Why Is Magnesium Important for Seniors?

Maintaining health means that seniors need to ensure they’re getting the right mix of nutrients. That includes minerals and vitamins, including magnesium. Magnesium is a mineral and has a big role to fill in a variety of different functions within the body. Eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of magnesium is the best way to get this vital nutrient, and home care providers can be a huge help toward meeting that goal.

Bone Health and Density

Most people know that calcium is important for strong bones, but magnesium is as well. Calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium each play a vital role in protecting bone density in seniors. Magnesium in particular helps to regulate calcium levels throughout the body.

Cardiovascular Health and Function

Heart health is always a big deal for seniors and magnesium is important there, too. Magnesium helps the heart to keep a healthy, normal rhythm and improves muscle contractions related to heartbeats. This vital mineral can also help to regulate blood pressure and helps blood vessels to function properly.

Muscle Function

Because magnesium is so important in keeping the heart muscle working properly, it shouldn’t be a big surprise that it also helps other muscles to work properly. Magnesium is important both for muscle contractions and muscle relaxation, which means it can help to prevent and reduce muscle cramps and spasms. When seniors get enough magnesium, they’re more likely to have the flexibility and muscle performance they need for proper physical activity.

Metabolism and Energy

Often seniors struggle to maintain a healthy metabolism. This is especially common when seniors are less active than they once were. Magnesium plays a big role in both energy levels and metabolic reactions within the body. The right magnesium intake helps to break food down into the energy that seniors need in order to keep living their lives the way they want to.

Neurological Health

Magnesium also helps to keep the nervous system functioning properly because it supports nerve function and helps to keep nerve signals moving between nerve cells. Magnesium can also help with mood regulation, especially in terms of reducing stress and anxiety levels. Proper magnesium intake can help with both emotional well-being and cognitive function.

Insulin Sensitivity

When seniors are less sensitive to insulin, this can lead to insulin resistance. That means that the body has more trouble using the insulin it’s producing, which can lead to metabolic health issues like diabetes. Getting enough magnesium can make it easier for seniors to reduce their risk of developing diabetes.

Immune System Function

Seniors need to keep their immune systems strong in order to avoid illness and infection, and magnesium can help. Magnesium is a crucial piece of keeping immune cells working properly, which allows them to better control illness.

Magnesium-rich foods are the best way for seniors to increase their magnesium intake. Dark, leafy greens, nuts, fish, and beans are all excellent choices. Elder care providers can help with meal preparation, prioritizing nutritionally dense meals and snacks. Home care providers can also help seniors to remember to protect their health in other ways, like getting to doctors’ appointments on time and exercising when they’re able to do so.