Obesity in the United States reached a prevalence of 39.8% between 2015 and 2016, according to figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This represents approximately 93.3 million adults in the US alone affected by obesity.
Dr. Carolyn Dean estimates on her blog that obesity and obesity-related diseases could be costing the US as much as $210 billion in medical bills annually as of 2019. The PDF attachment looks at some of the key health risks and conditions associated with obesity.
In the same blog post, Dr. Carolyn Dean discusses the causes of obesity and the different ways of combatting it for better health. One of the main takeaways from this is that increasing the levels of magnesium in the body make a huge difference in terms of weight-loss when combined with a varied, healthy diet and adequate exercise.
Dr. Dean also discusses the relationship between magnesium and weight-loss in one of her books, ‘The Magnesium Miracle’.
Combatting Overeating
Many people have been led to believe that the main cause of obesity is genetic, leading people to think that there is little they can do about the condition. However, experiments have shown in animals that, even where there is a predisposition to obesity genetically, this is dramatically exacerbated by lack of B vitamins.
Mice with the obesity gene who were dosed with enough B vitamins remained a healthy weight. In humans, the process of absorbing and breaking down those essential B vitamins is facilitated by magnesium. Overeating is also a cause of obesity – what many people do not realize is that many of the cravings that cause overeating are in fact cravings for specific nutrients that the body is lacking.
The essential energy nutrients are the B-complex vitamins and magnesium, which together activate the enzymes in the body that are in control of functions such as digestion, proper absorption and the utilization of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Glucose Metabolism
It is thought that magnesium can help improve blood sugar regulation through stabilizing glucose levels, particularly in people who are at risk of developing diabetes or who are overweight. Participants in a 2016 study showed markedly more sensitivity to insulin hormones for weight-loss when they took oral magnesium supplements. These same patients showed less water retention, less bloating and improved levels of plasma glucose.
The infographic attachment looks at the top five vitamins and minerals for boosting metabolism.
Stress Relief
An adequate intake of magnesium has been shown to help in alleviating stress and its related symptoms, such as poor sleep patterns. When we are stressed or don’t get the right amount of quality sleep, our bodies release more of the hormone cortisol, which is not only a stress hormone but also causes our bodies to store excess fat. Taking magnesium can help reduce the levels of cortisol released into the bloodstream.
Reducing Abdominal Fat
More than half of the insulin that is typically present on our bloodstream gets sent to the abdominal area, which when not properly managed can cause a build-up of fat around the stomach. We produce more insulin if we consume more sugar, which is then sent to the abdominal area for processing and turned into fat. Magnesium helps maintain lowered levels of insulin and glucose when we are resting, which results in less insulin being produced to be turned into fat.
In the short video attachment, you can learn more about some of the symptoms that you may present with when you are suffering with magnesium deficiency.