It’s hard to believe that February is almost over. It seemed that as soon as the new year began the stores were filled with every type of heart shaped gift imaginable in preparation for Valentine’s Day. The day all about love may have already come and gone but we wanted to take a moment to focus on hearts of a different kind.
February is also National Heart Health Month. And while your Valentine may metaphorically make your heart skip a beat, in reality, that is NOT a good thing! Magnesium plays such a vital role in heart health it is called the “guardian angel of the heart!”
Magnesium is absolutely essential in keeping our hearts in a steady, healthy rhythm. Our heartbeats are maintained by electrolytes sodium, potassium, and calcium. Magnesium is the gatekeeper, the nutrient responsible for regulating the movement of these electrolytes in heart tissue. Irregular, erratic heartbeats can be the result of these electrolytes not functioning properly.
Research has linked low levels of magnesium with an increased risk of arrhythmias as well as atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries) and heart failure. Studies have shown that a healthy level of magnesium in the body may reduce arrhythmias up to 42%.
Studies have also shown that magnesium helps regulate arrhythmias by increasing cell energy, improving oxygen usage, and reducing the release of neurotransmitters such as adrenaline that speed up heart rate. It also helps to reduce inflammation, combats oxidative stress to protect heart health, and regulates blood pressure.
Hearts skipping a beat is best left to cartoons and greeting card poetry. For true heart health, magnesium is key!
To your health!