The better indicator of magnesium deficiency at sub-clinical levels are symptoms such as cramps and restless legs, stress sensitivity, sleep problems, chronic fatigue, foggy brain, heart arrhythmia, hypertension, inflamed joints, kidney or liver problems, osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
As we age, magnesium levels drop lower and lower and it becomes very difficult to get enough magnesium via digestion alone. There is less stomach acid production with aging and it becomes more difficult to break down dense proteins that would contain magnesium, such as nuts, seeds, meats etc.
The bowel can also become clogged and compromised with layers of waste on the gut lining, which doesn’t allow magnesium to readily pass through.
Even in a healthy gut, magnesium only efficiently passes through the gut wall at low concentrations – such as what would be in natural spring water.
TRANSDERMAL MAGNESIUM
Magnesium via skin can however bypass the digestive system and allow the body to drink up what it needs for replenishment – and in much greater amounts as required.
Magnesium footsoaking or bathing using magnesium chloride flakes is very relaxing and reviving, working fast to relax muscles and joints, compared to oral tablets and powders. It also helps to promote better sleep and detoxification. The hot water has a skin softening and opening effect, allowing magnesium ions to easily pass through into the epidermal layer.
When dry-applying magnesium to the skin, we don’t have the loosening or opening effect of skin cells via hot water, so the efficiency of absorption depends largely on the availability of lipids in the skin. The skin is lipophilic. In other words, it loves fats. When we are young we produce a lot more fats in the skin from a vibrant capillary network supplying skin extremities.