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chronic stress, leading to more anxiety, irritability, tioners when treating the disease states they cause. The nervous
fatigue and insomnia—many of the symptoms of Aside from the intricate electrical dance that
adrenal exhaustion—as well as to hypertension calcium and magnesium perform together, mag- system
and heart pains—symptoms of heart disease. nesium is necessary to keep calcium in solution depends
Depression is related to stress and magnesium in the body, preventing its inappropriate deposi-
deficiency as well. Serotonin, the “feel good” hor- tion in soft tissues. As long as we have sufficient upon
mone, requires magnesium in its delicate balance hydrochloric acid in our stomachs we can dissolve sufficient
of release and reception by cells in the brain. Only calcium from the foods we eat. After calcium leaves
when adequate levels are present can we enjoy the acidic environment of the stomach and enters magnesium
mental and emotional equilibrium. the alkaline milieu of the small intestine however, for its calming
For reasons not fully understood, the body it is magnesium that is necessary to keep calcium
does not retain magnesium very well; certainly not soluble. Without sufficient magnesium, a whole effects,
as well as it holds onto calcium or iron, for example. host of physiological aberrations can occur with including
Heavy sweating from endurance sports such as serious health consequences.
marathon running or strenuous exercise workouts As Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of The Magne- restful sleep.
can dangerously deplete magnesium stores and sium Miracle, explains, “In the large intestine it
other electrolytes—although calcium is not wasted, [precipitated calcium] interferes with peristalsis,
by the way— resulting in trembling, faintness and which results in constipation. When calcium
even seizures and death. The drenching sweats that precipitates out in the kidneys and combines
some menopausal women suffer cause magnesium with phosphorus or oxalic acid, kidney stones are
loss as well, and their diminishing magnesium lev- formed. Calcium can deposit in the lining of the
els worsen their jagged nerves, sleep disturbances, bladder and prevent it from fully relaxing, and
panic attacks, body aches and depression. If these therefore from filling completely with urine. This
women have been tempted to consume modern soy leads to frequent urination problems, especially
products in a misguided attempt to moderate their in older people. Calcium can precipitate out of the
symptoms, they will in fact lose even more mag- blood and deposit in the lining of the arteries, caus-
nesium because it will be bound to the abundant ing hardening (arteriosclerosis). . . It can coat and
phytates in these concoctions. stiffen. . . plaque in the arteries. . . [and] can cause
A healthy gut environment is necessary for blood pressure to rise as well as increase the risk of
proper absorption of magnesium from the diet. Ir- heart attack and stroke. Calcium can even deposit
ritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, candidiasis and in the brain. Many researchers are investigating it
other gut disorders can severely limit the amount as a possible cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s and
of magnesium that the body will be able to absorb. Parkinson’s disease. Calcium can deposit in the
Older adults often experience decreased stomach lining of the bronchial tubes and cause asthma
hydrochloric acid production, which can impair symptoms. Calcium in extracellular fluid. . . can
mineral absorption in general. And with so many decrease the permeability of cell membranes. This
treating their “heartburn” with antacids, a healthy makes it increasingly difficult for glucose (a large
digestive environment is hard to maintain. molecule) to pass through the cell membrane to be
converted to ATP in the cells’ mitochondria. High
CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM PARTNERSHIP glucose levels created by excess calcium may be
Both calcium and magnesium are necessary misdiagnosed as diabetes.”
for the healthy body—in proper balance to one
another, as well as to other necessary minerals. MAGNESIUM IS A POTENT
Considered biochemical antagonists, one cannot act DETOXIFIER
without eliciting the opposite reaction of the other. Magnesium is utilized by the body for all sorts
Yet calcium and magnesium must both be present of detoxification pathways and is necessary for the
in balanced amounts for either one to function neutralization of toxins, overly acidic conditions
normally in the body. Some researchers suggest that arise in the body, and for protection from
that the healthy ratio of calcium to magnesium in heavy metals. It plays a vital role in protecting
the diet should be 2:1. Others consider 1:1 to reflect us from the onslaught of man-made chemicals all
ratios that we evolved with based on our diet prior to around us. Glutathione, an antioxidant normally
the advent of agriculture. In modern industrialized produced by the body and a detoxifier of mercury,
countries the ratio from diet is from 5:1 to as much lead and arsenic among others, requires magne-
as 15:1. The imbalance of these two very important sium for its synthesis. According to Mark Sircus,
minerals produces many dire consequences in the in Transdermal Magnesium Therapy, a deficiency
body that are often overlooked by medical practi- of magnesium increases free radical generation

FALL 2010 Wise Traditions 37