A medium tangerine includes 4% of the recommended Daily Value for magnesium.
What is Magnesium?
Magnesium is a mineral and electrolyte that plays an essential role in over 300 chemical reactions in the body, including muscle relaxation, bone development, maintaining energy levels, and supporting cardiovascular health.
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Benefits of Magnesium
Magnesium has been studied for its role in depression, migraine headaches, type 2 diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases.
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- Magnesium as a muscle relaxer: Magnesium works as a natural muscle relaxer.2,3 For this reason, it may help with muscle cramps.
- Magnesium for heart health: Magnesium is a vasodilator, which means it helps to open blood vessels to decrease blood pressure.2,3 Research has shown positive associations between higher intakes of magnesium and lower risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.1-5
Sources of Magnesium
Foods that have a significant amount of magnesium include nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes (e.g. beans, lentils, peanuts), and dark leafy greens. Although having smaller amounts of magnesium, tangerines and mandarins can contribute to magnesium intake
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Magnesium Deficiency
According to recent studies, over 50% of Americans are magnesium deficient.
2,4,5 Inadequate intake of dietary magnesium may play a role in numerous conditions including insomnia, fatigue, irritability, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure.
1-5 Fortunately, magnesium deficiency is easy to fix because there are many foods that contain this nutrient.