The use of minerals for medicinal purposes has been recorded since the times of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks when mineral-rich earths were used for their anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Hippocrates and Aristotle produced classifications of medicinal earth, which were mostly clays.

Why Magnesium is Magical for your skin

The mastery behind healthy, optimally functioning skin is minerals, helping to strengthen, tone, boost collagen production, decrease inflammation, boost healing, maintain moisture levels and detoxify the skin. Minerals allow cells to maximize the application of vitamins and antioxidants to encourage strong, healthy and resilient skin. When used in skincare, magnesium may help to:

• Reduce the occurrence of acne
• Calm sensitive skin
• Soothe Rosacea
• Improve the appearance of the skin

Why Magnesium is Helpful for your overall health

Magnesium (Mg) – A stress-busting nutrient, that helps to reduce stress and relax muscles helps with good quality sleep also helps to maintain moisture levels. Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzyme systems necessary for:

• Protein synthesis
• Muscle contraction
• Nerve function
• Blood glucose control
• Hormone receptor binding
• Blood pressure regulation
• Cardiac excitability
• Transmembrane ion flux
• Gating of calcium channels

Magnesium is involved in energy production:

• Crucial for ATP metabolism (adenylate cyclase)
• Oxidative phosphorylation
• Glycolysis

Nucleic acid synthesis:

• Synthesis of RNA and DNA (essential molecules)

Magnesium → Pregnancy
As Magnesium deficiency is a common event in pregnancy, consequences of gestational deficiency are beginning to be observed. Preliminary evidence suggests that Mg deficiency is a determinant of pregnancy outcomes as well as the long-term health of the child. Oral Magnesium supplementation given before the 25th week of gestation compared with placebo, for example, was associated with a lower frequency of preterm births, low birth weight infants, and fewer small for gestational age newborns. 

Magnesium → Migraine
A review shows Magnesium as one of the strongly recommended treatments for migraine headaches. Oral Mg supplementation has been shown to reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of migraines by 41% compared to placebo at 15.8%. 

Magnesium → Sleep
It is estimated that 50% of older adults have insomnia. Magnesium has a natural biochemical action causing a relaxant effect and helps to facilitate sleep. Supplementation of 500 mg of Magnesium has been associated with significant improvement in insomnia resulting in better sleep time, sleep efficiency and melatonin.

Magnesium → Depression
Magnesium sulphate has been successfully used in agitated depression as far back as 1921. Magnesium is required as a coenzyme to convert tryptophan to serotonin, a neurotransmitter recognized as a major determinant of mental health and mood. A systematic review suggests that Magnesium supplementation may prevent depression and may be useful as an additional therapy. 

Magnesium → Skin Conditions
Magnesium and zinc levels have been shown to be lower in children with atopic dermatitis than in controls. Magnesium salts are known to enhance skin hydration, dermal permeability, and barrier repair and to facilitate epidermal proliferation and differentiation, thus reducing inflammation. A double-blind controlled trial using a cream containing Magnesium along with ceramides (a family of waxy lipid molecules found in high concentrations within the cell membrane) to treat mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis was found to be superior to hydrocortisone creams.

Magnesium → Premenstrual Syndrome
A Random Control Trail using Magnesium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (360 mg, 3 times a day) for two cycles resulted in a significantly reduced score on the menstrual distress questionnaire with diminished pain and fewer mood changes in the supplemented group.

3 FAST FACTS

1. Magnesium is present in every organ in the human body
2. Magnesium is involved with over 300 reactions that regulate health and wellness
3. Magnesium is an abundant element on Planet Earth

Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium is the fourth most common mineral in the human body after calcium, sodium, and potassium and is the second most common intracellular cation after potassium. Within the frame of a 70 kg individual, there is an average of 25 grams of Magnesium in reserve:

• 53% in bone
• 27% in muscle
• 19% in soft tissues
• 1% in the serum and red blood cells

It is estimated that between 56 – 68% of Americans do not obtain enough magnesium in their diet on a daily basis to meet the recommended daily allowance. Widespread Magnesium intake is reducing for the following reasons:

