Magnesium supplements

laureninva · 10-17-2009, 07:50 AM

After seeing that many of you either take or recommend magnesium supplements as a way of staying regular, I decided to go buy some. They came in both 250 mg and 500 mg and wasn't real sure which one to get, so I went with the 250. How much do you take per day to stay regular?

Also, I can't remember but did I see someone say NOT to take it at the same time as a calcium supplement?

RachelE · 10-17-2009, 08:12 AM

Someone told me if you don't have low magnesium levels, that it's actually bad for you to take magensium supplements. This was coming from a nurse.

Someone recommended I take magensium because it's supposed to help tachycardia. I have tachycardia due to something I have no control over (my nervous system) and I am unable to get medication because I have no insurance and NO money, but then someone else said that it's bad, bad, BAD.

This is what the person said to me:

You can overdose on magnesium and one of the symptoms is cardiac arrhythmia. Best to not be taking supplements without consulting a doctor, especially since you already have cardiac issues. If you don't have a confirmed diagnosis of low magnesium I would not recommend a supplement other than a daily vitamin like one-a-day or centrum or my favorite, the big bottle of generic from BJ's wholesale club.

If people have problems staying regular, it's because they're not eating enough fiber. That's a dietary issue and can be rectified using Citrucel or that Metamucil stuff, or by eating salads.

I used to have problems going to the bathroom and now I don't have any because I'm eating low carb, high fiber and not high carb, low fiber :P

laureninva · 10-17-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachelE

Someone told me if you don't have low magnesium levels, that it's actually bad for you to take magensium supplements. This was coming from a nurse.

Someone recommended I take magensium because it's supposed to help tachycardia. I have tachycardia due to something I have no control over (my nervous system) and I am unable to get medication because I have no insurance and NO money, but then someone else said that it's bad, bad, BAD.

This is what the person said to me:

You can overdose on magnesium and one of the symptoms is cardiac arrhythmia. Best to not be taking supplements without consulting a doctor, especially since you already have cardiac issues. If you don't have a confirmed diagnosis of low magnesium I would not recommend a supplement other than a daily vitamin like one-a-day or centrum or my favorite, the big bottle of generic from BJ's wholesale club.

If people have problems staying regular, it's because they're not eating enough fiber. That's a dietary issue and can be rectified using Citrucel or that Metamucil stuff, or by eating salads.

I used to have problems going to the bathroom and now I don't have any because I'm eating low carb, high fiber and not high carb, low fiber :P

Not sure about this, I've found nothing but positives in regard to cardiac function with magnesium supplements

There was a discussion here a few days ago about regularity and fiber intake. The consensus was that high fiber doesn't always work for everyone, for some of us is it actually works against us so we have to look to other sources to assist in regularity

RachelE · 10-17-2009, 09:27 AM

yeah, you're right, high fiber doesn't work for everyone, but it totally works for me. I wasn't aware the magnesium had any beneficial properties in regards to going number 2.

The person who said this was an ER nurse, so I am not sure what to think because magnesium is the 11th most abundant element in the body and supposedly works like a calcium channel blocker (which has never worked for me, only beta blockers), so there's two possibilities.

Either it won't work for me because I don't respond to CCB's and prior to losing insurance I was on a beta blocker and ACE Inhibitor, or this person is wrong, cuz hey, we're only humans, we make mistakes! :P

Leo41 · 10-17-2009, 09:50 AM

I'd listen to an MD before a nurse, and Dr. Michael Eades is one who recommends magnesium supplements because, he says, most people are deficient and it is almost impossible to overdose.

I have regularity issues and have taken large doses of magnesium at times and felt no ill effects at all.

You have to check the medical advice you get because my primary doctor has a nurse practitioner working with him. When she heard me say that I was taking a Vit.D supplement of 2000 units, she told me that was too much because "the body can't process more than 500 at a time." That didn't make much sense to me because why would they sell such large units if we need to take much smaller doses? So I asked my endo, and he laughed. Not only is my 2000 a very small dose because it's over the counter, but he Rxs people with 15,000 units if they need it. So much for the body can only process 500.

RachelE · 10-17-2009, 09:55 AM

well I can't ask any doctors because I have no more insurance :P

Like I said, it's possible for someone to make a mistake, but I am sure most people don't also have a heart rate of 200 and hence, why she recommended I consult with my doc before I take any supplements, which I can't do, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place if you know what I mean.

I heard about CoQ10 being good for the heart and I might try that instead.

FloridaShell · 10-17-2009, 10:08 AM

I take 500 mg per day.

ladyathome · 10-17-2009, 12:21 PM

I just started taking 500 mg once per day. So far it is helping.

Dr Atkins recommended Magnesium as a supplement for constipation in his book, "Dr Atkins Vita Nutrient Solution." I check it out from the library so frequently that I need to try to get it from Paperback Swap.

I am in the same boat as you with no access to formal health care at this time, so I have to do my own research and do the best I can. Low Carb and losing weight was a real step in the right direction.

I don't know about the heart rate issues and magnesium , though. Never heard of that. If you can find the book I mentioned above, he lists numerous other things for supplements for this issue.

Oh, and extra fiber didn't work for me. It just made me more bloated and uncomfortable. Magnesium really helps.

twilight · 10-17-2009, 01:35 PM

I spent an hour at a nutrition store with an expert selecting my magnesium. I take Bluebonnet Chelate Multi Minerals. It contains 500mg of magnesium + calcium and other important minerals. I take it three times a day. Your body can only absorb 500mg at a time, so I take it with each meal. One of the wonderful effects (and the reason for seeking it out in the first place) is that my foot / leg cramps stopped. I was having them 7-10 times in a night. I'm also sleeping better, and I have more energy in the afternoon when I was slumping. It's only been in my system for a month now, but I expect I will begin to feel better and better. I also take a multi vitamin, and just added 4000mg of omega 3 fish oil.

wannabethin55 · 10-17-2009, 01:52 PM

500mgs for me too!

yellowmartian · 10-17-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachelE

well I can't ask any doctors because I have no more insurance :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyathome

I am in the same boat as you with no access to formal health care at this time, so I have to do my own research and do the best I can. Low Carb and losing weight was a real step in the right direction.

.

I'm sorry to change the topic, but when you both say that you don't have insurance or formal health care- does that mean you can't see a doctor? I don't have health insurance, but I definitely see a doctor when I need to to and for free too (under the government Medicare scheme)

I might be jumping the gun, but its made me sad if you can't see your doctor because of insurance or that it may cost too much-that's so unfair!!!

Leo41 · 10-17-2009, 03:40 PM

Rachel-

If you have an abnormal heart rate and were advised by a medical professional NOT to take any supplements without consulting a doctor (and I realize that you can't), why are you considering taking anything?

It's bad enough that you are in a situation where you can't consult a doctor, but why add to your problems with a 'supplement.' It's exactly what its name indicates--something extra. It's not essential to life, so why would you risk your life to take it?

My point is that you can find all kinds of claims for things that are unreliable and not suited to your situation (physical condition), so you are taking an incredibly risk.

lighterbeing · 10-18-2009, 06:37 AM

Are there any local clinics near you which will give a reduced rate for medical treatment. Wal Mart now carries many prescriptions for $4 now, many of them are cardiac meds. A heart rate that high is certainly not safe.

lighterbeing · 10-18-2009, 06:44 AM

I take 400-800 several times a week., or use a powder that mixes with warm water to make fizzy drink, Calm. The company by Peter Gillham has a very informative website on the benefits of Magnesium. It is like Calcium, one of those things that benefit a large number of people because so many people are lacking it in their diets. I do feel much better when taking it. It helps relax muscles somewhat, including the heart. If a person takes Calcium, they usually need magnesium to balance it out. I do not use it for regularity, it does help but I would not take it just for that. I take it because it is a mineral that I believe my body needs to function optimally.

ladyathome · 10-18-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowmartian

I'm sorry to change the topic, but when you both say that you don't have insurance or formal health care- does that mean you can't see a doctor? I don't have health insurance, but I definitely see a doctor when I need to to and for free too (under the government Medicare scheme)

I might be jumping the gun, but its made me sad if you can't see your doctor because of insurance or that it may cost too much-that's so unfair!!!

For me it means just that. No insurance and no money for self-paying the exhorbitant office visit fees.

kristina · 10-21-2009, 10:11 PM

I thought calcium and magnesium were to be taken together?

I have a question. i have read all over the internet, and it seems that magnesium is hard to absorb. Especially Magnesium Oxide. So..I went to a health food store and got Magnesium Citrate/ Amino Acid Chelate. She said it's absorbed easier. a lot of conflicting information out there.

ssMarilyn · 10-29-2009, 09:02 PM

Yes, you need to take magnesium citrate and calcim citrate together, as they work hand in hand. Vit D3 also needs to be taken with them. Get the book, "The Miracle of Magnesium" written by Carolyn Dean, MD/ND It tells you everything you need to know about magnesium. Many heart conditions are caused by a magnesium deficiency due to our poor quality food. The book is a godsend for me. It's an inexpensive paperback you can buy cheap at Amazon.com

rgurleyjr · 10-29-2009, 10:30 PM

You don't have to take calcium with magnesium. Mag. is usually harder to get in your diet while calcium is very easy so the magnesium citrate is fine to use. Just don't take too much at one time, I'm warning you.
Not sure what the amino acid chelate is but yes, Oxide is the worst while citrate and chloride are the best absorbed forms of magnesium. I never knew magnesium was considered an electrolyte.

kristina · 10-30-2009, 10:37 AM

The last 2 posts are an example why this subject is EXTREMELY confusing for most of us

take them together.
DON'T take them together.
Take magnesium.
DON'T take magnesium.
Take Vitamin D.
DON'T take Vitamin D.

WHAT are we to believe?

ssMarilyn · 10-30-2009, 11:35 AM

That's why you have to be careful to research and get the correct answers. I do alot of research online and the nutritional experts, including ND's, say that calcium cannot be distributed throughout the body without the help of magnesium. Without magnesium, calcium may be not fully utilized, and underabsorption problems may occur leading to arthritis, osteoporosis, menstrual cramps, and some premenstrual symptoms.

Check out this information - Also if you can, get the book, 'The Miracle of Magnesium'. written by an MD/ND. You'll be surprised at how important this mineral is in our body, and how we no longer get enough from food sources due to over-farmed soils, processing, etc... Don't take my word for anything though, check it out yourself so that you know in your heart what is right and what is not right.

kristina · 10-30-2009, 11:39 AM

It's difficult to know, as a person is reading the internet, which sources are factual or not, really. Then, the other thread that is saying a lot of the supplements contain stuff from china. A lot of conflicting information out there.......i'll check out the link...

jezzie · 10-30-2009, 06:17 PM

I have blood work every four months. My minerals are OK and in balance - for now.

One does have to be careful about taking advice from medical expers who have a WEB MD
degree.

Some one gave a gal the advice to take twice as much mag. as calc.
The gal was on BP meds and after taking 2400 magnesium her blood pressure plummeted.
Fortunately she called her real doctor at that point.

10-17-2009, 07:50 AM	#1
laureninva Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Woodbridge Virginia Posts: 3,426 Gallery: laureninva Stats: 309/215/150 WOE: Atkins forever this time Start Date: Restart 8/12/09 at 309	Magnesium supplements After seeing that many of you either take or recommend magnesium supplements as a way of staying regular, I decided to go buy some. They came in both 250 mg and 500 mg and wasn't real sure which one to get, so I went with the 250. How much do you take per day to stay regular? Also, I can't remember but did I see someone say NOT to take it at the same time as a calcium supplement?

10-17-2009, 08:12 AM	#2
RachelE Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 24 Gallery: RachelE Stats: 190/147/135 (5'7.1") WOE: my own plan Start Date: 10/8/2009	Someone told me if you don't have low magnesium levels, that it's actually bad for you to take magensium supplements. This was coming from a nurse. Someone recommended I take magensium because it's supposed to help tachycardia. I have tachycardia due to something I have no control over (my nervous system) and I am unable to get medication because I have no insurance and NO money, but then someone else said that it's bad, bad, BAD. This is what the person said to me: You can overdose on magnesium and one of the symptoms is cardiac arrhythmia. Best to not be taking supplements without consulting a doctor, especially since you already have cardiac issues. If you don't have a confirmed diagnosis of low magnesium I would not recommend a supplement other than a daily vitamin like one-a-day or centrum or my favorite, the big bottle of generic from BJ's wholesale club. If people have problems staying regular, it's because they're not eating enough fiber. That's a dietary issue and can be rectified using Citrucel or that Metamucil stuff, or by eating salads. I used to have problems going to the bathroom and now I don't have any because I'm eating low carb, high fiber and not high carb, low fiber :P Last edited by RachelE; 10-17-2009 at 08:15 AM..

10-17-2009, 01:35 PM	#9
twilight Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,202 Gallery: twilight Stats: 225/186.5/130 WOE: VLC/Atkins	I spent an hour at a nutrition store with an expert selecting my magnesium. I take Bluebonnet Chelate Multi Minerals. It contains 500mg of magnesium + calcium and other important minerals. I take it three times a day. Your body can only absorb 500mg at a time, so I take it with each meal. One of the wonderful effects (and the reason for seeking it out in the first place) is that my foot / leg cramps stopped. I was having them 7-10 times in a night. I'm also sleeping better, and I have more energy in the afternoon when I was slumping. It's only been in my system for a month now, but I expect I will begin to feel better and better. I also take a multi vitamin, and just added 4000mg of omega 3 fish oil. __________________ Perseverance is my best friend.

