Magnesium and Hypothyroidism

Introduction

Magnesium and hypothyroidism might not be talked about a lot these days, but the truth is that they are becoming linked more and more in the medical community.

Now, magnesium on its own, in the form of supplements, will not diminish deficiencies and other illnesses, but it can go a long way to help any issues the body is having.

Current statistics say that most individuals, 60-80%, do not get enough magnesium in their daily diets. Furthermore, most people with a magnesium deficiency actually can suffer from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or hypothyroidism.

Unfortunately, people with a deficiency of some sort believe that more magnesium will fix the problem. This is not always the case, and a deeper issue should be investigated. This deeper issue usually involves hormonal problems.

Further Connections Between Magnesium and Hypothyroidism

In most clinical practices, magnesium deficiencies seem to be noticed with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, but research proves that Graves’ Disease and hypothyroidism are found most often with magnesium deficiencies.

When deficiencies do present themselves, anti-thyroid medication, such as Methimazole, actually raise the level of magnesium in the human body. Ultimately, the thyroid imbalance needs to be fixed. Magnesium can be part of the process, but there is more than meets the eye. Lastly, magnesium deficiencies can be found in people who have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.

First Signs of a Magnesium Deficiency

Before people even know they have a magnesium deficiency, they may start to notice other things that their body is doing that is out of the ordinary. Some of these signs include vomiting, no appetite, weakness, and muscle cramps.

Furthermore, worsening conditions can include bowel disease and renal issues.

What are the Common Symptoms of a Magnesium Deficiency?

When someone has a magnesium deficiency, you can almost bet that there is an underlying hypothyroid problem, too. Some of the symptoms for both these deficiencies include blood clotting, seizures, high blood pressure, inflammation, heart disease, bone loss, insomnia, and so much more.

Hypothyroidism causes the body to overload the stress levels of the body. Then, the stress drains the body of magnesium. Additionally, estrogen levels in women effect the liver negatively when magnesium and hypothyroidism are interacting poorly within the body.

Depression can also be a condition that is associated with a deficiency of magnesium. A recent study found that low magnesium levels connect with depression in adults of all ages. The study involved almost 9,000 adults who had depression and low magnesium levels. Younger adults had an even higher spike of depression along with lower magnesium levels. Depression symptoms were even found to have depressive behavior that made changes to the axis of microbiota-gut-brain.

Migraines are another common symptom of a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium positively affects receptors of serotonin and neurotransmitters. When this works normally, magnesium blocks migraines from happening in the human body.

But, when the receptors are not blocked, migraines persist and do not stop. One study found that half of the migraines in patients were because of a magnesium deficiency. Especially involving acute migraine attacks, oral supplements of magnesium were proven to reduce these attacks.

Magnesium levels also have a correlation with cancer. When individuals have consistent magnesium levels, some cancers, like colorectal cancer, actually diminish. Research proved this by having postmenopausal women take 400 mg/day of magnesium to help fight colorectal cancer, and the results positively showed success.

The last two symptoms that are connected with a magnesium deficiency include diabetes and cardiovascular health. Type 2 diabetes are often correlated with a magnesium deficiency. If an individual has to use insulin, magnesium has been proven to help the glucose-uptake to become much more effective in the human body. Oral supplements have also been given to prediabetes patients to help with lowered magnesium levels and reduce plasma levels.

Along with diabetes, cardiovascular health needs magnesium to thrive. When people are at risk for heart issues, because of their blood pressure, magnesium supplementation improved the stiffness of arteries in a 24-week study for over 50 obese people.

There are many other things that could highlight a magnesium deficiency that we can’t get into today, but here is a list of symptoms:

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• History of Autism
• Poor Mood
• Fatigue
• Asthma Issues
• Menstrual Pains
• Fluttering of the Heart
• Kidney Stones
• Acid Reflux

Why is Magnesium Important?

Of course, all minerals in general keep the body functioning properly. One is not more important than the other, but magnesium definitely has its value in the human body. Specifically, there are more than 300 enzyme reactions because of magnesium in the human body.

Not only does magnesium affect the body when it comes to deficiencies like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, but other deficiencies are a cause of a lack of magnesium. Some of the roles magnesium plays a part in involves nerve transmission, contraction of the muscles, the regulation of blood pressure, metabolism, the control of blood glucose, and the synthesis of protein.

Magnesium definitely becomes more important when deficiencies arise. High blood pressure and insomnia are symptoms when magnesium deficiencies come to the surface in individuals.

