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January 9, 2009

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Missing Mineral May Mean More Maladies

Magnesium Found In Nuts, Vegetables

UPDATED: 10:15 am CDT June 9, 2005

Seemingly healthy people who feel run down, anxious or achy could be lacking an important dietary mineral rather than suffering from a mysterious illness, reported KXAS-TV in Dallas.

According to health experts, most Americans are short on magnesium, which is an essential part of good health.



Magnesium plays such a key role in healthy living that the new food pyramid created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture was designed to increase the mineral's intake in a recommended diet. The mineral is necessary for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body, according to medical researchers.

Studies show magnesium could help to regulate blood pressure, and a lack of magnesium has been found in people with diabetes and osteoporosis. More studies are under way.

"One of the areas where there's just preliminary studies is on whether giving magnesium supplements could help someone with a migraine headache," said Dr. Jo Ann Carson, a nutritionist at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center at Dallas.

Nutritionists suggest adding more fruits, nuts and vegetables to a diet to balance the magnesium intake-to-necessity scale. They warn, however, that taking more than 350 milligrams per day could be dangerous.

An increase in magnesium intake has proved beneficial to some people.

"It seems to make me feel better, and it seems to be more preventive," Allison Nance said.

"I feel good," Stephanie Ross said. "I can do a lot more than friends my age."

"That's all anyone wants to do -- feel good," Beth Fitzgerald said.

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