magnesium

Magnesium is a structural component in the bones of our skeletons; along with calcium and phosphorus, it is one of the most important minerals in the bones - so make sure you get anough of it folks!
Bone mass contains more than half the magnesium content of the human body, and magnesium plays a decisive role in protecting our bones and keeping them healthy. Among its roles is the activation of alkaline phosphatase (an enzyme which mineralizes calcium in the bones).
Poeple who suffer from a low bone mass have a magnesium deficiency, not a calcium deficiency !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( How come this is rarely taken notice of?)
In fact, it has been found that giving magnesium to women receiving hormone therapy raises their bone mass levels by 11% (J of Nut Med 1991). Furthermore, magnesium has been found to be of importance in balancing the hormones PTH and calcitonin. It is generally considered that the ratio between calcium and magnesium should be 2 units of calcium per unit of magnesium.

Magnesium is to be found in the red blood cells, muscles, soft tissues and nerve cell fluid. It helps the body keep a normal pH level (7.35-7.45) in the extracellular fluid. In addition, its antacid properties help to balance the basic levels of various substances in the body.

Magnesium is involved in approximately 300 enzymatic processes in the body. Accordingly, abnormal magnesium levels in the blood may cause a variety of problems, such as irritability and a tendency to anger,(road rage sufferers take note) restlessness, fast resting pulse, muscle tremor, hypertension, confusion, disorders of the carbohydrate metabolism, and difficulty in building the DNA and RNA protein structure (together with vitamin B6, which is required for all protein building and decomposition). see other articles on this site for best sources of this magic mineral..