8 Special Health Benefits of Magnesium Oxide
Magnesium is used by every organ in your body, including your heart, kidneys, bone and muscles.
It is essential for activating enzymes and performing other bodily functions.
We get magnesium from whole grains, kale, spinach and other foods, but it is also available in supplement form.
Magnesium oxide, one of the most popular supplements, is sold under several brand names, including:
- Uro-Mag
- Mag-200
- MagGel
- Mag-Ox 400
Unlike many supplements which work almost exclusively in people with deficiencies Magnesium oxide benefits people of all ages, regardless of their health.
Low magnesium in the body is linked to diabetes, kidney stones, osteoporosis and a legion of other health problems.
Taking the recommended daily value (RDV) of magnesium through food and supplements will improve these conditions and increase overall well-being.
Recommended daily dose of magnesium varies, and you will need to try different doses and types of magnesium to find what works for your individual needs.
Like other types of magnesium, magnesium oxide has dozens of health benefits. When used on a regular basis, magnesium oxide can help in all of the following areas:
- Relieves constipation
- Boosts low magnesium levels
- Lowers the risk of atherosclerosis and hypertension
- Improves breathing in people with asthma
- Reduces pain and tenderness caused by fibromyalgia
- Prevents temporary hearing loss due to loud noise
- Lowers the risk of colorectal cancer
- Reduces irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
All of these benefits are pretty impressive on their own, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Check out these eight special benefits of magnesium oxide to find out how it can help you and your family.
If you are not sure what kind of Magnesium you need please see other types of Magnesium before supplementing with Magnesium Oxide – you might benefit more from Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Threonate.
You could also try increasing your magnesium levels with natural alternatives like dried agar seaweed, coriander leaves, rice bran, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, or spinach.
1. Anxiety Relief
What a lot of people might not know is that magnesium oxide acts as a natural anxiolytic (anti-anxiety). Psychology Today has called magnesium “the original chill pill,” and with good reason.
A number of studies have confirmed that magnesium oxide positively effects mental health and our stress response systems. Epidemiological studies have confirmed that the vast majority of people are deficient in magnesium.
This may explain why so many people suffer from depression and anxiety. Dr. Carolyn Dean has said that magnesium deficiency can produce symptoms of anxiety or depression, including muscle weakness, fatigue and more.
2. Constipation
When you’re busy, it’s easy to eat a poor diet full of fast food, salt, and sugar. Traveling wreaks havoc on our digestive system and can cause constipation.
When you can’t “go,” take a magnesium oxide supplement. Magnesium oxide also helps you prevent constipation in the first place and keeps you regular. It is worth noting, however, that magnesium oxide has less bioavailability than other magnesium and, therefore, users would be better off seeking out magnesium citrate for this purpose.
That being said, magnesium oxide can be safely used to treat children with constipation. This study showed (500-800) mg/d. for one month significant improvement in bowel function.
For constipation, take one teaspoon of powdered magnesium oxide one to three times a day with carbonated fruit drink or fruit juice or 2 to 4 caplets daily with a glass of water.
3. Magnesium Oxide Benefits During Pregnancy
Only a small amount of magnesium enters breast milk during breast feeding so taking a magnesium oxide supplement during pregnancy won’t harm your baby and it may help.
PeaPod Cal-Mag contains a mixture of calcium, magnesium oxide and magnesium citrate for expecting mothers.
Magnesium helps Moms-to-be avoid preeclampsia, a rise in blood pressure during the third trimester and eclampsia (seizures). Doctors give magnesium to pregnant women through IV at the hospital to prevent complications.
Since mothers and their babies need magnesium for good health, taking the recommended dosage of a magnesium supplement during pregnancy will be beneficial to both parents and child.
4. Giddy-up! Magnesium Oxide is Great for Horses
Human beings aren’t the only living creatures who benefit from magnesium in their diet. Magnesium calms nervous horses and helps obese ones control their weight.
It helps horses (as well as humans) form strong bones and muscles. It also helps with cresty necks or enlarged fat pads. A horse with magnesium deficiency might be nervous, easily scared and suffer muscle tremors.