1. There are diminished levels of Magnesium in many processed foods and some nonorganic foods, and most foods in grocery stores are processed
2. Common staples such as meat (18–29 mg/100 gm), sugar (0 mg/100 gm), and white flour (20–25 mg/100 gm) contribute less than 20% of the daily requirements of Magnesium
3. Cooking and boiling of produce result in a significant decline in the food’s Magnesium content
4. Reduced gastrointestinal absorption of Magnesium occurs in the face of vitamin D deficiency, a common problem in Western cultures
5. Medications in common usage (e.g., some antibiotics, antacids, and hypertensive drugs) diminish the absorption of Magnesium
6. Some commonly used pesticides have the propensity to chelate minerals [potentially decreasing the content of Magnesium in soil and some crops]
7. There is excess excretion of Magnesium with alcohol use and the presence of type 1 or type 2 diabetes
8. Smoking cigarettes reduces [plasma] Magnesium concentration
9. Evidence demonstrates increasing soil depletion of certain essential nutrients as a result of fertilization techniques not providing the spectrum of required minerals
10. There has been an expansion of agricultural techniques that have a tendency to consume and deplete specific nutrients
11. Magnesium absorption is reduced with aging by as much as 30%.

Eat Magnesium Rich Foods

Magnesium is a macro-mineral that is involved in a wide range of processes in our bodies.  Playing a key role in hundreds of enzyme reactions that support muscle health, heart health and nervous system function.

• Oats
• Leafy Greens
• Coffee
• Nuts and Seeds
• Okra
• Kiwi
• Brussel Spouts
• Broccoli
• Quinoa
• Wild caught Salmon
• Wild Rice
• Avacado
• Legumes
• Cacao
• Buckwheat

Magnesium for SkinCare

At FIFTY7KIND we focus on natural, bio-available plant ingredients — because they are similar to the compounds we carry in our own bodies, and are more easily recognized and used by the skin than foreign, synthetic ingredients. In studies regarding magnesium uses, magnesium has been shown to break apart different fats and oils and, therefore, can help aid in reducing skin oiliness.

A quick and easy way to add magnesium into your skincare routine:

• Mineral Baths – Soaking in magnesium chloride (diluted in hot water) salts from freshwater lakes, and the Dead Sea.
• Foot Soaks – Soak feet or legs in water Soaking in magnesium chloride (diluted in hot water) salts from Freshwater Lakes, and the Dead Sea.

BOTANICAL OILS THAT ARE RICH IN MAGNESIUM

• Avocado Fruit Oil
• Tamanu Oil
• Almond Nut Oil
• Prickly Pear Seed Oil
• Goji Berry Extract
• Sunflower Seed Oil
• Flax Seed Oil
• Brazil Nut Oil
• Milk Thistle Seed Oil
• Pumpkin Kernal Oil
• Amaranth Seed Oil
• Hemp Seed Oil
• Borage Seed Oil
• Kiwi Seed Oil
• Pomegranate Seed oil
• Papaya Seed Oil
• Red Raspberry Seed Oil
• Walnut Oil

I Choose Certified Organic, Bio-Dynamic and or Wildcrafted food sources and personal care products to gain the maximum antioxidants and minerals and to lessen exposure to harmful fertilization techniques used by conventional farming practices. Magnesium has been farmed out of the soil, so it’s not in vegetables, and animals don’t get it from the plants that they eat. I take a daily supplement of magnesium, choose magnesium-rich foods to add to my daily diet and add magnesium salts to a weekly bath. This ‘holistic approach’ has all bases covered.

Each of our products begin with our unique Artisan-Fusion Process, this is a very time-intensive way in which we capture the Minerals, Vitamins and all the lipid-soluble plant compounds, this is the nutrient-dense foundation of LUCA, TANU and NADI, plant nutrition for your skin!

NB: It is worth noting oral magnesium products can have a laxative effect for some people, just something to be aware of and always read the label as to the recommended dosage.

Until next time, be human, be kind be you.

REFERENCES:

• Nutrients For healthy skin- Inside Out http://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/nutrients-for-healthy-skin-inside-out
• Schwalfenberg GK, Genuis SJ. The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare. Scientifica. 2017;2017:4179326. doi:10.1155/2017/4179326.
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29093983
• Separation of wax esters from steryl esters by chromatography on magnesium hydroxide – Stewart ME, Downing DT.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7253843
• Magnesium Uses
  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7253843