It's still Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness month and we are still dropping gems on how to improve brain health. We previously talked about the benefits of berries, the effects of sugar, exercise, and sleep being advantageous for the brain. And I know what you are thinking, what else can we possibly talk about to help with brain health??!! You ask great questions. The magic word of the day is...Magnesium!
Magnesium is the powerhouse of minerals. All minerals are important, but Magnesium is super important. We can't live without Magnesium. Our whole existence depends on Magnesium, literally. Magnesium is responsible for over 300 metabolic reactions in the body. That's a lot!
Back in the day, Magnesium could be found in the farming soil and would fortify our produce with the necessary nutrient. Unfortunately, those same farming techniques aren't used these days, which has affected our diets tremendously. The processed foods that we eat do not contain Magnesium and sucks the Magnesium that we do have in our body out. Processed carbohydrates and sugar pull nutrients and minerals (Magnesium) out of the bones, muscles, brain, and tissues (you read that right, the brain). The science behind it is this: carbohydrates overload the body with glucose and strip the Magnesium. We need 28 molecules of Magnesium to metabolize 1 molecule of glucose. We need 56 molecules of Magnesium to metabolize 1 molecule of sugar. That's a lot of molecules! No wonder 80% of the western population is chronically deficient in Magnesium. (Campbell-McBride, 2016)
And I know what you are thinking, all of this information is great, but what does it have to do with brain health??!! Well, a lack of Magnesium has been known to cause neurological issues like anxiety, depression, the inability to concentrate, poor memory, confusion, panic attacks, aggression, and mood disorders. That's quite a lot for the brain to endure. (Campbell-McBride, 2016)
Of course, not all hope is lost, there are a plethora of foods that contain Magnesium: leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, meat, and dairy. And it is recommended that adult men get a daily intake of 420mg of Magnesium and adult women get a daily intake of 320mg of Magnesium. (Ballantyne, 2017)
So do your brain a favor and eat some Magnesium enriched foods and reduce your intake of processed foods that suck the Magnesium out.
Stay Healthy and Eat your medicine!
Noire Nutrition,
Aziza Lucas, NTP
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