Pregnancy can put huge magnesium demands on women. If magnesium reserves are low pre-eclampsia or eclampsia could result, which has been treated successfully with magnesium infusions to prevent convulsions. Magnesium supplementation helps keep blood pressure normalised, alleviates oedema, and prevents eclampsia, muscle spasms and cramps. It helps
relaxation and promotes better sleep.
Magnesium also helps keep muscles and ligaments stretchy and flexible, allowing for an easier delivery and recovery. It's the best nutrient to support building of new cells and babies!
Acidosis and Thrombosis
If magnesium levels are low and therefore cell pH drops, then calcium can also leach out of the bones. "Metabolic acidosis, which occurs during renal failure, renal insufficiency or renal tubular acidosis, results in decreased systemic pH and is associated with an increase in urine calcium excretion."
Free calcium can also settle in the soft tissue and joints and at the sites of injury (including arterial linings) because calcium can be used
by the body as a temporary acid buffer.
Excess calcium may end up in the blood as free calcium causing blood thickening, calcium deposits on the endothelial lining of the arteries, which contribute to arterial hardening and hypertension. "In smooth muscle a decline in Mg2+ elicits a reciprocal increase in Ca2+ which, in turn, prompts
smooth muscle contraction, increased vessel tone and augmented blood pressure. In the endothelial cell the decline of Mg2+ alters production of several vasoactive compounds including nitric oxide, prostaglandins and endothelin-1. In vitro studies indicate that Mg2+ deficiency results in decreased production of nitric oxide
(NO) from endothelial cells along with a decreased vasodilatory response to acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate, which could be restored by increasing Mg2+."
To flush wastes out of cells an adequate
supply of both magnesium and water is
required. Magnesium changes the properties of the water molecules with its electrical charge to gain better access to intracellular spaces.
When you drink sufficient magnesium mineral water for optimum hydration, it travels through the body more slowly before excretion (compared to de-mineralised water) because of its better access to cells. Dehydration and acidosis can cause anxiety symptoms and rehydration (alkalising) can alleviate them. Low magnesium also increases the risk of thrombosis (blood clotting) and strokes due to blood platelets becoming "sticky" as they have attractive
positive electrical charges which stick to the negative charges of the oxygen carrying haemoglobin of the red blood cells. This causes clumping of blood cells. In contrast, repulsive charges promote separation and
blood fluidity. Magnesium supports the oxygen-carrying capacity of the haemoglobin, which reduces platelet
"stickiness" (electrical attraction).
Magnesium and calcium are both required for healthy bones and when magnesium is at optimal levels, the calcium once again becomes part of healthy bone resorption rather than being lost from bones in
osteoporosis. Magnesium deficiency interferes with normal formation of the matrix of both bones and teeth. A magnesium-deficient matrix contains mucopolysaccharides that are less polymerised and less subject to normal calcification.