6 Magnesium Rich Foods that are Good for You

The most abundant mineral in our body, present mostly in our bones, magnesium plays an important role in our day to day activities. About 20-25 grams of magnesium is present in adult human body and about 60-70% of it occurs in the bone. According to the United States National Institutes of Health, “Magnesium regulates diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation.” A study conducted by the Harvard Medical School adds, “We need magnesium to help blood vessels relax, and for energy production, bone development, and transporting calcium and potassium. Just like potassium, too much magnesium can be lost in urine due to diuretic use, leading to low magnesium levels.”There have also been studies suggesting that a deficiency of magnesium in the body may lead to depression. The Hordaland Health Study concludes that, “systemic inflammation is associated with both the dietary intake of magnesium, and depression. Thus, there are reasons to consider dietary magnesium as a variable of interest in depressive disorders.”Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood explains, “Magnesium deficiency in individuals who are consuming a balanced diet is highly improbable as magnesium is abundantly present in the soil, therefore it finds its way in our food in one way or the other.” ,Moreover, our kidneys are able to limit urinary excretion of magnesium when intake is low. However, if such a situation does arise you can load up on the following magnesium rich foods. As per the Indian Council of Medical Research, the recommended daily allowance of magnesium is 340 mg for men and 310 mg for women.
1. Avocados: A popular fruit that is high in magnesium is avocado. Added to salads or sandwiches, avocados should be consumed fresh. Add about half an avocado to your daily diet to ensure that you get enough of this mineral. Avocado is also a good source of potassium, another electrolyte. Although it is high in fat but the good kind – unsaturated fats that support a healthy heart.
 2. Dark Chocolate: Quite a rare addition to the list, dark chocolate has a great percentage of magnesium in it. However, check before purchasing the chocolate bar, the cocoa content of the chocolate should ideally be 60% or above. It is believed that about 6-8gm of plain dark chocolate per day may do you good.
 3.  Cashews: The magnesium content in a fistful of cashews enables a healthy heart. “Numerous studies have found low magnesium to be associated with all known cardiovascular risk factors, such as cholesterol and high blood pressure, arterial plaque build-up (atherogenesis), hardening of the arteries and the calcification of soft tissues. This means we have been chasing our tails all of these years going after cholesterol and the high saturated-fat diet, when the true culprit was and still is low magnesium" as put by research scientist and author Andrea Rosanoff, PhD. Walnuts and almonds are also considerably high in magnesium.
 4. Tuna: Tuna fish, if had fresh, has a great percentage of magnesium. Avoid canned tuna as it contains a lot of salt. Tuna can be baked, steamed or added to salads and should be eaten fresh to derive maximum benefits. In addition to being rich in magnesium, it is also packed with Vitamin D and super healthy omega-3 fats.
 5. Green Leafy Vegetables: Magnesium is present in all dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collard greens, Swiss chard and kale. These are also considered as superfoods in the culinary world. Raw spinach is actually one of the best sources to add magnesium to the menu.
 6. Pumpkin Seeds: Throw them in trail mixes or enjoy them as is between meals to keep your hunger levels down, pumpkin seeds are packed with magnesium. It is usually recommended to have them with the shells to absorb all nutrients. Pumpkin seeds are also rich in zinc. Other seeds high in magnesium are sunflower seeds and flaxseeds.
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