Magnesium and Foods Rich in Magnesium

The greens are topping the list. Raw spinach, Swiss chard, kale, dill weed and many others. The leafy vegetables have chlorophyll, the so-called “blood” of a plant, which serves to convert the sunlight into energy. The chlorophyll looks much like a human blood cell, but instead of iron it has magnesium in the centre it. Technically, eating greens every day is the most convenient way to make sure you get enough magnesium. The concentration of the mineral is so high, that even dried greens as spices in seasoning or sauces can be helpful. But the best thing is to add fresh greens in salads. The more, the better!

Flaxseed is the second best way to fight magnesium deficit. Although it’s hard to eat the amount to cover your daily norm (100g), even small servings of ground flaxseed or oil will be sufficient to maintain the balance. Flaxseed is a very popular diet product nowadays. It is valued for the special nutty flavor, even though not everybody likes it. The most popular way to eat ground flaxseed is to add it directly to cereal, soups and even desserts! In tiny amounts, it does not affect the taste too much but rather adds an interesting note to the flavor. To increase the magnesium intake to the max, you may try the flax crackers. Mix three cups of whole flour, one tablespoon of salt, half cup of ground flax and half cup of whole flax, a cup of lukewarm water and spices. Let the dough rest for a little while, then form crackers and bake under the moderate temperature until they get lightly brown and crispy.

Good news for the candy hounds – dark chocolate is also a good magnesium source! It is a real powerhouse, although it contains sugar, which hampers the absorption of this mineral. Because of the sugar and high calorific value of chocolate, it wouldn’t be wise to eat a whole bar at a time (the amount which will suffice to cover a daily need of magnesium). But you still may enjoy a couple of pieces during your lunch break. But don’t drink too much tea or coffee with it! Unfortunately, these drinks "wash out" magnesium. And remember to avoid milk chocolate! It is very poor in magnesium and the excessive sugar it contains will affect your health in many unpleasant ways.

Raw sunflower seeds are a perfect snack choice, as they are extremely rich in magnesium and a lot of other vitamins and minerals. They’re very dense in calories, but, due to the proteins and plant fiber they contain, they keep you full up for a relatively long time. Sunflower seeds also contain much fat, but, if you eat moderately, there’s nothing to worry about. This fat is healthy and contributes to your health more, that the animal fat.

While on the subject of seeds, let’s also mention the pumpkin seeds. Apart from being the number one source of magnesium, they also help to maintain the glucose level on a normal level, which makes them an essential product for those who suffer from diabetes. They also contain source of tryptophan, zinc and omega-3s. The bad thing is that in most stores we can find only roasted pumpkin seeds, while the healthiest are the raw ones.

Almonds and cashews are also very high in magnesium. Again, the perfect choice for snacking throughout the day! Another interesting way to make use of nuts is to drink nut milk; the most popular one is almond milk. You may fully or partly substitute regular milk with nut milk and this will radically improve your health by bringing much magnesium and zero cholesterol in.

Quinoa is a healthy replacement of couscous and white rice. Unlike the latter, it is absolutely safe for your health and your shape. It’s gluten-free, extremely nutritious and tasty! Eating a 200g serving of quinoa will fully cover your daily need of magnesium. It also contains a lot of plant fiber, meaning you won’t feel empty for at least 3-4 hours after having quinoa in a meal.

Banana is a runner-up – 27mg of magnesium per 100 grams of the fruit. On one hand, it can’t be considered a major source of digestible magnesium. But on the other hand, it is cheap, easy to get and to use as a snack. It is a very popular and tasty product, but remember not to overeat it, because it contains many calories and much sugar.