What is magnesium used for in the body?
The functions of magnesium include: • helping maintain normal muscle and nerve function • helping the body absorb calcium • keeping bones and teeth strong • relaxing muscles • supporting a healthy immune system • keeping a steady heart rhythm • helping regulate blood sugar levels • maintaining healthy blood pressure Nutritionist Patrick Holford, Director of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London, says magnesium has an excellent reputation as a mild tranquilizer. Before the Second World War it was often used to stabilize mood. Since the introduction of lithium, magnesium has been used less for mood stabilization. Recently, however, interest in magnesium’s affects on health, including mental health, has increased. One study found magnesium stabilized mood in people with bipolar disorder (manic depression) at least as well as lithium.
