Magnesium has many functions and properties, but often the correct intake of this mineral is not monitored, and its importance for the overall health of the body tends to be underestimated.
Magnesium functions and properties
Magnesium is a fundamental mineral for the body and is responsible for many physiological functions. Simply saying that magnesium is good for the muscles, brain, bones and heart would be reductive, as this nutrient is involved in many metabolic processes and over 300 enzymatic reactions.
Magnesium helps to control 5 fundamental organic functions linked to:
- The metabolism: magnesium, combined with ATP to form a stable bond, is directly involved in the process of energy accumulation, transfer and release.
- The muscles: linked to ATP, magnesium helps to carry energy to the muscles. In addition, it directly intervenes in the muscle contraction and relaxation mechanisms, as it is an indispensable element for managing calcium reserves in the cells.
- The nervous system: magnesium plays a fundamental role in the synthesis of many neurotransmitters (including serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, noradrenaline and GABA), contributing to the maintenance of normal cognitive functions, controlling sleep cycles and moods. And if this was not enough, magnesium also affects the control of behaviour, voluntary movements and body temperature!
- Bones: magnesium is a fundamental mineral for calcium absorption, as it directly affects the synthesis of vitamin D, thus contributing to maintaining strong, healthy bones.
- The heart and blood circulation: with functions affecting the muscles, magnesium also acts on myocardial contractility, as well as the tone and systemic vascular resistance (SVR).