Magnesium and the Heart

If any of you suffer from heart arrhythmias like I do, then you know how annoying and anxiety causing they can truly be at times.  The skipped beats, pounding sensations and rapid beats are absolutely mind-numbing.  However, a simple mineral may be the solution to this physical dilemma......magnesium!  Research has found that most Americans are deficient in this all important mineral and a lack of magnesium can lead to various heart arrhythmias.  All of the organs in the body need magnesium but especially the heart and muscles.  A lack of this mineral can cause a whole slew of physical problems such as high blood pressure, kidney stones, osteoporosis  and depression among others.  But the heart is the most directly affected.  Magnesium supplementation is very safe and effective.  For those of us who suffer from arrhythmias, a daily does of magnesium as high as 3000 mg can quiet the heart and put it back into a normal rhythm. You'll need to adjust the amount of magnesium that will be right for your body and of course you should consult your healthcare practitioner for advice.  But what I've found as a rule of thumb for my body is that once my stools become loose is the point where I've used too much magnesium.   For many of us palpitations sufferers, this relatively cheap and effective mineral has been a life saver!



Macronutrients

There are three primary chemical macronutrients that humans consume for energy and growth.  These are proteins, fats and carbohydrates.  Proteins are made up of 20 amino acids and participate in almost every process within the cells.  Seafood, chicken and beans are excellent sources of protein.  Fats can be classified as saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, trans fats and essential fatty acids.  Not all fats are created equal.  Sat fats and trans fats in the form of butter and candy bars, are considered to be "bad" while the rest are "good" such as found in nuts and tofu.  Finally are the carbohydrates.  Carbohydrates are made up of starches and sugars.  Fruits and vegetables are considered to be the best sources of carbohydrates.

Vitamin C

People who live in the United States are constantly subjected to a myriad of unhealthful conditions that can effect the overall wellness of the individual.  Fast food, stress and smog are just a few of the many factors that can leach important nutrients from our bodies on a daily basis.  In order to maintain optimal nutrition it becomes vitally important to increase one's intake of vitamins and minerals.  In particular, vitamin C may be the most important of these nutrients as it represents one of the strongest of all antioxidants.  The work done by the Noble Prize winner Linus Pauling showed that a high intake of vitamin C (2grams or more) a day can help protect the body's cells from the damage done by free radicals in the environment.  The good thing about vitamin C is that it is water-soluble and whatever the body doesn't need is excreted through the urinary system.