It’s been coined the master mineral and deemed as critical as water. But how exactly does it correlate to the process of ageing? The ways are numerous, but we’ll highlight a few of our standouts. From menopause to migraines, bone health to beautiful skin, you’ll be eager to lather up in magnesium cream by the time you’ve finished reading this. And remember, even if you’ve had a blood test that did not show up a deficiency in magnesium, only a small portion of magnesium stores actually sit in the blood. There are other areas more likely to be depleted that won’t be detected so simply.
Menopause
If our heart-warming reviews haven’t already convinced you, allow us to explain again what a miraculous impact magnesium can have on the unwanted signs of menopause. Magnesium deficiency makes the body less capable of dealing with stress, often leading to unstable emotions and in some cases, depression. Magnesium plays a major role in processing and managing the body’s hormones, many of which are altered and disrupted by menopause. By giving the body adequate amounts of hormone, you will be better equipped to deal with stress and hormonal changes that impact the body during this stage of life.
Metabolism
Over the years, a low metabolism has become an accepted part of the ageing process, and an accepted cause of uncontrollable weight-gain. A low metabolism is often caused not by the ageing process itself, but by a magnesium deficiency, with research showing that normalised magnesium levels can return metabolic rate to its younger, faster self. Goodbye sluggish digestion and unwanted kilograms on the waistline!
Sleep
If getting a good night’s rest and sleeping more than four hours has become difficult, you may be interested to learn that the body needs magnesium to produce melatonin, the hormone in charge of regulating sleep. Melatonin is produced via the pineal gland, which is a small gland shaped like a pine cone and located at the ‘third eye’, the space between the brows and backwards towards the top of the brain stem. The pineal gland is your internal ‘clock’ determining circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycles) and the melatonin it produces is a powerful antioxidant that helps brain detoxification. Adrenaline wakes us up and melatonin puts us into deep sleep. If your body produces too much stress hormone it will conflict and block the melatonin – the hormone you need for recovery! The more stress and the less sleep you get, the faster you wear out and age. Magnesium however dampens down the effect of adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormones) and helps promote sound sleep for production of melatonin for cell renewal and cleansing.
Immune System
Scientists at the University of Athens found that a low magnesium state is itself carcinogenic because magnesium is essential in the repair of DNA and production of new healthy cells. Magnesium is not only anti-inflammatory, but also strengthens the immune system to be able to fight off pathogenic invasion. Magnesium is a powerful cellular defence system. Without sufficient magnesium we become more susceptible to cancer, with the University even suggesting oncologists supplement their patients with magnesium during cancer treatments.
Arthritis
Anyone who has suffered from joint inflammation can empathise with the debilitating effects of arthritis. This inflammatory autoimmune disease has been deemed incurable, but prevention and pain management is much easier with plenty of magnesium. Of magnesium’s many functions, one of the most important is the control of calcium throughout the body by regulating cell calcium channels. If we eat dairy, nuts and seeds and/or green vegetables, chances are we are getting plenty of calcium. However it is the presence of magnesium that determines how well we use the calcium. As we get older magnesium stores become more and more depleted, which means there is not enough magnesium to counter the calcium. This can lead to ‘hypercalcemia’, which is too much free calcium roaming around the body where it shouldn’t be. In this case calcium can become a ‘bully’ and even block the little bit of magnesium you do have.
The more calcium and the less magnesium, the more muscles and joints tighten up and get hard and crunchier faster! Blood can become thicker and calcium can land on arterial linings causing arteriosclerosis and hypertension (high blood pressure). Magnesium however can move the free calcium back into the bones to strengthen them. Bone and joint health, strength and flexibility, are therefore dependent on adequate magnesium levels. Without enough magnesium we lose our cushioning and collagen support. Bones and joints start grinding up against one another causing irritation and eventually inflammation sets in. This causes even more acidic and free radical damage to the joint.
To cool down this ‘fire’ of inflammation you need a lot of magnesium and water. The two go hand in hand inside cells for proper detoxification and nutrient transport. RECOMMENDATION: Drink 2-3 litres of magnesium water every 24 hours. Enjoy a relaxing magnesium footsoak before bed to help promote sleep and sooth ankles and toe joints. Massage in Elektra Magnesium Cream or Lotion to tight muscles and joints. Follow up with Elektra Magnesium Oil Spritz if you need a higher dose in more acute cases. You can combine any of these methods to suit individual needs. Remember that you can’t overdose magnesium via skin as the body will only take up from the epidermis what it can cope with at one time.