HEALTHCARE TODAY
  • IN THE SPOTLIGHT
  • DIGITAL HEALTH
  • PRODUCTS & SUPPLEMENTS
  • HEALTH A - Z
  • PARENTING
  • MEN'S HEALTH
  • WOMEN
  • AGEING
  • NUTRITION
  • FITNESS
  • COMPLIMENTARY MEDICINE
  • ABOUT US
  • IN THE SPOTLIGHT
  • DIGITAL HEALTH
  • PRODUCTS & SUPPLEMENTS
  • HEALTH A - Z
  • PARENTING
  • MEN'S HEALTH
  • WOMEN
  • AGEING
  • NUTRITION
  • FITNESS
  • COMPLIMENTARY MEDICINE
  • ABOUT US
Search

MAGNESIUM deficiency causes sweet craving and stress eating 

​OCT 25, 2018 3PM​

aDVERTISEMENT

Picture
Emotional eating or stress eating and sweet cravings although you are not physically hungry may be due to the lack of magnesium in your body. Photo credit: Kenya24News
Picture
Magnesium is one of the essential macro-mineral that the body needs to maintain optimal health. 

Apart from its role as an enabler of healthy enzyme function, it helps in energy production, regulates calcium, potassium and other essential minerals throughout the body in order that the muscles and nerves, including the heart function properly.

In addition to these benefits, it regulates blood pressure, 
cholesterol production and blood glucose levels, helps in bone development as well as maintaining bone density and fluid balance. 

Magnesium deficiency
As opposed to its benefits, magnesium deficiency, also known as hypomagnesaemia has been linked to a number of health conditions.

The deficiency may be caused by several factors; decreased dietary magnesium intake, stress, high levels of alcohol consumption and inherited renal magnesium transport disorders or endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. It could also occur as a result of medically prescribed agents such as diuretics, proton-pump inhibitors, cardiac glycosides, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, calcineurin inhibitors, aminoglycoside antibiotics, amphotericin B, cisplatin, pentamidine and cyclosporine. 

"As a result, they may suffer from insomnia," says 
Dato Dr Rajbans Singh (pix), consultant physician and geriatrician from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. 

"People with low magnesium often experience restless sleep and are prone to waking up frequently during the night. Maintaining  healthy magnesium levels can improve sleep quality leading to deeper, more sound sleep."

Another frequent symptom of magnesium deficiency, he said, is emotional eating or stress eating, in order to deal with uncomfortable emotions. 

"It could also manifest with craving sweets and unhealthy snacks when stressed although you are not physically hungry. If stress is causing your hunger than magnesium would relax and calm you down, while reducing blood pressure."

500 mg of magnesium per day can help prevent cramps, aid in heart protection and help with muscles. Magnesium could also be obtained by consuming magnesium-rich foods such as dark leafy greens, seeds and nuts including sesame seeds, cashews and almonds, broccoli, legumes, dairy products, meat, unprocessed whole grains, chocolate and coffee. 

TOP STORIES
Picture
Self-sampling HPV test to eliminate cervical cancer in Malaysia

Picture
​Survey reveals mental health and stress continue to affect organisation's bottom line
​Teacher's battle against pregnancy discrimination recognised with human rights award
Knowledge of good sexual and reproductive health absent among couples
Johnson&Johnson recognises 24 optical centres
15 companies win Malaysia's healthiest workplace awards
Malaysia ranks seventh in the world with highest number of dialysis treatment rate
Mimos to roll-out first clinically-tested non-invasive glucose monitor end of 2019
Sarawak General Hospital joins QVIA's network of globally qualified phase 1 oncology sites
PRODUCTS & SUPPLEMENTS
​Tumour profiling for personalised cancer therapy
Picture
​​Tune Protect launch extreme sports plan

AIA unveils A-Plus health plan
Coca-cola rolls out Nutri Boost
Diapo-care cream for diaper rash
Repatha to reduce bad cholesterol
Pantai improves detection of eye diseases with OCT Technology
Sensodyne Rapid Relief helps ease tooth sensitivity
HEALTH A - Z
Picture
​Are you in a physical - psychological abusive relationship?

Domestic violence can affect children even before they’re born
When mental illness is mistaken for demonic possession
Eating disorders - A mental health issue
How mental health affects your life
Schizophrenia: Living in a world that does not exist
Picture
Are you sad or depressed? How do you differentiate the two?
Picture
The psychology behind public masturbation and indecent exposure
Domestic violence and abuse - The impact on children and adolescents
Arson, animal cruelty and lack of remorse - traits of personality disorders to look out for in a person
CHILDREN
Picture
Malaysia's butterfly children with skin as fragile as a butterfly wings

Picture
Is it bad to co-sleep with your baby?

MEN'S HEALTH
Have trouble peeing?
Picture
Does spicy food affect your prostate health?

Picture
​Cigarettes cause bladder cancer
Picture

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

HEALTH A - Z

MEN'S HEALTH

AGEING

NUTRITION

ABOUT US

PRODUCTS & SUPPLEMENTS

PARENTING

WOMEN

FITNESS

​COMPLIMENTARY MEDICINE

BM
​Copyright@ 2018 Healthcare Today. All rights reserved. The material in this site is intended to be of general information use and is not intended to constitute medical
advice, probable diagnosis or recommended treatments.                                                              
  • IN THE SPOTLIGHT
  • DIGITAL HEALTH
  • PRODUCTS & SUPPLEMENTS
  • HEALTH A - Z
  • PARENTING
  • MEN'S HEALTH
  • WOMEN
  • AGEING
  • NUTRITION
  • FITNESS
  • COMPLIMENTARY MEDICINE
  • ABOUT US