Other signs of a magnesium-deficient horse include:
- Fatigue
- Bucking or rearing for no reason
- Teeth grinding
- Becomes angry when touched or brushed on either side of a spine
- Sensitive to movement or loud sounds
Adding magnesium to a horse’s feed will help alleviate these problems.
Magnesium oxide is the preferred magnesium for horses as only 50% of it is absorbed by the animal, so it’s hard to overdose. Using magnesium oxide for horses’ hooves improves circulation and calcium absorption.
Magnesium is typically combined with vitamin B1 (thiamine) to this end. It relieves a horse’s jitters, making them less jumpy.
5. Are there any special benefits of using the powder form?
You’ve probably taken magnesium oxide powder as an over-the-counter treatment for gas, bloating and heartburn. Stir a teaspoon of magnesium oxide powder in water or juice and you are well on your way to improved digestion.
Magnesium oxide is the least absorbent type of magnesium, but it contains the most elemental magnesium per dose taken. Powdered magnesium oxide is more cost-efficient than pills, but it’s the least convenient to use. If you travel a lot on business, pills or capsules may be easier to use.
You can fine-tune the dosage better if you use a powder and use just what you need at any given time. Magnesium oxide powder can support energy production and glucose metabolism.
6. Magnesium Oxide for Full Body Health
Magnesium oxide and other forms of magnesium are vital to the function of your cells. They are partially responsible for:
- Regulating blood pressure
- Energy production
- Muscle contraction
- Regulating nutrients in the body
- Synthesizing body compounds
- Controlling the body’s use of insulin and glucose
- Immune system function
- Controlling chemicals in the brain
- Improving respiratory function
Studies have shown magnesium is vital to maintaining normal blood pressure and a healthy heart.
Research conducted at Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel showed that magnesium oxide reduced total and LDL cholesterol more significantly than magnesium citrate in study subjects.
In one double-blind study, 155 people were recruited to take part in a placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Test subjects were selected at random to receive daily magnesium oxide supplementation or a placebo for 12 weeks.
The study’s conclusion found that hypertensives experienced a substantial decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure after magnesium oxide was administered for the study’s duration.
7. Magnesium Oxide Lowers the Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Many natural supplements can serve as a preventative measure against certain forms of cancer, but magnesium oxide is specifically known to ward off the potential of developing colorectal cancer.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, higher intakes of magnesium are associated with a lower risk of colorectal tumors. Results from meta-analysis suggest that for every 100 milligram increase in magnesium, the risk of such tumors diminishes by more than 12 percent.
By decreasing insulin resistance, magnesium oxide is believed to positively affect the development of tumors.
8. Magnesium Oxide Supplements for Migraine Headaches
Magnesium oxide supplements have been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. Research at SUNY-Downstate indicates that half of migraine sufferers are deficient in magnesium.
According to the American Headache Society, magnesium oxide is often used to facilitate migraine relief or to prevent migraines before they can strike. The usual dose for migraine prevention is 400 to 500 milligrams daily.
Women can allay menstrual migraines by taking the RDV of magnesium oxide:
- 360 mg/day females age 14-18
- 310 mg/day for females ages 19 to 30
- 320 mg/day for females ages 31 to 50
Learn more about the health benefits of magnesium oxide supplement (and magnesium generally) in this video with a particularly enthusiastic narrator.
Let’s Recap: The Main Health Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
Here is a quick video review, summarizing the key benefits and side effects of magnesium oxide supplementation.
Magnesium Oxide Benefits Everyone, With or Without Health Problems
Magnesium oxide keeps hundreds of our body functions working smoothly, and guards against a host of medical conditions, from the bothersome (constipation) to the life-threatening (heart disease).
Here are a few highly rated magnesium oxide supplements:
1. Best Naturals
2. Aerobic Life Mag07 Digestive Cleanser
3. Rising Pharmaceuticals Magnesium Oxide
What are your experiences with magnesium oxide? How does it compare to other forms of magnesium supplementation?
Let us know in the comments.
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