 There seem to be an increasing number of articles in the media about people getting “out of control”. Is this a growing trend? Incidents include road rage, people becoming impatient as they wait in line, or more reports about the need to medicate students because of their inappropriate behavior in the classroom, viz. mouthing back to the teacher, inability to sit still, inability to focus, or creating a ruckus. This is all very disturbing.
There is another way to view these people. Many of them, instead, may be deficient, or better stated, insufficient, in nutrients, especially magnesium. The US National Academy of Science's Food & Nutrition Board has established that the average American 14 or older is magnesium-deficient.
This is happening for two reasons. The first is that our soil is not as nutritious as it used to be. Farmers generally do not add magnesium back to the soil. Thus the soil has become depleted. There has even been testimony before Congress about this.
Secondly, people are getting less and less magnesium in particular and nutrients in general, than we used to because people are eating more processed foods, fast foods, and easy-off-the-shelf foods than ever before. The processing depletes the foods of magnesium. A slice of whole-wheat bread has 24 milligrams of the mineral, while a slice of white bread has only 6. Magnesium is not added back to flour when it is processed the way other nutrients are. In addition, eating sugars (anything but whole fruit) literally washes some magnesium out of the body. Strenuous exercise uses up a lot of magnesium. It is estimated that we need about 400mg of magnesium per day to meet our minimum daily requirement. Unprocessed foods, whole grains, nuts and leafy greens are good sources for magnesium.
What are the symptoms of magnesium insufficiency? They include
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Poor sleeping habits
- Hyperactivity
- Fatigue
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle twitches
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Bed-wetting
- Creepy crawly feelings on the skin
- Grinding the teeth at night
- Tendency to violent behavior
 We all know people who have symptoms on this list. This list covers many of the conditions being treated with drugs today.
I have seen how providing nutrients and magnesium especially, can calm a hyperactive child, and help the child focus better. Recently a 58 y/o woman who had been suffering with back pain for several months consulted me. This woman already was on a healthy diet and was taking a significant amount of nutrients. She also complained of chronic constipation. Just adding 400mg of magnesium to her supplement schedule relieved both the back pain and the constipation.
Magnesium supplementation is found in many forms. The most common way to determine if a person is taking enough is to increase the amount until the person experiences loose stools or diarrhea. (Remember Milk of Magnesia? By the way, I do not recommend this as a nutritional source for magnesium.) The same standard can be used to determine an individual’s level for intake of vitamin C. For people who develop this symptom easily, magnesium glycinate often is more easily tolerated. The level tolerated is individual. One person may tolerate very little magnesium supplementation and be able to get adequate magnesium from a good diet while another requires 600 mg per day in supplementation in addition to the good diet. People who eat only vegetarian and vegan diets need to be especially careful to get enough magnesium.
Remember magnesium supplementation for many of the common ailments we suffer today.
Have a great and healthy year!
Cathie Lippman, MD
Book Nook
 Staying Healthy in a Challenging World by Cathie-Ann Lippman, M.D.
Originally planned for my patients, this new “Handbook” is great for everyone. The chapters are brief and to the point.
Topics include information about reducing your risk to getting the flu without taking the flu shot, about detoxification, and about preparation for surgery and what to do after. There is even a recipe for Bieler Broth!
If you would like a copy for yourself, it is available at the office by phone (310-289-8430) or by email (doclipp@gmail.com). The price is $12.50.
Buy one for yourself and pick one up for a loved one. Enjoy! |
