Monday, August 08, 2011

Magnesium/Gallstones

(Sorry, but I'm not sure where I copied this from)

There's more good news about one of my favorite minerals: magnesium. According to a new study, a diet rich in magnesium can reduce the risk of developing gallstones. And, in case you haven't heard, gallstones are an amazingly painful malady.

As you know, I'm a big fan of magnesium for overall health – it's a great boon to bones and bodily tissues of all types, plus it helps release stored energy from your muscles. I've also recommended it for a myriad of more specific medical issues, like osteoporosis. So I'm glad to see that this helpful supplement has yet another benefit for your health.

Researchers studied data of more than 42,000 men from ages 40 to 75 and found that those with the highest magnesium intake decreased their risk of gallstones by as much as 33 percent. Magnesium helps to keep down triglyceride levels and raise HDL (the "good cholesterol) levels in the blood. Since cholesterol is a major component in the formation of gallstones (actually, some gallstones are made up entirely of cholesterol), a higher magnesium level helps to stop the gallstones from forming.

But in spite of its benefits, magnesium consumption has declined over the years. The reason? Today's foods have become so over processed that the magnesium (along with countless other healthy vitamins and minerals, no doubt) has been processed right out. It's just one more reason why you should be eating more organic and whole foods and steering clear of foods that have had too many things done to them, like pre-made packaged meals you'll find in the grocery store.


[Conventional farming practices also has the soil depleted of magnesium, so be sure to buy organic when possible]

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