Transdermal Magnesium - An Ancient Mineral

I was recently contacted by LL’s Magnetic Clay, Inc. and asked if I’d be willing to test a product called Ancient Minerals - transdermal magnesium and write a review. After doing research on the company and products I agreed.

Unbeknownst to the company, I’ve been suffering with a condition since May ‘08 (associated with a severe case of vertigo) that this product had the potential to help. Even though I’ve tried taking quality magnesium supplements for a month without success in ending the continual muscle twitches, I was hopeful that a transdermal application might do the trick.

LL’s Magnetic Clay, Inc. sent three Ancient Mineral products: magnesium flakes, magnesium gel and magnesium oil. All three contain Magnesium Chloride which is extracted from the Ancient Zechstein Seabed in Europe, 1600 to 2000 meters deep in the interior of the Earth.

• Magnesium Flakes Ingredients: 47% Genuine Zechstein Magnesium Chloride bath flakes
• Magnesium Gel Ingredients: Water, 28% Genuine Zechstein Magnesium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Certified Organic ACTIValoe, xanthan gum
• Magnesium Oil Ingredients: Water, 31% Genuine Zechstein Magnesium Chloride
  

I decided to test the magnesium spray first. I sprayed my feet, calves and arms; rubbed the liquid into my skin, per the instructions, so that more of the magnesium would be absorbed. Like magic, my twitches slowly stopped within 30 minutes.

I was so shocked that I called my husband and told him. My eyes welled as I experienced for first time in months, the feeling of relaxation. But I was still a little cynical and thought maybe it’s just a fluke.

The oil leaves a slight residue that can be wiped off with a damp cloth. It reminded me of when I was a young girl visiting Myrtle Beach. We’d spend the whole day at the ocean and have a little salt residue on our bodies. I didn’t have any tingling, as some people can experience with the Mg oil spray since it is the most potent of the three products.

Later that same night I tried the magnesium flakes in a foot soak. I poured about 1 cup of the flakes in and filled my foot tub with warm water, soaked my feet for about 30 minutes then dried them off. I noticed that I had no residue after using this product. Although it is considered the least potent of the 3 products, it uses moisture and heat that opens your pores and facilitates the absorption into your tissues and bloodstream.

While performing this routine for a week, I didn’t experience any muscle twitches. Muscle twitching can be an early sign of magnesium deficiency which I talked about in my last post.

I decided to stop using the products for a couple days to see what would happen. Sure enough, my twitches came back. So I started with the foot soak and within 20 minutes, POOF!, my muscle twitches disappeared.

I then sampled the magnesium gel. It’s a tad less potent then the oil but more than the flakes. I rubbed it into my arms and calves and noticed that it stayed moist a little longer than the spray did. It has aloe in it and that may work better for people who have sensitive skin compared to the magnesium oil which contains water. Like the oil, this did leave a slight residue that can be quickly wiped off if that’s your preference.

I am so impressed with these products and how they have impacted my life that I am in the process of ordering Ancient Minerals and offering them for sale through Action Healthy Life. I believe transdermal magnesium has many applications from deep tissue massage (helping relax knotted muscles) to sufferers of digestive disorders who can‘t absorb Mg properly.

For more information on conditions and symptoms that can benefit from transdermal magnesium please read my previous post. If you're interested in purchasing these products, stop by my online store http://www.bonanzle.com/actionhealthylife

UPDATE:

After 1 1/2 weeks of use, the deep pain I was feeling in my ear which I believe to be associated with the vertigo is gone. This a pain that I would have to take acetaminophen for because it affected my daily life.

Magnesium Deficient? Calcium Intake Could be One Reason

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential macro-mineral that must be obtain from one’s diet. Named after the Greek city Magnesia where large deposits of magnesium salts were discovered, it can be found in the earth, water and plants. In Fact, magnesium is the core constituent of chlorophyll which gives plants their green color.

65% of magnesium is contained in teeth & bones. Of the remaining 35%, highest levels are found in the brain, tissues, fluids, blood and significant amounts in the heart.

Magnesium and calcium have a yin yang relationship. As calcium causes constriction and excitability on muscles, blood vessels and nerves; magnesium has the opposite effect bringing calmness and relaxation.

For example: When magnesium is low it allows calcium levels to rise into the vascular muscle cells causing them to contract and leading to higher blood pressure. Magnesium relaxes the blood vessels allowing blood to flow more freely and as a result lowers blood pressure.

