We’ve all heard that exercise is important for our blood and lymphatic circulation. Exercise tones the muscles, creates compression and literally pushes fluids through the body. Exercise also greatly serves us in our ability to release toxins and waste from our cells and release those toxins through sweat and urinary function. Nutrition is paramount in providing the support needed for proper muscle function.

Maintaining healthy muscle tissue is vital for our overall health. Magnesium plays an important role in that function, supporting our muscles in their intake of oxygen, production of energy, and the balance of electrolytes.

The topic of exercise and magnesium balances in the body has been studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Human Nutrition Research Center, a division of the Department of Agriculture in Grand Forks, North Dakota, researched the typical diet and magnesium deficiencies, the affect of exercise on magnesium balance, and the use of magnesium in sports and strenuous activities.

Does the amount of magnesium we carry in the body affect our ability to perform? Sweating and urination increases with intense physical activity such as exercise, and with that our magnesium supply can decrease as much as 20 percent. With magnesium balances tied to over 300 key body functions it is worth reviewing the connection between health, fitness through exercise, and mineral balance.

Dietary surveys show a magnesium intake of less than 260 mg/day for males, and 220 mg/day for female athletes may result in a magnesium-deficient status. Studies also show that a great number of people routinely are deficient in magnesium. Athletics that require weight control tend to be more susceptible to a low magnesium level.

We can’t prove that magnesium does improve our performance in sporting and competitive events. It was noted in the U.S. Department of Agriculture study that giving the body an adequate supply of magnesium does aid in exercise performance.

Continued research on the affects of magnesium and the perils of a magnesium deficiency can guide us in the direction of healthier living. Attention to our electrolyte balance for all our vital minerals brings greater support to both the peak performance oriented athletic function and the average fitness program alike.

We bring magnesium into our systems by eating a diet rich in natural, whole, fresh foods. Many fruits and vegetables contain levels of magnesium. Conditions such as leaky gut or candida, or other conditions that diminish digestion can decrease our ability to absorb magnesium from our diet. We can introduce more magnesium into our bodies transdermally through a magnesium salt bath or magnesium topical spray. Magnesium is known to aid in the healing of muscles, improve skin, and promote restful sleep.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 12:44 am and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.