Are You Getting Enough Magnesium in Your Diet?
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While no one food has a huge amount of the mineral, you can try keeping magnesium-rich foods such as dark leafy greens, legumes, nuts and whole grains in regular rotation, Joan Salge Blake, clinical associate professor of nutrition at Boston University, told Consumer Reports. In general, foods containing dietary fiber provide magnesium. Foods that provide at least 60 milligrams per serving include a half-cup of cooked spinach, an ounce of almonds, a half-cup of cooked black beans and a cup of cooked brown rice.
“Magnesium deficiency has been associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety and difficulty relaxing, which are key ingredients to getting good sleep at night,” pulmonologist Raj Dasgupta told the Times. He is a professor of pulmonary and sleep medicine at the University of Southern California. Magnesium interacts with an important neurotransmitter that favors sleep, he said. However, older people should take caution before considering magnesium supplements, which can have side effects, especially for people with kidney problems or other medical issues. Supplements can conflict with other medications and result in excess magnesium intake. It is best to talk with your doctor and try to include more magnesium-filled foods in your diet first. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS
Are You Getting Enough Magnesium
This powerful nutrient can help with sleep quality and muscle and bone strength
In general, foods containing dietary fiber provide magnesium, including dark leafy greens, legumes, nuts and whole grains. iStockphoto/Getty Images and muscles and supports a healthy immune system. It also plays a role in keeping our heartbeat steady and bones strong. Current recommended daily requirements of magnesium for adults 51 and older is 420 milligrams for men and 320 milligrams for women. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. There are not many obvious symptoms of low magnesium. For healthy people, the kidneys help retain magnesium by limiting the amount lost in urine. However, low intakes over a long period of time can lead to magnesium deficiency. "Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and weakness. Extreme magnesium deficiency can cause numbness, tingling, muscle cramps, seizures, personality changes and an abnormal heart rhythm," according to the NIH.Older adults and magnesium br
Roughly 70 to 80 percent of those older than 70 fail to meet their daily magnesium needs, according to Consumer Reports. Older adults have an increased risk for magnesium deficiency because they tend to consume fewer than younger people. In addition, older adults' bodies may absorb less of the mineral in what they eat, and their kidneys may excrete more of it through their urine.While no one food has a huge amount of the mineral, you can try keeping magnesium-rich foods such as dark leafy greens, legumes, nuts and whole grains in regular rotation, Joan Salge Blake, clinical associate professor of nutrition at Boston University, told Consumer Reports. In general, foods containing dietary fiber provide magnesium. Foods that provide at least 60 milligrams per serving include a half-cup of cooked spinach, an ounce of almonds, a half-cup of cooked black beans and a cup of cooked brown rice.
The connection between magnesium and sleep br
Some small studies have found a link between low levels of magnesium and sleep difficulties, the New York Times reported.“Magnesium deficiency has been associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety and difficulty relaxing, which are key ingredients to getting good sleep at night,” pulmonologist Raj Dasgupta told the Times. He is a professor of pulmonary and sleep medicine at the University of Southern California. Magnesium interacts with an important neurotransmitter that favors sleep, he said. However, older people should take caution before considering magnesium supplements, which can have side effects, especially for people with kidney problems or other medical issues. Supplements can conflict with other medications and result in excess magnesium intake. It is best to talk with your doctor and try to include more magnesium-filled foods in your diet first. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS