Did you know that magnesium influences many bodily processes, including digestion, energy production, muscle function, bone formation, creation of new cells, activation of B vitamins and relaxation of muscles, as well as assisting in the functions of the heart, kidneys, adrenals, brain and nervous system? The fact is that lack of sufficient available magnesium in the body can interfere with any or all of these processes. The National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, reports that there is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

A healthy magnesium level

Magnesium is an essential mineral. This means that the body doesn't manufacture it and it must be obtained through diet. Most people don't get enough magnesium. "If you wanted to take the most important, the number one, mineral in the human body that is sorely neglected," says noted author Sherry Rogers, MD, "it's magnesium. The average American diet, government studies show us, provides only 40%-less than half the magnesium that we all need in a day. So almost everybody is low!" A significant percentage of the population have below healthy magnesium levels, including many who already use magnesium. Why? First, the amount of magnesium required by the body is greater than people think. Second, most magnesium capsules and tablets are not completely absorbed by the body.

According to Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, and author of The Magnesium Miracle (Ballantine Books, 2007), "The powdered form [of magnesium] is the best because you start absorbing it straight away, even in the mouth. So, powdered first, and then capsules, and then tablets. The tablets usually have a lot of binders and fillers and are harder to dissolve than capsules."

Symptoms of magnesium depletion

Millions suffer daily from symptoms that can result from a lack of magnesium. Because magnesium is required for hundreds of enzymatic reactions (enzymes are protein molecules that stimulate every chemical reaction in the body), deficiency can cause a wide variety of symptoms, such as

• Low energy
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• PMS and hormonal imbalances
• Inability to sleep
• Weakening bones
• Muscle tension, spasms & cramps
• Abnormal heart rhythms
• Headaches
• Anxiousness
• Nervousness
• Irritability

What depletes magnesium?

Magnesium deficiency can be caused by a number of things, including-but not limited to-lack of adequate dietary magnesium, emotional stress, some drugs (diuretics, antibiotics, birth control pills, insulin, cortisone), heavy exercise, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and excessive calcium in the diet.

The conditions and symptoms listed above are correctable.

Let's look at some of the impacts low levels of magnesium can have on the body.

Calcium and Magnesium

Calcium and magnesium are two different sides of a coin. Calcium excites nerves while magnesium calms them down. Calcium makes muscles contract. Magnesium is necessary for muscles to relax. Calcium is needed for blood clotting but magnesium keeps the blood flowing freely.

It is easy to see that it is vital to keep these minerals in balance and that too little magnesium to balance calcium could be both uncomfortable and unhealthy.

The anatomy of stress

When stress becomes constant in our lives-be it mental, emotional, environmental or physical-the continual state of increased metabolic rate in our bodies and cells can be detrimental to our health. This is especially true when one is low in magnesium (a common condition).

Going through a stressful period without sufficient magnesium can set up a deficit that, if not corrected, can linger, causing more stress and further health problems (see symptoms above).

Without sufficient magnesium, the nerve cells cannot give or receive messages and become excitable and reactive. This causes a person to become stressed, highly sensitive and nervous. Feelings of nervousness, irritability and being unable to relax are signs of needing magnesium.

The stress response involves the influx of calcium into cells, resulting in a drastic change in the cells' internal magnesium-to-calcium ratio.

Normal cells contain 10,000 times more magnesium than calcium. If the amount of cellular magnesium falls, however, calcium flows into the cell. With such an imbalance, calcium puts the cell into a hyperactive state. This can cause muscle contraction and lead to painful cramping. Muscles need magnesium in order to relax.

Low magnesium/high calcium levels can cause cells to physically change. High calcium makes bones stiff and hard, which is good, but in soft tissues it becomes a problem of calcification. This stiffness in artery and heart cells can hamper proper function and can be a factor in heart disease.

Excess calcium is a very widespread problem. Excess calcium depletes magnesium in the body and, as a result, can bring about the symptoms of magnesium depletion mentioned above.

Noted author and researcher, Mildred S. Seelig, MD, explains: "Calcium is an important essential nutrient, but it must be guarded and controlled, and balanced by adequate magnesium if it is not to cause damage to the cells and the body as a whole."

For these exact reasons excess calcium can become a real problem, while excess magnesium, on the other hand, is not a concern. Unlike calcium, magnesium does not build up in the body-excess amounts are simply flushed out.

Osteoporosis

Consider the following: What country has the highest rate of pasteurized milk consumption? Answer: America. Now, what country has the highest calcium supplement consumption? America again. So, America should have the lowest occurrence of osteoporosis, calcium loss and bone fragility. Right? Wrong! We have the highest rate! Why? Excess calcium combined with low magnesium. Taking more calcium will rarely remedy a calcium deficiency. This is clearly evident from recent research studies. One study concludes that neither milk nor a high-calcium diet appears to reduce the rise of osteoporotic hip fractures in postmenopausal women.1 Another study concluded that findings "do not support the hypothesis that higher consumption of milk or other food sources of calcium by adult women protect against hip or forearm fractures."²

Magnesium will dissolve excess calcium from the body while helping any needed calcium to assimilate. With diary products consumed and foods, like orange juice, fortified with calcium (it is estimated that the average diet contains 600 mg of calcium), and with additional calcium supplementation (often up to 1200 mg of supplemental calcium), many of us are getting too much calcium and inadequate magnesium to balance it.

Weakening bones

Magnesium is crucial to increasing bone mass as it is magnesium that allows calcium to assimilate.

If you need supplemental calcium, we recommend Peter Gillham's Natural Calm Plus Calcium, which is formulated with three parts magnesium to two parts calcium-along with potassium, vitamin C, vitamin D3 and boron for superior calcium absorption. This premium formulation will prevent a surplus of calcium and avoid symptoms associated with depleted magnesium levels.

Women taking calcium supplements to ward off osteoporosis, without adequate magnesium nutrition, can further exacerbate the effects of a magnesium deficit. (Calcium supplements taken without sufficient magnesium can actually LOWER the bone mineralization process.)

Muscle disorders

Muscle spasms, cramps, jerks, tics and hiccups can all be caused by a lack of magnesium. Take sufficient water-soluble magnesium and they will disappear.

Magnesium and calcium work together to control muscle action; an imbalance of either will cause tension and cramps. Magnesium relaxes the muscles. With insufficient magnesium the muscles stay tense, causing cramping. This can happen when you have too much calcium and too little magnesium.

The heart connection

The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act specifically prohibits any claims to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease. With this in mind, it must be clear that no claims are being made with relation to treatment or prevention of heart disease. The intent here is to highlight information suggesting that the mineral magnesium can be a leading contributor to a healthy heart.

Shawn M. Talbott, PhD, writes in A Guide to Understanding Dietary Supplements, "Magnesium is one of the top 'strengthening' nutrients when it comes to heart health. Not only does magnesium play a vital role in controlling muscle contraction and relaxation, it is involved in regulating blood pressure (by relaxing blood vessels) and can help reduce the tendency of blood to clot."

Michael T. Murray, ND, author of Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, states: "Magnesium is absolutely essential in the proper functioning of the entire cardiovascular system." Dr. Murray says that magnesium's critical role in heart health is now widely accepted and cites "a substantial body of knowledge" relating to magnesium's efficacy in the field of heart health. "Magnesium supplementation has been used in many of these applications for over 50 years!"^1-4

According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, magnesium is needed in all cells of the human body. It plays an important role in many of the chemical reactions needed for life, particularly those involved in the balance between sugars or glucose and insulin. Studies of large groups of people have indicated that a deficiency in magnesium may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes-the kind that most often affects adults later in life-and, according to the AHA, is one of the six major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Fatigue and energy

Magnesium plays a key role in the energy process within each individual cell and in our overall energy levels. When insufficient magnesium is available, energy production is inhibited, and the eventual outcome is fatigue and weakness. Magnesium is vital for the storage and transport of energy within our bodies. Magnesium is also essential for regulating potassium levels and for the functioning of the adrenal glands; both are important for maintaining high energy.

Many studies have shown that magnesium supplementation enhances the performance and endurance of long-distance runners, cross-country skiers, cyclists and swimmers.

Nutritional magnesium is deeply involved in energy production, oxygen uptake, central nervous function, electrolyte balance, glucose metabolism and muscle function, including that all-important muscle-the heart. A magnesium drink will often help in restoring higher energy levels.

