Have you ever been sitting at your computer for several hours and then the muscles in your neck, shoulders, upper back, hips start to burn?  This could obviously be your posture, a bad chair, the wrong keyboard height, etc., but it could also be a magnesium deficiency.  This type of pain used to happen to me all the time until I was reading about magnesium one day and decided to add it to my regimen.  It made a really big difference and now I hardly ever experience that burning pain.  Magnesium works with calcium to maintain the nerve and muscle impulses (as well as maintaining the bone density).  Most people take in enough calcium, but not enough magnesium.  Lack of magnesium can cause muscle spasms, weakness, and twitching. Also to note, magnesium can help with decreased energy, depression, insomnia, PMS, body temperature regulation, cardiovascular disease, blood sugar regulation, and so much more.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the Recommended Daily Allowance for adults is 420mg for men and 320mg for women.  I usually take about 240mg (120mg twice daily) and then try to eat the rest. Foods high in magnesium include: dark green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach, collards), nuts & seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, dairy products, bananas, dried figs, dark chocolate (yay!), apples, apricots, peaches, and lemons.  If you are going to take magnesium, look for varieties such as magnesium glycinate or magnesium taurate.  Magnesium citrate will cause a swift evacuation of your bowels, if you know what I mean. 🙂

If you have benefited from adding more magnesium to your life, please comment below.  If you would like to talk with me personally about your diet and possible mineral deficiencies, click here to learn more about my practice, or here to schedule your private one-on-one consultation.  If you want more articles like this, sign up for my weekly newsletter using the form on the right side of this page.  Here’s to no more burning pain!