Magnesium Health Watch

We recently were discussing pumpkin seeds as a rich source for magnesium.  Today, we came across this very interesting article at Cold Truth that provides more information on the nutritional properties of the pumpkin and how it was used as a medicine throughout history. Apparently the pumpkin has far more to offer than just vitamins and minerals like magnesium!

Here’s an excerpt:

“The pumpkin has long been recognized as a natural medicine cabinet. Food scientists have cited historical references to pumpkin being used by Native Americans for the treatment of intestinal infections.

As long ago as the 1870s, American’s ultimate authority for prescription, over-the-counter and natural medications – the United States Pharmacopoeia – listed pumpkin skin and seeds for treatment of parasites and kidney maladies.

Pumpkin is very low in calories, rich in potassium,  magnesium and iron and its bright orange flesh of pumpkin is loaded with the antioxidant beta -carotene that fight free radicals.”

via Cold Truth » Blog Archive » The skin of a pumpkin skin may scare away germs.

This informative article by magnesium expert Carolyn Dean profiles three patients in different circumstances, all dealing with magnesium deficiency.   One patient had heart palpitations and the potential of adult onset diabetes.  Another was suffering from migraines.  For each patient, they discuss symptoms and how they dealt with the magnesium deficiency, through either magnesium-rich foods, magnesium supplements or both.

Here’s an excerpt:

“I gave Mary a list of magnesium-rich foods that she needed to start eating, which included nuts, beans, greens, and seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin. Mary realized that she’d been avoiding almost all of these foods: She thought nuts were fattening, beans gave her gas, and greens never seemed fresh enough at the supermarket. She had never even thought about eating seeds.”

The article is actually an excerpt from Dean’s book, “The Miracle of Magnesium.”

THE MIRACLE OF MAGNESIUM | Toronto Canada alternative health natural medicine green living.

This Alternative Health Journal article mentioned a study at the University of Kentucky Medical Center showing that eating magnesium-rich foods as part of your diet can reduce the probability of gallstones in those who have a family history of this condition.

“The Kentucky researchers found that not getting enough magnesium can increase your triglycerides and lower HDL or good cholesterol. It adds up to compromising health on many fronts. They studied more than 42,000 men over a decade. Other studies have confirmed the potency of dietary magnesium.

There is a simple solution: Eat more plant-based foods to up your intake of fiber.”

Magnesium Foods Prevent Gallstones, Hypertension, Memory Loss by Bob Condor – Alternative Health Blog – Alternative Health Journal.

This amazing study reported that male smokers can reduce their stroke risk by increasing the amounts of magnesium-rich foods they eat.  Magnesium has been shown to reduce blood pressure, and this may correlate with its ability to reduce the risk of stroke.  Moral of the story?  Eat your magnesium!

The article states:

“Finnish men who smoked more than five cigarettes a day were enrolled in the study after providing complete dietary information, and included 26,566 participants, aged 50 to 69 years The average follow up time was 13.6 years. The men who consumed at least 589 mg/day of dietary magnesium daily were found to have a significantly lower risk of ischemic stroke than those who consumed the average amount of 373 mg/day.”

Magnesium Rich Foods Cuts Risk of Stroke in Male Smokers by 15% | LIVESTRONG.COM.

Magnesium, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K are particularly important for bone health.  Eating smart can often get you the vitamins and minerals you need.

For example, enjoying some lowfat yogurt can get up to half of a day’s calcium.

Vitamin D can be a tricky one, as it’s not present in many foods, though many are vitamin d fortified.

A handful of almonds can take care of 1/4 of your daily magnesium needs.

Enhance your diet with soybeans and leafy greens, and you’ll be well on your way to the right magnesium levels.

Here Cooking light presents the foods that best supply these vitamins.  On calcium and tofu:

“A great non-dairy source of calcium is tofu. Just one-half cup of firm tofu fortified with calcium has about 20 percent of the daily recommendation for calcium. (Not every tofu is made this way, so look for labels that declare it’s a good source of calcium.) Tofu is also a good source of protein and a wonderful addition to any stir-fry.”

All Photos – Calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin K are key nutrients for healthy bones. Our RD shows you good food sources. – Photos – CookingLight.com.