10-18-2009, 06:44 AM	#14
lighterbeing Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kennesaw, Ga. Posts: 773 Gallery: lighterbeing Stats: 2much /...I rarely weigh.../160 WOE: Atkins most of the time Start Date: June 2009	I take 400-800 several times a week., or use a powder that mixes with warm water to make fizzy drink, Calm. The company by Peter Gillham has a very informative website on the benefits of Magnesium. It is like Calcium, one of those things that benefit a large number of people because so many people are lacking it in their diets. I do feel much better when taking it. It helps relax muscles somewhat, including the heart. If a person takes Calcium, they usually need magnesium to balance it out. I do not use it for regularity, it does help but I would not take it just for that. I take it because it is a mineral that I believe my body needs to function optimally. Last edited by lighterbeing; 10-18-2009 at 06:46 AM..

10-29-2009, 10:30 PM	#18
rgurleyjr Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 14 Gallery: rgurleyjr	You don't have to take calcium with magnesium. Mag. is usually harder to get in your diet while calcium is very easy so the magnesium citrate is fine to use. Just don't take too much at one time, I'm warning you. Not sure what the amino acid chelate is but yes, Oxide is the worst while citrate and chloride are the best absorbed forms of magnesium. I never knew magnesium was considered an electrolyte. Last edited by rgurleyjr; 10-29-2009 at 10:33 PM..

10-17-2009, 09:27 AM	#4
RachelE Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 24 Gallery: RachelE Stats: 190/147/135 (5'7.1") WOE: my own plan Start Date: 10/8/2009	yeah, you're right, high fiber doesn't work for everyone, but it totally works for me. I wasn't aware the magnesium had any beneficial properties in regards to going number 2. The person who said this was an ER nurse, so I am not sure what to think because magnesium is the 11th most abundant element in the body and supposedly works like a calcium channel blocker (which has never worked for me, only beta blockers), so there's two possibilities. Either it won't work for me because I don't respond to CCB's and prior to losing insurance I was on a beta blocker and ACE Inhibitor, or this person is wrong, cuz hey, we're only humans, we make mistakes! :P

10-17-2009, 09:50 AM	#5
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	I'd listen to an MD before a nurse, and Dr. Michael Eades is one who recommends magnesium supplements because, he says, most people are deficient and it is almost impossible to overdose. I have regularity issues and have taken large doses of magnesium at times and felt no ill effects at all. You have to check the medical advice you get because my primary doctor has a nurse practitioner working with him. When she heard me say that I was taking a Vit.D supplement of 2000 units, she told me that was too much because "the body can't process more than 500 at a time." That didn't make much sense to me because why would they sell such large units if we need to take much smaller doses? So I asked my endo, and he laughed. Not only is my 2000 a very small dose because it's over the counter, but he Rxs people with 15,000 units if they need it. So much for the body can only process 500.

10-17-2009, 09:55 AM	#6
RachelE Junior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York, New York Posts: 24 Gallery: RachelE Stats: 190/147/135 (5'7.1") WOE: my own plan Start Date: 10/8/2009	well I can't ask any doctors because I have no more insurance :P Like I said, it's possible for someone to make a mistake, but I am sure most people don't also have a heart rate of 200 and hence, why she recommended I consult with my doc before I take any supplements, which I can't do, so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place if you know what I mean. I heard about CoQ10 being good for the heart and I might try that instead.

10-17-2009, 10:08 AM	#7
FloridaShell Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 6,264 Gallery: FloridaShell Stats: Grrr/Grrr/130 WOE: My own way of l/cing Start Date: 1/2/08	I take 500 mg per day.

10-17-2009, 12:21 PM	#8
ladyathome Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FL Posts: 415 Gallery: ladyathome	I just started taking 500 mg once per day. So far it is helping. Dr Atkins recommended Magnesium as a supplement for constipation in his book, "Dr Atkins Vita Nutrient Solution." I check it out from the library so frequently that I need to try to get it from Paperback Swap. I am in the same boat as you with no access to formal health care at this time, so I have to do my own research and do the best I can. Low Carb and losing weight was a real step in the right direction. I don't know about the heart rate issues and magnesium , though. Never heard of that. If you can find the book I mentioned above, he lists numerous other things for supplements for this issue. Oh, and extra fiber didn't work for me. It just made me more bloated and uncomfortable. Magnesium really helps.