Although magnesium has a calming effect on nerves and muscles, it is also used in several hundred enzymatic reactions including the most important of which produce, transport, store and utilize energy in every cell of the body. So not only can magnesium calm muscle spasms and nerves, it can increase energy. Booth Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia Syndrome sufferers may benefit when magnesium levels are increased.

Magnesium has the ability to increase the solubility of calcium and therefore possibly preventing kidney stones and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Recent studies reveal, 65% of individuals having Insulin Resistant Syndrome are deficient in magnesium and would benefit with supplementation. One theory is that IRS impedes magnesium’s ability to enter the cells, allowing most of the magnesium to leave the body through urination. Many IRS suffers go on to become diabetics and it’s possible that the low magnesium level is what increases the diabetic's risk of heart disease as this study indicates.

According to Drs. Bella T. Alturas and Burton M. Alturas, up to 75% to 80% of the U.S. population is magnesium deficient. How can this be, you ask?

• Commercialized farming that doesn't rotate crops or add minerals like magnesium back into the soil but will use fertilizers containing nitrogen to give the plants that “green healthy look”. I previously wrote about this problem here.
  
• Much of the American diet is made up of processed foods that are enriched with vitamin D, phosphorus and calcium but not magnesium which leads to an imbalanced ratio. Current calcium to magnesium ratios are between 5:1 to 15:1 but should ideally be 1:1 to 2:1.
  
• Due to water purification (bottled water, osmosis, city water), Mg is filtered out.
  
• During times or stress or sickness magnesium reserves are depleted.
  
• Sugar (including fructose), antibiotics and alcohol consumption reduces magnesium levels.
  
• Magnesium is easily leached out of food during cooking or boiling and as a result it's not found in processed foods.
  

Most doctors will test blood serum levels of magnesium which can give false adequate numbers. This is because it is an intracellular mineral and is better measured with an intracellular test called MG RBC. There is another test call “Blood Ionized Magnesium Test” but it's not as readily available at this time.

Dr. Carolyn Dean recommends supplementing magnesium levels up to 1000 mg as long as calcium levels are adequate. Calcium to magnesium ratios should be between 1:1 to 2:1. For every 1000 mg of calcium consumed, magnesium can supplemented 500 to 1000 mg. Smaller doses throughout the day are better absorbed then one or two larger doses.

Best taken on an empty stomach because Mg needs adequate levels of hydrochloric acid to be assimilated in the body. It’s also a good idea not to take a combination calcium/magnesium supplement given that they would be competing for absorption.

Magnesium can lessen your need for certain medications including blood pressure & diabetic medication and interfere with the absorption of certain antibiotics. It is of the utmost importance to notify your doctor if you plan on increasing your magnesium intake. 

The IMVA (International Medical Veritas Association) has been investigating different forms of magnesium and has recommended that magnesium chloride is the most versatile, best absorbed, and safest in toxicity profiles. But it is recommended in the form of "transdermal" application instead of oral intake.   This is a slightly oily lotion that can be applied to the skin or used in baths, foot baths....or many other ways.  It is not used to treat constipation as many oral magnesium products are.   It is used to increase body levels of magnesium, which is beneficial in preventing diabetes, cardiac problems, relieving stress, promoting sleep, reducing hypertension, reducing cholesterol.....and much more.  It is an essential mineral that needs to be maintained at proper levels in our bodies.  Studies of use of magnesium chloride oil in a foot bath with body spraying by Dr. Norm Shealy has shown that this method increases levels of magnesium faster than any oral supplements can.  Transdermal magnesium is absorbed directly into the cells, bypassing the digestive tract.

The following condition may benefit from magnesium supplementation:

• Muscle Twitches, Tics, or Spasms
• Headaches, Cluster Headaches, Migraines
• Diabetes & Insulin Resistance Syndrome
• PMS
• Depression
• "Charlie Horse" (the muscle spasm that occurs when you stretch your legs)
• Stiff and Aching Muscles
• Constipation
• Heart Attack
• Insomnia or Restless Sleep
• Bones & Joints that need continued Chiropractic Treatment
• Hyperactivity
• Angina
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Stress
• Weakness
• High Blood Pressure
• Kidney Stones
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Back Pain
• Hypoglycemia
• Osteoporosis
• Aggressive Behavior
• Hiccups
• Seizures
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/fatigue
• Stroke
• Anxiety/Nervousness
• Constipation
• Fibromyalgia

Magnesium supplements can be purchased from me here.
In my next article I'll be reviewing a transdermal magnesium product that can give results in as little as 20 minuntes.

Inspiration, Motivation - We all need it!

