Magnesium could help you melt body fat and improve training in
no time. That's right ladies, being deficient in this mineral could be causing
you all kinds of problems that are preventing you from shifting that unwanted
body fat.
At Fitter London we have been using magnesium oil for
years, this stuff works a treat and by the end of this post you will be
ordering a box load. Keep reading...
What is
magnesium?
Magnesium is usually referred to as a 'macromineral', our food
must provide us with hundreds of milligrams each day (the other macrominerals
are calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and chloride). Inside the body,
magnesium is found mostly in our bones (60-65%) and muscles (25%). Like all
minerals magnesium cannot be synthesized by our body and so must be sourced
from diet.
Benefits
of using Magnesium Oil
Magnesium is sometimes regarded as a 'smoothie' mineral due to
its ability to relax our muscles. It serves as a chemical gate blocker - as
long as there is enough magnesium around, calcium can’t rush into the nerve
cells and activate them. If our diets lack magnesium nerve cells can become
overstimulated, triggering muscle tension, muscle soreness, spasms cramps and
muscle fatigue. Magnesium is also involved in the metabolism of proteins,
carbohydrates and fats. Some fuels cannot be stored in our muscle cells unless
adequate supplies of magnesium are available. Applying magnesium topically as
an oil means it can get straight to the place it needs to be without having to
pass through the digestive system.
Once absorbed through the skin it
helps to:
·
Increase DHEA (precursor to sex
hormones) promoting overall healthy hormone balance.
·
Aid muscle recovery & repair.
·
Reduce muscle soreness.
·
improve quality of sleep.
In fact, its metabolic role is so diverse it’s difficult to find
a bodily system that is not affected by magnesium deficiency. The following
signs may indicate a deficiency in magnesium:
- Muscle weakness or frequent tremors, cramps and spasms
- Heart arrhythmia, irregular contraction or increased heart
rate
- Softening and weakening of bone
- Imbalanced blood sugar levels
- Headaches
- Elevated blood pressure
We’re not the only fans! Top kettlebell coach and hormone
expert Mike Mahler is also a huge fan of magnesium:
'One very important unique component of magnesium oil is that it
increases DHEA levels big time and is an overall hormone optimizer... as
magnesium is absorbed through the skin and underlying fatty tissues of the body
it sets off many chain reactions, one of which ends in the production of DHEA.
DHEA is a critical hormone for stress management and balancing the actions of
the stress hormone cortisol. DHEA also acts as a backup reserve for
testosterone production.'
Mahler emphasizes the benefits of topical application as opposed
to oral: 'When you are stressed your ability to absorb and utilize oral forms
of magnesium is compromised. Fortunately, magnesium lotion is applied topically
and does not have to deal with the GI tract.'
How does
magnesium oil aid sleep?
Because this mineral helps relax muscles, applying magnesium
before bed can relieve insomnia by reducing the movement and restlessness that
keeps you awake at night. Magnesium also calms the mind and helps you relax,
essential if you suffer from stress and anxiety and find it hard to switch off
at night.
Food
sources of magnesium
Supplementation with this awesome mineral is not the only way to
achieve this, plenty of foods are rich in magnesium:
·
Pumpkin seeds
·
Spinach
·
Swiss chard
·
Salmon
·
Sunflower seeds
·
Sesame seeds
·
Halibut
·
Black beans
·
Navy beans
Cooking and processing can vary the magnesium content of food.
If magnesium exists in water-soluble form then blanching, over-steaming or
boiling these foods can result in a substantial loss of its mineral content.
With other foods, like almonds or peanuts, little magnesium content is lost in
roasting or processing into nut butters as long as the whole nut is used.
How do
other nutrients interact with magnesium?
The relationship between magnesium and calcium is one of the
most actively researched. On the one hand magnesium is required alongside
calcium to maintain a healthy metabolism. However, magnesium may also
compete with calcium, for example, in the contraction of a muscle.
This complex relationship between calcium and magnesium means that a
healthy diet must contain foods rich in both minerals.
Magnesium can be attached to the building blocks of protein
(amino acids), increased intake of protein can boost the bodies magnesium
status.
Post Workout
I like to apply magnesium post workout and before bedtime. I
experienced a huge reduction in muscle soreness and an enhanced quality of
sleep, both of which have made a huge difference to training, energy and
recovery.
Magnesium has a known effect in aiding fat loss. If you sleep
better you will look great and have more energy, If you have more energy
you will train more, if you train more you will get greater results and you
will stick at it and therefore be a fat burning machine. So, plaster this stuff
on or, better still, get someone else to rub it on for you and watch the
magic happen.
BY MATT
WHITMORE
