Major signs that could mean you're lacking in vital mineral

05 March 2024 , 16:45

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Magnesium is important for many functions in the body (Image: Getty Images)

Feeling tired, weak or sick could be signs you're missing a vital mineral.

There are five key indicators that you might not be getting enough of an essential nutrient everyone should know about. It's been found that up to 15 per cent of people may not have enough magnesium, while an estimated 65 per cent of those who are very sick lack the mineral.

Magnesium is important for many functions in the body, including making protein, muscle and nerve function, controlling blood sugar, and regulating blood pressure. Spices, nuts, wholegrain cereal crops, cocoa and vegetables, especially leafy greens, are all great sources of magnesium.

Most people should be able to get all the magnesium they need from a healthy balanced diet, but some people take supplements. Despite magnesium being important for our health, many people don't have enough and there are five main symptoms to look out for.

Five main signs of magnesium deficiency, reports Gloucestershire Live.

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1 Low appetite

Magnesium helps turn the food we eat into energy, but if you're lacking in the mineral, this process can be disrupted. This can lead to decreased appetite and is one of the first signs of deficiency.

2 Nausea and vomiting

Alongside reduced appetite, feeling sick and being sick can be among the first signs of a magnesium deficiency. When the body lacks essential nutrients, including magnesium, it can result in stomach problems, leading to feeling sick and potential being sick.

3 Fatigue and weakness

Magnesium is a vital mineral that our bodies need to produce energy. If you don't have enough, you might feel tired and weak because every cell in your body needs it to work properly.

4 Muscle spasms or shakes

If you're not getting enough magnesium, you might notice your muscles twitching or shaking. This is because magnesium helps control how our muscles move and relax.

Without enough of it, your muscles might contract too much and cause these spasms or tremors.

5 Strange heartbeats

Magnesium also helps keep our hearts healthy and controls the nerves that make our hearts beat. If you don't have enough, your heartbeat might become irregular.

This can feel like your heart is fluttering or racing, and in severe cases, it can even cause symptoms similar to a heart attack, such as feeling dizzy, short of breath, or having chest pain.

Rom Preston-Ellis