How might magnesium and folic acid support one of the most plaguing conditions of our modern-age, Western diet?  Read this article from Natural Insights for Well Being for the answer.

Nutrients help restore healthy vital signs in men and women

Magnesium

Being normal weight, but carrying more fat and less lean muscle mass may be less healthy than being muscularly fit and fat. The condition is called “skinny fat,” or metabolically-obese-normal-weight (MONW), and raises chances for diabetes and other health problems.

Doctors wanted to test the effects of magnesium on 47 MONW people who were low in magnesium. The group took 382 mg of liquid magnesium per day or a placebo. After four months, while the placebo group improved slightly, those taking magnesium saw 2.0 and 3.8 mmHg lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively; a nearly 50 percent improvement in insulin sensitivity, a 12 percent decline in fasting blood sugar levels, and a 47 percent drop in triglycerides.

Reference: Archives of Medical Research; 2014, Vol. 45, No. 5, 388-93

Folic acid in women

Many women of child-bearing age may inherit or develop a hormone imbalance disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. Symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, cystic ovaries, infertility, excess hair growth, obesity, and circulatory problems. Doctors thought folic acid might help.

In the study, 81 obese women with PCOS took 1 mg or 5 mg of folic acid per day, or a placebo. After eight weeks, compared to placebo, both folic acid groups had lower levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory factor linked to heart disease; less insulin resistance, and lower total cholesterol. The high-dose folic acid group also saw a greater decline in LDL cholesterol levels while preserving HDL levels; the “bad” and “good” cholesterols, respectively.

Reference: Molecular Nutrition and Food Research; 2014, Vol. 58, No. 7, 1465-73

Betsy’s Note: Magnesium and folic acid may thin blood.  Magnesium can cause loose stool in too large amounts, so begin small and work up to tolerance.  Do not exceed label directions for any supplement, such as folic acid, unless you are under the instructions of a doctor.  For example, too much folic acid can be a bad thing.  This article is for educational purposes only.  It is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Consult your healthcare provider.

Article copyright 2014 by Natural Insights for Well Being.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission.