Low magnesium may be aggravating your depression. We know that if we deprive mice of magnesium, they begin to show signs of depression. If you are feeling a bit like a deprived mouse these days, you can do a trial run of magnesium to see if you get a boost. You are unlikely to take in toxic levels of magnesium in the process because, quite frankly, too much magnesium will give you diarrhea.
How much is too much?
Your need for magnesium depends on your diet however several studies have had good outcomes with 160 mg of magnesium citrate (Kuti 1970), though others have used up to 400 mg of magnesium lactate (Barthelemy 1980) and 500 mg of magnesium aspartate (Abraham 1984), all highly absorbable forms of magnesium.
In the book, “The Miracle of Magnesium,” Dr. Carolyn Dean recommends magnesium dosage by body weight (p. 225): 3 to 4.5 mg magnesium per pound of body weight. If you weigh 200 pounds, you would consume 600-900 mg magnesium per day. You might also try a more highly absorbed form of magnesium like magnesium taurate. Again, you will have clear body signs if that dosage is too much.
Children should receive about twice that dosage per pound because of their lower body weight and growth requirements.
There are tests that allow you to track your magnesium levels (I discuss some in the book) but if you are struggling with depression today, I would simply start taking a magnesium supplement and it may bring you some relief.
@ Amazon.
Well, I guess I don’t need anymore Mag since the last few times I tried taking it…well let’s just say I’m full up! I guessed that that was why, but kept trying and it blew me out! I finally quit.
Learning so much from the Real Food Wednesday carnival today! Thanks for posting this, I do think I will try to eat more magnesium-rich foods and download your ebook.