Magnesium Health Watch

While we come across lots of studies on the health benefits of magnesium and magnesium supplements, we appreciate coming across people’s individual experiences with the products, particularly when they aren’t trying desperately to sell you something.  The writer seems to have found some success with magnesium supplements, which she originally took for insomnia and constipation issues.

The article provides a first-hand experience with several magnesium citrate supplements including Natural Calm, Bluebonnet-Liquid Calcium Magnesium Citrate, LifeTime Liquid Cal-Mag Citrate, as well as several other products.  The review includes information on flavors, formulations, advantages and disadvantages of particular magnesium supplements.

“I recommend the Natural Calm with the calcium since you should take calcium with magnesium. I also like that this product has boron in it since that was also recommended to me along with Vitamin D3. I like to show my three year old that it fizzes like a science experiment and I like that it is sweetened with Stevia and  prepared like a warm tea. I also prefer the lemon flavor to the lemon raspberry and haven’t sampled the plain or orange flavors. I also recommend starting with one teaspoon and increasing until you get your desired results. If stomach or intestinal cramping occurs in the morning it simply means too much was taken and the amount should be slightly decreased.  I found this to be momentarily uncomfortable but was nothing serious and a common side effect. The cost can be around $14-$24 depending on the size of the product and where you purchase. I think the larger size is 16oz and will last for about 3 months. There are also kid friendly formulas and one for pregnancy as well.”

CALM and other magnesium supplements « Viva Sano Canti.

The Nutrition Examiner offers suggestions for eliminating blackheads and clearing pores, mentioning milk of magnesia and magnesium citrate powder such as Natural calm. (more…)

The 6/12/09 Sacramento Nutrition Examiner gives some helpful insight on the best forms of magnesium citrate supplements:

“Natural Calm magnesium citrate powder often is recommended for general use. You put it in hot water. It fizzes and tastes like lemonade with no added sugar. Mix it with fruit juice, and it bubbles like champagne. But how do you choose the right type of magnesium for your own needs? Here’s the information you’ll need.

If you want a sweet lemonade or citrus-like taste rather than the taste of lemon juice in hot water, put a half scoop (2.5 grams) of d-Ribose, that tastes like sugar in a glass of water and add a tablespoon or less of magnesium citrate powder. You’ll get a wonderful sweet taste of lemonade in that beverage…”

“You want a soluble magnesium that your body can absorb. And you want the amount of ionic magnesium or elemental magnesium that the supplement is actually releasing. You want the type of magnesium that can be dissolved in water…”

Magnesium citrate is the citrate salt of the element magnesium. It is a commonly used therapeutic drug and is prescribed as a laxative. It is retailed under the names Citrate of Magnesia, Milk of Magnesia, Citronesia and Citroma. Magnesium citrate is available for intake in the form of powder, which can be dissolved with water. It is also available in the form of tablets. It has the greatest effect when it is taken with water or juices on an empty stomach.
(more…)

Taking magnesium citrate supplements can have a variety of side effects from minor to severe.  Some side effects of taking magnesium citrate are:

• stomach pain
• nausea
• gas
• diarrhea

More serious side effects requiring immediate medical attention are:

• muscle weakness
• decrease of absence of bowel movements
• blood in the stool
• damage to the bowels
• dependency
• interference with other medications