Magnesium

I get toe cramps and finger cramps. I think I lack magnesium because most of the foods I need I cannot eat. Has anyone else had a problem and do any of you take magnesium tablets? Thank you.

Here is some information from the Mayo clinic. Hope this helps Many Americans don't get enough magnesium in their diets. Before you reach for a supplement, though, you should know that just a few servings of magnesium-rich foods a day can meet your need for this important nutrient. Nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, leafy vegetables, milk, yogurt and fortified foods are good sources. One ounce of almonds contains 20% of the daily magnesium an adult needs. Even water (tap, mineral or bottled) can provide magnesium. Some laxatives and antacids also contain magnesium. Why is magnesium important? Magnesium plays many crucial roles in the body, such as supporting muscle and nerve function and energy production. Low magnesium levels usually don't cause symptoms. However, chronically low levels can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. Too much magnesium from foods isn't a concern for healthy adults. However, the same can't be said for supplements. High doses of magnesium from supplements or medications can cause nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. In addition, the magnesium in supplements can interact with some types of antibiotics and other medicines. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're considering magnesium supplements, especially if you routinely use magnesium-containing antacids or laxatives.

Hello looking forward. magnesium is one of the many ingredients I take in my supplements. However, my own cramps in the extremities are probably caused by arthritis, by poor circulation, by low blood pressure, and by many other creeping disabilities of old age. Also, being a vegetarian, I am aware that there may be certain mineral and vitamin deficiencies in my diet, which (hopefully) are being rectified by the supplements. On the other hand - I often ponder whether all these supplements are not a physical waste of time, but more of a psychological support system. Either way, I continue with the regime which has seemingly made me so much healthier than I used to be as a child and young adult. Best wishes Bill

Hi Looking forward, I don't know about magnesium but I get cramps in both. Noropathy in my feet and arthritis in my hands and other places. You will get better answers.

I work outside and sweat in the Texas summer heat, the lost of minerals is something that happens easily and normally leg cramps after work is when I feel it the most, even gone to bed and wake up the next morning with my leg feeling like I got punch in the leg by getting a cramp when I was asleep. There is supplements that have magnesium powder drinks but if your doing magnesium best to do a combination of clacium with it. I also use Powerpak by trace mineral but be careful they put alot of B12 in this so it is not a every day drink in my case.

Hi there I get liquid ionic magnesium from the US from a company called good state. I put a cap full in a litre of water and drink it over the day.Tablets will give you the runs if you take a lot, this is absorbed before going through your system. There is plenty of info on the site, I have taken it for years. https://goodstate.com/collections/ionic-minerals/products/good-state-liquid-ionic-magnesium-200-96-servings-at-200-mg-elemental-8-fl-oz-supplement

Hi Looking in the summer when i tend to get dehydrated i eat bannanas, but i also take a multi vit. daily.

When I quit smoking decades ago, my coach told me to take magnesium. Don’t remember what the dosage was. Magnesium has a calming affect to our bodies. Google magnesium. Might help. Take care, Sharon????

thanks sharon i will do that

First things first. Form your post, you are coming to the conclusion you need Magnesium, but have you actually had your Mg levels measured and are sure you are low? There may be other causes of your cramping issues, and if it is something other than Mg, you can make a bad situation worse by taking Mg when you don't need it.

Al of us here on this site have some combination of "my body is acting wierdly" symptoms that may be hard to track down. Something we take for one thing may lead to some other part of our body reacting badly to it. We walk a tight-rope! I used to think nothing of taking a multi-vitamin and various supplements until I started getting seemingly unrelated eye problems that were tracked back to the supplements, and they went away when I stopped taking them (testing revealed B-12 and B-6 levels over twice the high limit from taking a relatively small supplement).

Hi looking forward!

Yes yes I was having awful foot and toe and sometimes leg cramps. Usually I'm woken up during the night. It was terrible.

