What is Magnesium?

Magnesium is a vital mineral that plays a significant role in a lot of the functions your body performs. In fact, it’s involved in over 300 biochemical reactions within the body - making it essential for your overall health. However, despite the fact it’s so important, a lot of us aren’t meeting our recommended daily intake.

That might be because the benefits of magnesium are often overlooked in comparison to more popular vitamins like Vitamin C and Vitamin D, which receive plenty of attention. It’s a pity - because the benefits of Magnesium are just as interesting. Magnesium is important for maintaining strong and healthy bones - in fact, it works in synergy with Vitamin D to support your bone density and prevent osteoporosis from developing in your body.

Magnesium also plays a key role in supporting your heart health - it helps to regulate your blood pressure, maintain a steady heartbeat, and support the overall function of your heart, keeping your ticker ticking.

Where can I find it?

You’ll find Magnesium in your diet, especially in green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. That said, plenty of us have difficulty getting our daily magnesium requirements from what we eat. Luckily, your local pharmacy can help.

Your community pharmacy is a treasure trove of resources, offering a wide range of services beyond medication dispensing. From providing health advice to conducting health screenings, your pharmacy is a one-stop-shop when you’re feeling under the weather - or if you want to avoid getting poorly in the first place. They also stock a variety of over-the-counter supplements, including magnesium.

Should I be taking magnesium?

There’s a good chance you’re not getting enough from your diet, so considering magnesium supplements might be a smart idea for anyone - but it’s particularly important for certain people struggling with health conditions. For instance, because magnesium helps to maintain strong and healthy bones, if you’re at risk of osteoporosis, you might need to bring magnesium supplements into your daily routine as part of a bone health regimen.

Additionally, if you have hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions, you might benefit from taking magnesium to support your heart health. If you’re not sure, you can pop into your local pharmacy at any time to speak with a trained medical professional. Your community pharmacy team has been trained to identify people at risk of osteoporosis, and can arrange a heart-health checkup at a time that’s convenient for you.

Pharmacists are particularly good at assessing medication interactions. Some medications, including antibiotics and diuretics, can leave you with lower magnesium levels in your body. On the other hand, magnesium can affect the effectiveness of certain medications. If you’re concerned about how magnesium might be interacting with your regular medications, your local pharmacist will be able to provide guidance to make sure you’re taking what you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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For a healthy body all year round, check out your nearest chemist and have a chat with a friendly pharmacist to get to grips with the vitamins and minerals your body needs to work at full capacity on a daily basis.