Magnesium is another vital nutrient but is difficult to measure. It’s 99% inside the cells and tissues and only 1% in the bloodstream. Therefore, blood tests are very poor reflections of our true magnesium levels. In 2009, the World Health Organization published a report that stated that 75% of Americans were consuming less magnesium then recommended. The recommended daily intake is about 400 mg but may be more if you drink alcohol, take certain medications like diuretics or acid blocking medication, and which kind depends on your typical daily bowel movements.

If you tend toward constipation then take it in the form of Magnesium Citrate. If you tend toward diarrhea then take in the form of Magnesium Glycinate or L-Threonate. L-Threonate is preferred form for those with migraines, or wanting to avoid dementia or osteoporosis, as it’s the only type that crosses the blood brain barrier. Taken with osteoporosis medications results in dramatic improvements as well. If you want to take it and it constipates you then do 1000 mg of L-Threonate instead of 2000 mg (the usual daily dose of this form) and take 200 or 400 mg of Magnesium Citrate to balance it out.

Magnesium is also a co-factor in over 300 chemical reactions in our system. It’s a necessary co-factor for many steps in the Krebs Cycle, the reaction that takes place in our mitochondria to turn glucose into energy.