in our bodies. In fact, vitamin D needs several other nutrients to work its magic - namely zinc, boron, vitamin K, and vitamin A. Although magnesium is by far the most important vitamin D cofactor.
Low magnesium levels are probably the most common hurdle for people starting vitamin D supplementation.
Let me say this another way, since it is so incredibly important. If you do not have enough magnesium in your body, you will not be able to convert vitamin D into its active, useful, health-giving form.
Why am I harping on this relationship
between magnesium and vitamin D?
Most Americans have very low magnesium levels.
That's right - not only are most of us vitamin D deficient, we are magnesium deficient too.
Is it any wonder our health as a nation is in the toilet?
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions. Every single major biological process requires adequate amounts of this mineral, yet most of us do not come anywhere close to getting enough.
But getting enough magnesium isn't as easy as popping a pill.
Most oral forms of magnesium are not tolerated very well and can also cause digestive distress (mainly diarrhea and cramping).
Food sources of magnesium are well tolerated though and are an excellent way to get enough of this critical mineral. Magnesium rich foods are those high in chlorophyll (like leafy greens, wheat grass, fresh vegetable juices, kelp) as well as nuts, seeds, and seafood.
Topical magnesium supplements like magnesium oil are also excellent. I currently use Life-Flo Pure Magnesium Oil. I've tried the more expensive brands, but haven't noticed a difference.
It is a good idea to get your magnesium levels up first as opposed to starting magnesium and vitamin D together. That will give you the best results and enable you to steer clear from any digestive troubles.
