You may or may not understand how important magnesium is for your body but it’s actually one of the essential nutrients your body needs to function properly! Despite that, very few people actually get the amount of magnesium that they regularly need. There are many magnesium deficiency signs your body sends out that you should keep a lookout for!

What Does Magnesium Do and Where to Get It?

Magnesium is a required mineral for the body to work properly. You need magnesium for well-regulated blood pressure as well as many other bodily processes. Without proper magnesium levels, the human body is unable to properly perform. Anyone who has low magnesium levels in their diet can develop gastrointestinal issues making it hard for their body to absorb the nutrients it needs can easily develop a magnesium chloride deficiency. (1)

While there are some foods high in magnesium such as dark chocolate, avocados, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and nuts, you can also invest in some supplements to boost your magnesium levels and avoid a deficiency. If you have a magnesium deficiency or if your body has difficulty absorbing nutrients, consider adding more magnesium-rich foods to your diet or investing in supplements. (2, 3)

3 Signs of A Magnesium Deficiency

1. Muscle Spasms and Cramps

Usually, muscle spasms and cramping are early, common signs of a magnesium deficiency. If you notice your muscles regularly twitching on varying parts of your body or face, consider adding some magnesium to your diet. If you don’t increase your magnesium levels, the twitching could get worse. Eventually, muscle cramps could begin any time of the day or night and worsen, becoming difficult to control. Stretches and massages can provide temporary relief, as can snacking on foods high in magnesium. (2)

2. General Fatigue

Usual tiredness, fatigue, and sleepiness at the end of the day, after a workout, or if you’re lacking proper sleep is all perfectly normal. However, you might notice that you’re tired on a regular, semi-permanent basis and that could indicate a magnesium deficiency. Since magnesium is responsible for the transportation of energy for your body, you can feel like you have no energy whatsoever when your magnesium levels are low. (2)

3. Mental Disorders

While mental illnesses and disorders can happen for a wide variety of reasons, they are one of the many possible consequences of a magnesium deficiency. One of the chief results of a magnesium deficiency is apathy. It is easily characterized by mental numbness or lack of emotion altogether. Magnesium deficiencies have also been linked to an increased risk of depression. While some scientists speculate that a magnesium deficiency might be associated with increased risk of anxiety, direct evidence for this is lacking. (2) 

It’s amazing how important this simple mineral is to your overall body function.  You can encounter muscle cramps or spasms, fatigue, and mental disorders without having a magnesium deficiency. But if you find yourself experiencing them regularly, you might want to look at your diet. Magnesium helps your body in so many ways. Adding more magnesium to your diet could end up making you feel better in ways you didn’t predict!