Magnesium is an essential mineral with many important roles in keeping your body healthy. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm regular, supports the immune system and keeps bones strong. Numerous studies have demonstrated that magnesium supplementation and correction of deficiency has proven effective in addressing a number of common diseases and conditions, including fibromyalgia, chronic pain, diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and headaches.
The problem with this essential mineral is that most people do not have sufficient levels for optimal health. A gradual depletion of nutrients from our soils has left many vegetables with lower levels of magnesium than they contained in the past. Additionally, magnesium can be depleted in the body by various common conditions (such as IBS and Crohn’s disease) and medications (such as proton pump inhibitors and diuretics).
As a supplement, magnesium is most commonly found in small amounts in multivitamins and in certain over the counter laxatives. Minerals such as calcium are combined with another molecule to stabilize the compound. A wide variety of magnesium compounds are available, each with its own specific use. Different compounds can allow your body to absorb the magnesium in different ways, some more or less efficient. Magnesium sulfate is the form found in Epsom bath salts, because it can be absorbed through the skin.