Foods with Magnesium

If you are looking to fill the void left by a lack of magnesium, then you should look into some of these foods:

• Yogurt
• Bone and Vegetable Broth
• Different types of meats
• Mackerel
• Avocados
• Figs
• Orange Juice
• Brown Rice
• Coffee
• Soy Beans
• Wheat Brain
• Nuts and Seeds
• Spinach

A lot of people have been misinformed over the years on what magnesium-rich foods actually do to the human body. Foods with magnesium actually have therapeutic effects and safely affect your body in healthy ways. If you do not take advantage of these foods, your body will not be in tip-top shape.

Specifically, leafy greens are the best way to get magnesium into your diet. Try greens like Swiss chard, kale, and collard greens.

If greens are not your thing, then try making a smoothie with fruits like bananas and avocados. Also, chocolate is a great addition to any smoothie, and it has a lot of magnesium, too. Although it’s not classified as a food, a good spring water can also help with magnesium intake, by filtering it through the body.

Ways to Not Waste Away Magnesium

Unfortunately, many people who take in magnesium waste it away. This has become a troublesome problem that is causing a lot of health issues in people. So, here are some ways to make sure that your magnesium is here to stay.

If an individual is dealing with hypothyroidism, it is really common for magnesium to be wasted away, but stress can also play a part in the lack of magnesium intake. Find ways to relieve stress by doing things that you enjoy doing and practice techniques to be at peace during stressful times. Lastly, the dominance of estrogen in the body can waste away magnesium, too.

Let us start with T3, or the Thyroid Hormone. This piece of science has been proven to advance magnesium levels. T3 works by increasing the cells’ strength, so it can absorb the magnesium that is needed in the body.

The more the cells can absorb, the better the body can keep magnesium around to the help out. The next way to keep magnesium around is by using progesterone. Progesterone, like T3, also is great at helping cells absorb magnesium.

Lastly, salt helps magnesium stay in the body as well. But, just like magnesium, salt can be wasted away in people who are dealing with hypothyroidism. So, the more salt you can get in your diet, the better because it assists with magnesium retention with the magnesium-rich foods that are eaten. Epsom salt, in specific, is a safe, magnesium source. By placing Epsom salt in a bath, it can dissolve in the tub.

As you get in the tub, the salt will absorb through the skin. Warm baths are the best way to get magnesium into the body.

Supplements?

Many people feel like a supplement will solve all of their troubles, but for most supplements, that may not be true. Most supplements can help support hypothyroidism or a magnesium deficiency in the body, but it is only part of the solution. Let us start with supplements of the oral variety. These types can be used when deficiencies arise. However, there are a lot to choose from and they are not all the same.

Of the magnesium that is taken orally, in most forms, only 20-50% is actually absorbed in a human body. The reason for this is the fact that digestion is not very effective when hypothyroidism occurs throughout the body. It is important to find good, reviewed supplements that have high quality ingrediants.

Additionally, since hypothyroidism decreases the production of enzymes in the body, stomach acid is not produced to the levels that are needed.

Also, inflammation of the intestines can’t break the magnesium apart to impact the body positively. However, some people insist on using medications like Protonix, Prilosec, Omeprazole, or Neium. All of these supplements and/or medications are proton pump inhibitors that help the body in positive ways.

Another way to absorb magnesium is in oil form. Magnesium oil, or magnesium chloride, retains a lot better than the oral form of magnesium. A spray bottle is used to send a mist directly over your skin, and it can be massaged wherever you want across your body.

Because it is in an odorless and colorless form, magnesium oil is a great way to keep your magnesium intake up. This magnesium oil works by skipping the digestive tract, so it will not mess with your day to day diet.

How Much Magnesium Should be Consumed?

If a supplement is the best way to go for you and your well-being, then there are daily dosages that you need to follow. When magnesium citrate is being used, people should use anywhere between 400 to 1,000 mg. Along with magnesium citrate’s effectiveness with a deficiency, it is also great to help relieve constipation.

If magnesium glycinate is more of your groove, then a daily dosage can range from 400 to 800 mg.

Conclusion

Ultimately, research has shown a correlation between low magnesium levels and hypothyroidism. By adding more magnesium to a diet, people should not expect to be healed of hypothyroidism, but it has shown some positive results.

At the end of the day, there is still a lot of research that needs to be done to show how impactful, magnesium can be on the body to help hypothyroidism. But, the medical community is starting to see the value that magnesium can have on the body.

Time will only tell how much magnesium can actually do to help the body.

What do you think?