Does Exercise Affect Your Mineral Balance?
Exercise plays a key role in our health and wellness. Strong muscle activity is important in our blood and lymph system circulation, and aids us in clearing toxins and waste products from our cells. Oxygen can be more readily delivered to our cells as well, aiding in cleansing and supporting our general health. Good nutritional support is important for providing the minerals needed for healthy muscular function.
Many of our muscular functions rely on magnesium to aid in performance. These functions include the electrolyte balance, the vital mineral balance needed for a healthy heart. Magnesium also affects our oxygen uptake and energy production.
The topic of exercise and magnesium balances in the body has been studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Human Nutrition Research Center, a division of the Department of Agriculture in Grand Forks, North Dakota, researched the typical diet and magnesium deficiencies, the affect of exercise on magnesium balance, and the use of magnesium in sports and strenuous activities.
Does the amount of magnesium we carry in the body affect our ability to perform? Sweating and urination increases with intense physical activity such as exercise, and with that our magnesium supply can decrease as much as 20 percent. With magnesium balances tied to over 300 key body functions it is worth reviewing the connection between health, fitness through exercise, and mineral balance.
Athletic activities that need some form of weight control, like gymnastics, show a higher likelihood of a low magnesium level. Surveys in diet show a magnesium intake of less than 220 mg for female athletes, and 260 mg in males, levels that are considered to be deficient. Overall, the typical western diet leaves over 75 percent of our population with magnesium deficiencies.
While it is difficult to demonstrate that improving magnesium levels creates an increase in performance, it is noted that providing an adequate magnesium supply will aid in a healthy exercise or training program. An adequate magnesium level supports our calcium balance, teaming together to support healthy heart function as well as our musculoskeletal function.
The affect of magnesium on muscle function and the role it serves in both the typical exercise program and high-performance sport training is worthy of continued research. Maintaining a healthy electrolyte balance is always a key consideration for peak-performance and maintaining a healthy heart.
There are many ways we introduce additional magnesium in our diet. A healthy fresh diet containing many fruits and vegetables will provide much of our magnesium. Magnesium has also been found to be easily absorbed, in specially prepared forms, transdermally, or through the skin. Transdermally applied magnesium has been used for healing of damaged muscles, skin health, lymphatic function, relaxation, and promoting restful sleep.
Tags: Fitness
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