10-17-2009, 01:52 PM	#10
wannabethin55 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 611 Gallery: wannabethin55 Stats: 165/161/135 WOE: low carb Start Date: restart 3/13/10	500mgs for me too!

10-17-2009, 03:40 PM	#12
Leo41 Senior LCF member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,426 Gallery: Leo41 Stats: 340 then/145 now WOE: Low carb/calorie cycling	Rachel- If you have an abnormal heart rate and were advised by a medical professional NOT to take any supplements without consulting a doctor (and I realize that you can't), why are you considering taking anything? It's bad enough that you are in a situation where you can't consult a doctor, but why add to your problems with a 'supplement.' It's exactly what its name indicates--something extra. It's not essential to life, so why would you risk your life to take it? My point is that you can find all kinds of claims for things that are unreliable and not suited to your situation (physical condition), so you are taking an incredibly risk.

10-18-2009, 06:37 AM	#13
lighterbeing Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kennesaw, Ga. Posts: 773 Gallery: lighterbeing Stats: 2much /...I rarely weigh.../160 WOE: Atkins most of the time Start Date: June 2009	Are there any local clinics near you which will give a reduced rate for medical treatment. Wal Mart now carries many prescriptions for $4 now, many of them are cardiac meds. A heart rate that high is certainly not safe.

10-21-2009, 10:11 PM	#16
kristina Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: back home in Washington Posts: 26,073 Gallery: kristina	I thought calcium and magnesium were to be taken together? I have a question. i have read all over the internet, and it seems that magnesium is hard to absorb. Especially Magnesium Oxide. So..I went to a health food store and got Magnesium Citrate/ Amino Acid Chelate. She said it's absorbed easier. a lot of conflicting information out there.

10-29-2009, 09:02 PM	#17
ssMarilyn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 106 Gallery: ssMarilyn	Yes, you need to take magnesium citrate and calcim citrate together, as they work hand in hand. Vit D3 also needs to be taken with them. Get the book, "The Miracle of Magnesium" written by Carolyn Dean, MD/ND It tells you everything you need to know about magnesium. Many heart conditions are caused by a magnesium deficiency due to our poor quality food. The book is a godsend for me. It's an inexpensive paperback you can buy cheap at Amazon.com

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10-30-2009, 10:37 AM	#19
kristina Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: back home in Washington Posts: 26,073 Gallery: kristina	The last 2 posts are an example why this subject is EXTREMELY confusing for most of us take them together. DON'T take them together. Take magnesium. DON'T take magnesium. Take Vitamin D. DON'T take Vitamin D. WHAT are we to believe?

10-30-2009, 11:35 AM	#20
ssMarilyn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 106 Gallery: ssMarilyn	That's why you have to be careful to research and get the correct answers. I do alot of research online and the nutritional experts, including ND's, say that calcium cannot be distributed throughout the body without the help of magnesium. Without magnesium, calcium may be not fully utilized, and underabsorption problems may occur leading to arthritis, osteoporosis, menstrual cramps, and some premenstrual symptoms. Check out this information - Also if you can, get the book, 'The Miracle of Magnesium'. written by an MD/ND. You'll be surprised at how important this mineral is in our body, and how we no longer get enough from food sources due to over-farmed soils, processing, etc... Don't take my word for anything though, check it out yourself so that you know in your heart what is right and what is not right. __________________ You are not a victim of your circumstances, you are the creator of your circumstances. Last edited by ssMarilyn; 10-30-2009 at 11:37 AM..

10-30-2009, 11:39 AM	#21
kristina Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: back home in Washington Posts: 26,073 Gallery: kristina	It's difficult to know, as a person is reading the internet, which sources are factual or not, really. Then, the other thread that is saying a lot of the supplements contain stuff from china. A lot of conflicting information out there.......i'll check out the link... Last edited by kristina; 10-30-2009 at 11:41 AM..

10-30-2009, 06:17 PM	#22
jezzie Old Wise One Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Hudson River Valley Posts: 45,377 Gallery: jezzie Stats: choosing to be scale-free; WOE: (48% C; 33% Fat; 19% P; ) Start Date: 11/22/11 - MediterrAsian, Flexitarian, Oz-ish	I have blood work every four months. My minerals are OK and in balance - for now. One does have to be careful about taking advice from medical expers who have a WEB MD degree. Some one gave a gal the advice to take twice as much mag. as calc. The gal was on BP meds and after taking 2400 magnesium her blood pressure plummeted. Fortunately she called her real doctor at that point.