What is magnesium?

I was in the ER last night because im 21 weeks pregnant and i was feeling really weak and nauses. The doctor told me my magnesium was very low, so they gave me some threw an iv. What is it though?

About half of the body's magnesium is found in bone, where it plays a structural role along with calcium, phosphate, and various proteins. In all other tissues, magnesium is among the most abundant of all the electrolytes inside the cell, second only to potassium.

Magnesium is necessary for nearly all biochemical processes, such as the synthesis and use of ATP, the major source of energy for all cells.

Normal Values

1.8 to 3.0 mg/dL. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
Low magnesium levels may be seen with the following conditions:
Alcoholism
Chronic diarrhea
Delirium tremens
Administration of excessive insulin
Hemodialysis
Hepatic (liver) cirrhosis
Hyperaldosteronism
Hypoparathyroidism
Pancreatitis
Toxemia of pregnancy
Ulcerative colitis

Magnesium is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Mg and atomic number 12 and an atomic mass of 24.31. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element and constitutes about 2% of the Earth's crust by weight, and it is the third most plentiful element dissolved in seawater. Magnesium ion is essential to all living cells. The free element (metal) is not found in nature. Once produced from magnesium salts, this alkaline earth metal is primarily used as an alloying agent to make aluminium-magnesium alloys, sometimes called "magnalium" or "magnelium".

Food sources
Green vegetables such as spinach provide magnesium because the center of the chlorophyll molecule contains magnesium. Nuts (especially almonds), seeds, and some whole grains are also good sources of magnesium.

Although magnesium is present in many foods, it usually occurs in small amounts. As with most nutrients, daily needs for magnesium cannot be met from a single food. Eating a wide variety of foods, including five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and plenty of whole grains, helps to ensure an adequate intake of magnesium.

The magnesium content of refined foods is usually low. Whole-wheat bread, for example, has twice as much magnesium as white bread because the magnesium-rich germ and bran are removed when white flour is processed. The table of food sources of magnesium suggests many dietary sources of magnesium.

Water can provide magnesium, but the amount varies according to the water supply. "Hard" water contains more magnesium than "soft" water. Dietary surveys do not estimate magnesium intake from water, which may lead to underestimating total magnesium intake and its variability.

Too much magnesium in the diet can make it difficult for your body to absorb calcium. On the other hand not enough magnesium can lead to irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, insomnia and muscle spasms.

Following are some foods and the amount of magnesium in them:

spinach (1/2 cup) = 80 milligrams (mg)
peanut butter (2 tablespoons) = 50 mg
black-eyed peas (1/2 cup) = 45 mg
milk: low fat (1 cup) = 40 mg
The U.S. RDV/RDA is 400 mg of Magnesium.

It's a mineral that helps your nerves transmit pulses, and helps your muscles work properly. It gets low when you are dehydrated, which happens very easily during pregnancy. Eat lots of friuts and veggies, drink milk, and try taking a low dose of a magnesium supplement if it continues to be a problem...

Adding to the above...it might be wise to take a Cal-Mag supplement. Calcium and Magnesium work serendipitously, i.e. you need both for each to be effective.

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for many body processes.

Magnesium is an element important for many functions. Eg. helps to maintain bones by affecting the calcium level. A good way to get enough is by supplementation. A fantastic supplement which I'm consuming is Calcium Magnesium by Nutrilite. You can obtain it from Amway distributors. It's cheap and effective.

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