If you’ve read about my weight-loss, then you’ll know that at one time I was an avid runner.  I have so many wonderful memories including crossing the finish line with my husband at the Cherry Festival 10K.

Fast forward to now.  I haven’t been running for quite some time.  After I lost my excess weight, I was going to start a fitness program, but that changed when in May ‘08 I was diagnosed with Vertigo.  It has been a long recovery which I’ll speak more about in the spring;  If you have questions now about it you can email me at sonja@actionhealthylife.com .

My eleven year old daughter recently came home from school and said she would like to participate in the school’s cross country club.  Mind you, we live in northern Michigan and my town is known for it’s snow accumulation and low temperatures.  

My daughter also isn’t naturally built to run.  She’s only 4’ 4” and one of the shortest students in her class.

But my daughter is persistent and told me she really wanted to run.  So we went shoe shopping and looking for yak traks to provide some traction on the snow.

I was overwhelmed with awe at my sweet daughter and her ambition.  I remember once when she said to me, “If I put my mind to something, I do it”.  Her words echoed in my head and I made a commitment to her that I’m going to start back running so we can run in a race and cross the finish line, together.

So this last week I started running on the treadmill and I’ll be quite honest, I’m not very fast.  In fact, I announced to my 17 year old son that I’ve taken up running again.  He asked, “So what’s your speed?”  I told him I’m at 13 mins/per mile and he questioned, “Are you walking?”

Thinking about this, it came to me that we all have to take our first step in taking control of our health.  Whether we are trying to lose weight, change eating habits or manage a condition/disease, we have to start somewhere. But if we keep going, step by step, our lives will become healthier than they were.  It’s when you give up, then you have loss the opportunity to change your future.

Earlier today, a friend sent this video to me and again I was inspired:  Nick Vujicic

Low Carb Parmesan Chicken Recipe

This is a very flavorful and satisfying recipe.  Chicken is moist and I love the creamy coating.

1. 1 to 1 1/4 pound of chicken breast - skinless, boneless and cut into tenderloins.  Approximately 10-13
   
2. 1/2 cup of Mayonnaise
3. 1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese - grated
4. 1/2 Tablespoon of Oregano
5. 1/2 Tablespoon of Basil
6. 1/2 Tablespoon of Parsley
7. 1/2 teaspoon of Onion Powder
8. 1/2 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
9. 1/8 teaspoon of Salt or Salt to taste
10. Up to a 1/4 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream or Half n Half

Combine ingredients 2 through 9.  Add enough Whipping Cream (10) to the mixture so that the consistency is similar to sour cream.

Place chicken (in a single layer) in a 9' x 13" glass dish.  Gererously coat the top of chicken with the above mixture.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake for 20 minutes.  Do not over bake. 

If made ahead of time and stored in refrigerator, increase cooking time up to 20 - 25 minutes.

Each tenderloin is less than .5 carbohydrates.

Accidental Melamine Contamination?....I Think Not.

All three of the macro-nutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) are composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen; with protein having an additional element of nitrogen that makes it very distinguishable.

In fact, nitrogen content is usually displayed on dog food and cattle feed labels in order to confirm protein content. Protein is essential to life and therefore products with high protein content are considered quality foods.

Many of you may remember dishes and serving pieces stamped "Melamac" on the bottom that became big in the 60s and 70s. This hard plastic was made of Melamine, an industrial chemical used to make laminates and fertilizers. It's original state is a white powder with no odor or taste and can only be detected with a specific test. It's main characteristic is a high nitrogen content.

This is where we can see it's not an accident that many products are being contaminated with melamine. Unscrupulous industries are fraudulently elevating the protein content of substandard foods by adding the chemical melamine.

The FDA has reported many U.S. products tainted with melamine including: dog & cat food, hot chocolate, infant formula, farm & fish feed and nutritional & medical supplements. The list is even longer for other countries and includes such items as ice-cream and chocolate. Most of the melamine laden products are coming from China and being shipped here and other places for consumption.

Recently the Chinese government prosecuted a ring of dairy companies who were diluting their milk up to 30% and replacing the protein content with melamine. Over 3,000 babies were sicken by the contaminated dairy and 6 died. Of the 21 dairy companies facing prosecution, only one (Sanlu Group) will face imprisonment and the others will most likely be fined.

Over exposure to Melamine can lead to kidney stones and irreversible kidney damage which can lead to death. People with kidney conditions, children and the elderly have a higher risk of death.

On a side note, this is one reason I use Shaklee supplements - They are not made and imported from China. 95% of all supplements sold in the U.S. are made and imported from China.