Tea4Teacher.

So.. if you’ve read any of my older posts you’ll know that I won the jackpot during my second pregnancy and enjoyed (not) injecting myself with insulin due to gestational diabetes. That fun experience came with a dire warning to get in shape immediately after the pregnancy to help avoid styling Type 2 Diabetes in the near future. As a result, I have stuck my head in the sand and added extra weight and been eating pretty poorly. Excellent commitment, Anna!

I came across this article the other day and found it very relevant for me.. having taken magnesium in supplemented form throughout both pregnancies.

Magnesium and Diabetes:

“If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, magnesium is especially important. That’s because having low levels of this nutrient has been shown to predispose people to developing type 2 diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes). One study published in the World Journal of Diabetes found that low levels of magnesium increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, whereas having higher levels of magnesium offered some protection against developing diabetes.”

“The same study found that low levels of magnesium increased the likelihood of complications for people with diabetes. In particular, people with low magnesium levels were found to have cardiac hypertrophy (enlargement of the heart) and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) more often. In general, the study found that having too little magnesium was an indication that patients would have more severe complications from diabetes, including kidney failure. ”

Why does your body need magnesium?

“Magnesium is a mineral needed by every organ in your body to function properly, especially bone,” says Sherry Ross, MD, an OB/GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Ross explains that magnesium helps your body with metabolism, the process of turning food into usable energy. Because of this, magnesium is important in controlling blood pressure, blood sugar levels, supporting a healthy immune system, and keeping your heart beating regularly. It also helps with nerve messaging and the formation of muscle and bone.”

How much Magnesium & Where to Get It:

“As with many vitamins and minerals, the amount of magnesium that you need depends on your age, sex, and other factors. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women ages 18 to 30 need 310 milligrams of magnesium a day, whereas women older than age 30 need 320 milligrams. If you’re pregnant, you should consume an extra 40 milligrams of magnesium every day, although nursing moms do not need to consume extra amounts of this nutrient.

So, where can you get all that magnesium? Almonds are the best source, with 80 milligrams per serving—about 20 percent of the recommended daily intake. Spinach is almost as rich in magnesium, with 78 milligrams per serving. There are also many other options.

“As with most vitamins and minerals it’s best to get magnesium through your diet,” Ross says. “Leafy greens, nuts, beans, soybeans, dark chocolate, whole unrefined grains, fish, and low-fat yogurt are great sources of this helpful mineral.” Some tap and bottled waters also contain magnesium.”

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I found that link to Diabetes interesting, plus the energy side of it which I’m lacking too, so I’ve got back into my regular magnesium supplements. I’ve been going a week and already feel less need for my early-afternoon lie down. Will keep it up and see how I feel in 3 months, which is the length of time I was told by a naturopath it takes for your body to respond to regular nutrients with cellular changes. Looking forward to more energy and better health in general. About time I started looking after my own health as well as the family’s….