A lower state of hydration can also cause a rise in adrenalin, associated with a feeling of anxiety or even fear. As hydration status is critical to survival of cells, the body in a sense ‘panics’ if water gets too low by initiating an action response – ie. rise in adrenalin. Therefore, the presence of magnesium, being directly related to the cell’s hydration state, directly influences the prevalence of adrenaline (and thereby calcium).
Therefore, when magnesium is low we get more fidgety and unsettled, more easily fired up with adrenaline at the slightest provocation, and have more calcium causing hardening and stiffness of soft tissue (leading to cardiovascular disease).
Inflammation, Acidosis and Oxidative Stress
Magnesium protects cells from free radical damage and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. It also supports the immune system and enzyme activity to calm inflammation.
Inflammation in joints or the lining of arteries is an indicator of cellular acidosis, which can be a by-product of anaerobic metabolism (ie. sugar metabolism). This acidic state produces oxidative stress, which is a form of injury, just like falling and tearing a ligament. To help your ligament repair the body has to increase the cell voltage and metabolism, which is part of the inflammatory response. This higher metabolism makes acidic by-products. So injury produces more acid, which in turn produces more injury (oxidative stress). How does the body stop the downward spiral and finally calm down the inflammation?
One of the ways is by sending in extra anti-oxidant delivering enzymes such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase to mop up the debris. The production of these enzymes happens to be dependant on the availability of magnesium. Anti-oxidants deliver spare electrons to buffer the oxidising effects of acids, which are missing those electrons. Magnesium also happens to be an anti-oxidant.
Acidic states tend to attract calcium deposits and reduce hydration.