Both a medical doctor and naturopath, Carolyn Dean, appeared in the second half, to discuss how Americans are chronically deficient in magnesium, and the numerous health problems related to that. Magnesium is involved in many important functions in the body, such as producing cellular energy, and muscle and nerve actions. But numerous pharmaceutical products and drugs end up depleting magnesium levels including antibiotics, antacids, antidepressants, statins, and anti-inflammatory medications. Low magnesium in the body can be associated with a host of problems including cramps, spasms, seizures, insomnia, migraines, depression, chronic fatigue, impaired memory, and hyperactivity in children, she said.
A number of foods are naturally high in magnesium such as kelp, wheat germ & bran, cashews, almonds, Brewer's Yeast, buckwheat, Brazil nuts, and millet. Aside from nuts, seeds, seaweed, and grains, magnesium supplements can also be taken, ideally smaller doses at staggered times, she advised. However, many people get an unwanted laxative effect from the supplements, in which case she recommends taking a bath in Epsom salt, which draws out toxins, and increases magnesium levels in the body. People can find out if they have lowered magnesium by taking the RBC Magnesium blood test, she added.