Magnesium Chelate
If you have a good balanced diet which includes leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds then chances are that you will be taking in sufficient magnesium to meet your body’s requirements. However, this makes you more of an exception rather than the rule as general health reports indicate that the majority of people may be insufficient in magnesium. Introducing magnesium supplementation in such a form as, say, magnesium chelate may be recommended by health care professionals.
Magnesium is necessary for many of the body’s functions and processes. It is generally considered as being important for cardiovascular health, maintaining control of blood sugar and blood pressure levels, facilitating nerve conduction and providing support to the nervous system.
There are reports that that supplementing with magnesium may help reduce your risk of congestive heart failure and heart arrhythmia. Taking chelated magnesium supplements may assist the treatment of both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. In addition, headaches, bone strength, hypertension and depression may all be impacted in a positive way by magnesium supplementation (although please consult your health care professional before taking any supplements).
Types of Magnesium
Visit any shop that stocks magnesium supplements and it is likely that you will be confronted with a plethora of different types and it can be confusing to ascertain which is the best product for you. Most dieticians and nutritionists who include magnesium in a mix of supplements to take would recommend that you buy a product that offers a form of magnesium that can be relatively easily absorbed by the body.
Minerals such as magnesium must be bound to a carrier molecule for absorption and transport around the body. The molecule that the magnesium is bound to well impacts on how well it is absorbed and ultimately how well it is utlilised by the body.
What is Chelated Magnesium
Chelated magnesium indicates that the mineral is bound to an anion in two or more places. Some commercially available examples of magnesium chelates include magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate and magnesium amino acid chelate. The perceived advantage of chelated minerals is that they are more likely to survive the passage from the stomach to the small intestines intact and hence a greater amount of the magnesium will be absorbed.
The word chelation derives from the Greek word for claw. Chelation specifically implies that a mineral is held in place by a larger molecule, such as an organic molecule or amino acid in effect like a claw would hold a small object. To chelate means that the normally reactive magnesium ion is inhibited from interacting with other reactive substances.
Side Effects/Safety of Chelated Magnesium
If you are considering taking any supplements then the standard recommendation of speaking to your doctor is strongly advised. If you start to use chelated magnesium supplements, then this is no requirement to limit the amount of magnesium in your diet, but you should to steer clear of taking more than 350 milligrams of supplementary magnesium per day. Excessive magnesium supplementation has been reported to resulting in breathing difficulty, possible severe falls in blood pressure and other side effects.
Typical side effects of chelated magnesium supplements include vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and/or stomach cramps. Pregnant or breast-feeding women and should not take chelated magnesium without the express permission of their doctor.