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A good source of magnesium?

by KimW
22 replies
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I'm having trouble keeping a healthy level of magnesium in my body.
So far since my transplant I have had 2 trips to the ER for IVs of it.
I was told to get magnesium pills but they have side effects. The Drs have admitted that the human body does not tolerate them well.
The main source for humans is from food. But a lot of sources of magnesium also contain potassium, which I still have to watch my consumption of.

So basically I'm wondering if anybody can recommend a supplement either liquid or pill form that doesn't have the normal side effects. that the pills normally produce.

Thanks.
  • Profile picture of the author Halcyon
    How's your calcium? I ask because it sometimes its low as well with kidney patients and the best supplement I found was a calcium/magnesium mix. We get it from Swanson vitamins. I'll edit this post in a bit with the exact name.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Calcium is good... I'm allowed a lot of dairy since the transplant. Was basically told to have none while on the list. Ok,ok, actually was allowed 4 oz of dairy a day,but that's almost none in my opinion.
    I actually followed a link of Thom's or Sal's on FB the other day and it took me to a page with an ad for some liquid Magnesium that claimed better absorbtion that pill form, but I can't remember where I saw it.

    The other thing I forgot to mention was that of the foods that contain good magnesium such as broccoli, and it seems leafy greens and green vegetables in general interfere with the warfarin they have me taking at the moment (can't wait to be able to stop that). Seems anytime i touch anything I get purple blotches now.
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  • Profile picture of the author Halcyon
    Try either of these.
    Swanson Vitamins has a host of Mg products. I too recommend powder or liquid, if the pills aren't well tolerated.

    Swanson Premium 100% Pure Magnesium Citrate Powder 8 oz (227 grams) Pwdr - Swanson Health Products

    or LiquiMag (Unflavored) 16 oz (473 ml) by BrainChild Nutritionals

    Pure formulas has a wide assortment of Liquid Mg products so look around. I've used both of these sites so you'll get what you order.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Thanks Thom and Halcyon, will check them all out.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    What's wrong with magnesium supplements? WHAT side effects?

    Just get a nice calcium/magnesium supplement. Halcyon is right, you want around 1Gr calcium daily to about .4Gr magnesium. If you take more than say about 50% more than that, it could have a laxative effect. If you take maybe half as much, you could have increased arthritus, pain, headaches, etc.... It can also increase colds, and lead to heart problems.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    The lack of magnesium is what leads to heart problems, at least according to my transplant Drs,which is why they are having me take the supplement.

    One time my magnesium was a point7. That's as low as the can accurately measure they said,so it actually could have been lower.

    Results, a trip to the local ER for an IV of magnesium.

    After that they gave me get a prescription supplement pills,800mg.
    The had adverse side effects that were excelerated by interaction with my anti-rejection drugs.

    So I bought a lower dose pill, 250 mgs,and I was to take it 2 times a day.
    Still had adverse effect,but not as serious.

    I also have been drinking a Carnations Breakfast Essentials daily,which is suppose to have 20-25% of your daily requirement of magnesium, but I stopped drinking those about a week ago.

    Today my magnesium was 1.2,not enough to require an IV again,but enough to have them increase my intake again.

    Since it seems the body handles the IV better than pills, I was thinking of trying a liquid supplement instead of pills, which is what led me to asking for suggestions here.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      The lack of magnesium is what leads to heart problems, at least according to my transplant Drs,which is why they are having me take the supplement.
      YEAH, I could have worded it better. Excess, in MY case anyway, and from what I heard, causes a laxative effect. Otherwise, pretty harmless.

      One time my magnesium was a point7. That's as low as the can accurately measure they said,so it actually could have been lower.

      Results, a trip to the local ER for an IV of magnesium.

      After that they gave me get a prescription supplement pills,800mg.
      The had adverse side effects that were excelerated by interaction with my anti-rejection drugs.

      So I bought a lower dose pill, 250 mgs,and I was to take it 2 times a day.
      Still had adverse effect,but not as serious.
      One thing I forgot, it COULD interact with drugs.

      I also have been drinking a Carnations Breakfast Essentials daily,which is suppose to have 20-25% of your daily requirement of magnesium, but I stopped drinking those about a week ago.

      Today my magnesium was 1.2,not enough to require an IV again,but enough to have them increase my intake again.

      Since it seems the body handles the IV better than pills, I was thinking of trying a liquid supplement instead of pills, which is what led me to asking for suggestions here.
      Well, liquids are in suspension, so they are dilutted even when first released. But 250mg twice a day is STILL more than you really need. They have ones where you could take just about what you need with three tablets a day. You could take one with each meal. It is less, and more spread out, so it is less likely to interact. But magnesium IS important! It has been overlooked for SOOOO long, but it IS important. Brain? Nerves? Pain? Tissues? Bones? YEP, NEEDED!!!!!! I even mentioned that elsewhere here earlier.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    My fav source of magnesium is seeds - sunflower, pumpkin (I spaz over pepitas. They are incredible). Nuts are probably a good source, too - but I'm really allergic so never bothered to look up what they might be good for. LOL. I still can't eat fish and nuts after a childhood with an award winner of an allergy list.

    If you're into dairy - make sure it's organic. Non-organic dairy is way past just a tad scary.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    There is a deceptive fact about magnesium supplements. If you buy a bottle that says 500 gms, you may assume you actually get 500 gms of magnesium. This is not the case.
    What you have to look for is the amount of CHELATED magnesium because that is the amount that will be absorbed. It is absorbed better than non-chelated magnesium.
    I take capsules and there are zero side effects from them.
    Try that if you haven't.
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    • Profile picture of the author KimW
      Originally Posted by laurencewins View Post

      There is a deceptive fact about magnesium supplements. If you buy a bottle that says 500 gms, you may assume you actually get 500 gms of magnesium. This is not the case.
      What you have to look for is the amount of CHELATED magnesium because that is the amount that will be absorbed. It is absorbed better than non-chelated magnesium.
      I take capsules and there are zero side effects from them.
      Try that if you haven't.
      The pills I am currently taking do not list CHELATED magnesium anywhere on the bottle.
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  • Profile picture of the author suzebiz
    The best source of magnesium that I have found is "Magnesium Taurate by Cardiovascular Research". Read about how much more efficient of a form of magnesium it is. You only need 2-4 capsules of 125 mg compared to 500 or 1,000 mg capsules at a time because it's so much more powerful.

    Here's their description:

    Magnesium Taurate is a scientifically designed amino acid-mineral complex which insures maximal bioavailability of the essential macromineral, magnesium. Each capsule contains 125 mg of magnesium (taurate).

    I've been using it for years.

    NOTE: You can't just buy it anywhere. Most places don't carry it locally, so I usually check the best prices by going to froogle.com (now Google shopping) and using the pull down menu to choose "lowest to highest" to get the bottomline lowest prices. Search for 180 or 90 capsules to really compare... and maybe include "free shipping" to see how much you have to buy to get shipping free.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Kim - in the 80's there was a doctor in Germany who had a 95% success rate with heart - even if people had had attacks before. His formula was suppressed.

    The basic formula he used was somewhere around 1200 - of magnesium and potassium and around 500 mg of bromaline. I'm not sure what size person that dose is for - I'm thinking probably the average male. I myself, would not be afraid of such doses of those three things for a temporary run. Not sure how long he had people taking it. Myself - I never take anything more than 4 days in a row and then I lay off for a few days. That's as close as I can remember the info without digging back through my books anyhow. I can look it all up if you need me to.........can even get the name of the Dr for ya, but that was a long time ago so who knows if anyone as followed up his practice or what.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Thanks Sal, will let you know if I need that info or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Thanks Brandon,will check it out.
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  • Profile picture of the author moodykitty
    Magnesium Chloride is my favorite form of mag
    https://www.swansonvitamins.com/NCL018/ItemDetail

    It's highly absorbable, works great. It tastes nasty but all you need is a capful, mixed with 1/4 cup cranberry juice (or whatever juice you like) and a little water if you want and you cannot taste it at all. Helps me to sleep good and I wake up feeling good.

    Hope that helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author mojiden
    Hi. I've noticed there are supplements that say simply "magnesium" and also one I'm using now that says "magnesium citrate." The latter is more of a powder vs. a hard capsule. I haven't had any noticeable bad effects from either, but you might try the citrate as an experiment if you're using the plain supplement. It can have side effects too for some, though; see The Differences Between Magnesium & Magnesium Citrate | LIVESTRONG.COM . Best wishes, Doug
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    The one I take that is Chelated is this one
    Nutra-Life Health & Fitness: Australia & New Zealand - Magnesium Chelate 750mg capsules
    I don't know if it is available to you in your country or if you can order it online but I have been taking it for a few years and it has stopped a lot of problems for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author sokapo
    You can find a large variety of capsules this site: Buy discount supplements online at healthdesigns.com for the best value on formulas, herbs, sports nutrition, and vitamins! | healthdesigns.com - Your Health Is Here they send to the world
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Kim - this site has a list of high magnesium foods that might help

      Top 10 Foods Highest in Magnesium

      I take a magnesium supplement, but as you said - it's potassium/magnesium so wouldn't work for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author taskemann
    Pineapple contain high levels of magnesium (and potassium, manganese, copper, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Thiamin and Foliate). Pineapple is also good for the heart because it doesn't contain any saturated or monounsaturated fats.
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