I asked my PCP if it would be ok for me to take magnesium supplements. With his approval I started magnesium glycinate supplements 400 mg per day and my cramps have greatly decreased. The glycinate is easier absorbed than oxide.

If I feel a ramp coming I take a couple of Hylands leg cramp tablets and that does it for me.

I'm not a medicine junkie! I take as little as I possibly can!

Good luck!

Jo

I HAD LEG CRAMPS AND I STARTED EATING A DILL PICKLE SPEAR EVERY NIGHT AND THAT HAS STOPPED IT.  BECAUSE I DON'T EAT ENOUGH FOODS THAT SUPPLY MAGNESIUM, I TAKE MAGNESIUM PILLS (500 MG) THREE TIMES A DAY. 

Low Potassium is another cause for leg cramps. Mine is low on and off and have not gone on a Rx or OTC supplement for them but was told to eat at least one banana a day, which I do and it works. I was given a Rx magnesium supplement while on chemo but tried to take a supplement later and it certainly causes a watery output! 
Pup

ty i do take potassium and calcium. someone suggested a magnesium product i will try. thanks btw how are you doing??

ty for your help. seems i cannot eat any of the suggested foods-nuts,seeds, leafy greens etc. so someone suggested magnesium glycinate 400 mg. i will try that

I am doing well! Hope you find something that works well to overcome those cramps.
The weather is beautiful and have been enjoying the outside in the evenings! still hot enough I rhe daytime to enjoy the pool! 
Happy Labor Day!

Pup

Hi Pup. I had a brother inlaw that ate bananas everyday, I am not sure if he ate more than one a day or not. His Dr. told him his Potassium was to hgh at one time and to slow down on the bananas for awhile. just be careful.

Hi Lovely...I enjoy reading your replies to questions....I have been wondering about magnesium as well.  I try to avoid medications and would rather choose a more healthy route but see a conflict in the foods that are the healthiest.  I am 1 year into the ostomy world and have read...do not eat nuts, salads (leafy greens) beans (due to skin) anything with skin, milk will cause gas ...yadda yadda yadda...as you can get a blockage.....so I am conflicted.  I drink ensure and make a morning drink of protein powder, psyllium fiber with almond milk.  Seems the best output is when I eat potatoes, pasta, and bread...things that would put on weight in my old life before "stomacide". Fortunately no matter what I eat my weight remains around 105...but I am only 5 foot (on a tall day lol) .  Do most ostimates eat things like nuts, things with skin and green leafy stuff.....???  Asking for a friend....(Seymour Picalilly , my stoma). Thanks, just breathe

Hi there, I eat anything I wish including everything you mention. Just start out slowly with different foods a little bit at a time, until your body adjusts. I only don't eat high fibre food later in the day as it slows down the digestion process, mangoes, apples, oranges.

Axl

I have an ileostomy and have found that taking magnesium (capsules that contain liquid magnesium is more cost effective for me than the liquid itself) twice daily has prevented muscle cramping both during the day and night.  My husband who does not have an ostomy, also has found that taking magnesium tablets (Jigsaw Magnesium) twice daily has prevented muscle cramps especially at night.  When we are physically active, we lose not just fluids but also electrolytes through our sweat.  If we have liquid GI output, that increases the loss of both fluid and electrolytes.  Often people drink plenty of water, but don't realize they need additional electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.  Some people use sports drinks which have a combination of fluid and electrolytes.  Or you can also eat high water content fruit such as melons and/or pickles as ways of replacing lost fluids+electrolytes.  Many of those who do bicylcle riding over long distances drink pickle juice because it is very thirst quenching and helpful in replace both fluids and electrolytes.

I agree 100 %!

My research supports everything you've said!

Jo

Wow three times a day for magnesium.  Do you have diarrhea from it?  Typically 400 to 500 is the dosage most people take.  I don't take it anymore because I found out you shouldn't take it if you thyroid issues.  Prior to surgery I used it as a laxative 3 pills to keep regular 1 pill.