Minerals accomplish all kinds of tasks to keep our bodies running, and one in particular — magnesium — has its own functions that make it a necessary component of human health. This mineral activates over 300 enzymes that help the body build proteins, strengthen bones, support nerve and muscle function, and regulate heart rhythm.
As with other essential minerals, the key to maintaining a proper magnesium level is through the foods we eat. A diet that lacks magnesium can spell a number of problems for the body; magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia) may bring on weak bones, muscle cramps, sleeplessness, and more severe cases may even lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
One 2018 study states that “approximately half of the U.S. population consumes less than the required amount of magnesium” because of dietary habits, the removal of minerals in processed food, and decreasing mineral richness in soil over the years.
For context, the Recommended Dietary Allowance for most male adults is 400-420 mg daily, and for most female adults, 310-320 mg daily. If this statistic has you anxiously wondering if your magnesium intake is enough, don’t fret. Shaping a diet that gives you a healthy amount of magnesium is easy with the right foods.