Blood pressure

Studies show that oral magnesium has had a very positive effect on maintaining healthy blood pressure levels. Magnesium makes blood vessels relax and dilate-necessary for normal blood pressure.

PMS

Magnesium deficiency is common among women with PMS.³ PMS is greatly exaggerated and worsened by a lack of magnesium. Quick relief can be obtained by drinking water-soluble magnesium.

Diabetes

Insulin is the hormone that helps with the regulation of glucose (sugar) metabolism. Magnesium has been found to improve insulin's response to dietary sugar and to improve the action of insulin in regulating blood sugar levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association, projections of a continued rapid growth in the incidence of type 2 diabetes requires a cost-effective approach that can be widely employed to prevent or delay this major disorder. Published in the journal Diabetes Care, two recent studies suggest that an increased intake of magnesium could have a role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The solution

The solution is to take magnesium in a form that can be completely dissolved in water. In this state it will absorb quickly into the body, producing rapid relief. Natural Calm was developed especially for superior absorption. It handles excess calcium in the body and gradually reduces accumulated calcium. Natural Calm is a water-soluble magnesium powder that provides a premium highly bioavailable, effective and fast-acting magnesium.

The proprietary process that enables this to occur was discovered twenty-five years ago by nutritional researcher Peter Gillham. Testimony to its effectiveness is the fact that Natural Calm has been the best-selling magnesium supplement in the natural foods market for two years running. (Ref: SPINS data 2008)

Natural Calm can be taken safely on its own without side effects. It permits variable dosage so you can take more or less magnesium, as your body requires. The amount needed can be determined by when the bowels are comfortably loose.

Millions have experienced the stress relief, symptom reduction and peace of mind Natural Calm provides. You can too! Available in bottles and convenient single-serving packs.

1. Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (DF, WCW, and GAC), and the Departments of Nutrition (WCW) and Epidemiology (WCW and GAC), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston.
2. Diane Feskanich, Walter C. Willett, and Graham A. Colditz, "Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 77, no. 2 (February 2003): 504-11.
3. Am J Clin Nutr 34 (1981): 2364-66; Ann Clin Biochem 23 (1986): 667-70.

What people are saying about Natural Calm

"Six weeks ago, my body was in pain. All of my joints were hurting and it all started within a two- or three-day period. I didn't know what had happened. I went to the urgent care center and they did some tests, blood work, etc., and couldn't find anything wrong. They just wanted to put me on painkillers. A friend of mind suggested going to the Peter Gillham Web site (www.petergillham.com). I did and read all the articles about Natural Calm. I had many of the symptoms that come about from magnesium deficiency. I knew that I needed this product. I ordered it and started using it right away. I could see a difference that night when I went to bed. I used the product like the directions say. Within days, my condition started changing for the better. The pain went away, my appetite came back, I regained my body weight-everything seemed to start working right again. My condition is now handled. I feel great! I use Natural Calm every day and so does my wife. We both sleep much better at night and feel well rested the next day. I would recommend this product to everyone. It is the best supplement I have ever used."

"My chiropractor recommended Calm to me because I was having severe inner thigh cramps at night. It turns out that I was deficient in magnesium and had too much calcium in my system. This product has brought a balance to my system and I no longer suffer from those horrible cramps."

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"This is the best way to take your daily quota of Magnesium. This product fizzes in the water and mixes well. You drink it warm just like tea. And it even helps you relax before bed and sleep better. I drink my nightly glass and want to sleep within an hour. Calms the nerves. I highly recommend it."

"Natural Calm is the best magnesium. It keeps your bowels regular and helps you use your calcium. It's a must for every diet. A lot of people get calcium but their bodies don't use it. So this works great."

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"I tried this product because I had tried the liquid vitamins (Organic Life Vitamins^™) and was happy. I am pre menopausal & was having some mood issues as well as some other female problems. I figured the other product worked so I'll try this one. It has worked much to my satisfaction. I no longer have ANY of the problems I had."

"I had been having a problem sleeping for many months because of menopause symptoms and bladder spasms. I bought a sample from a local health food store and it worked the first night. I was able to sleep through most of the night. I felt relaxed all night. I was clear and ready for the day in the morning."

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