Everybody knows the feeling of daily stress. Whether you’re dealing with an angry boss or being in a traffic jam, we all get stressed during the day. Does this mean we’re all stressed out? No, not at all! We humans need that bit of stress to help us feel motivated and deliver our best results. Most of us actually work more efficiently with a healthy dose of positive stress.
Our body’s natural “fight or flight” response is vital to help us cope with stressful events or situations during the day. But in some cases the stress response will malfunction, giving us a feeling of constant stress or being constantly under pressure. This can result in different health issues such as high blood pressure, increased levels of anxiety or depression and a depletion of important nutrients such as calcium and magnesium.
Magnesium and calcium are fundamental trace elements that need to be in balance within your body. They must be seen as two opposite players that need each other in order to maintain a healthy state of well being.
Calcium excites your nerves and makes your muscles contract and prepares your body to take action. While magnesium will calm them down and help them to relax. Calcium is an important element to clot blood, but magnesium will keep it moving freely through your body. So as you can see these two elements must be seen together and a deficiency in one of them will prevent your body to respond correctly and will increase your stress levels.
Magnesium
60% of the body’s magnesium is found in the bones, but the other 40% is important to maintain a lot of other vital body functions. It plays a major role in regulating calcium and vitamin levels, energy metabolism and helps to maintain a properly functioning cardiovascular system.
Studies show that too much stress depletes your supply of magnesium causing symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, agitation, and confusion. A lack of magnesium intensifies the release of stress hormones known as catecholamines and corticosteroids. Often, magnesium is referred to as an anti-stress mineral.
Health Benefits of Magnesium
- Proper muscles and nerves function
- Steady heart rhythm and normal blood pressure
- Keeps your bones strong
- Support your immune system
- Regulate blood sugar levels
- Avoid formation of kidney stones
- Essential to produce and store energy
- Promote emotional balance
- Fight anxiety, depression, and stress
- Increase overall relaxed feeling
Magnesium is naturally present in a wide variety of foods. As stress increases your need for magnesium will rise. It may be advisable to take magnesium supplements to bring levels back to its natural balance. However, you should not take these supplements unless your doctor advises them.
Which Foods Increase Your Intake of Magnesium?
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Green leaf vegetables
- Milk and other dairy products
- Fruit
Chocolate also contains high levels of magnesium, however, the presence of oxalic acids in chocolate is causing a decrease in calcium and disrupts the fragile magnesium and calcium balance within your body.
ALSO READ: Are You In Need Of Magnesium? And Where To Find It
Scroll down to learn more about the importance of calcium.
Calcium
Calcium is one of the most abundant minerals in your body. Like magnesium, it plays a major role in a lot of your vital body functions and can be quickly depleted during times of stress.
In order to absorb calcium, your body needs magnesium and several other minerals. A lack of calcium can be a serious problem as it is an important daily nutrient. But too much calcium, on the other hand, can also cause major health problems.
Unassimilated calcium can end up in your soft tissues where it hardens or calcifies and can cause arteriosclerosis or formation of kidney stones. So taking calcium supplements is only advised under the strict guidance of a doctor.
ALSO READ: Risks and Benefits of Calcium Supplements
Health Benefits of Calcium
- Manufacturing of bones and teeth
- Proper functioning of your heart and nerves
- Prevent insomnia and strengthen your nervous system in combination with magnesium
- Clot your blood and help to heal wounds properly
- Prevent osteoporosis
- Avoid the formation of kidney stones
Which Foods Increase Your Intake of Calcium?
- Milk and dairy products, especially egg yolk contains high levels of calcium
- Almonds and hazelnuts
- Sesame seeds
- Spinach, broccoli, leek, parsley, green cabbage, watercress, fennel, and chives
- Sardines
ALSO READ: Plant-Based Calcium: Why It Is Good for You and How to Get It
A healthy diet provides well-balanced levels of calcium and magnesium and helps your body to cope with your daily stresses and keeps your vital function and bone structure intact.
Exercising has also a positive influence on your calcium and magnesium levels. So eating healthy and exercising are the key ingredients to keep your body and mind in balance.
Thanks for reading. I hope this information was helpful. Until next time!
Amy Goodrich
Crazy cat lady, life and food lover, certified biologist, and holistic health coach.
