Magnesium for fussy eaters

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. It is critically important to enable us to function optimally. Unfortunately, estimates are that approx. 50% of adults are deficient in magnesium.

If we have a child who is not eating widely, it is more likely that they are not getting the full spread of vitamins and minerals necessary to keep the body functioning at its best. However, blood tests ordered by GP’s tend to focus on whether iron is deficient and not some of the minerals like zinc and magnesium that can also affect function.

Magnesium is an important micromineral that we need to consume in relatively large amounts. Every cell in the body needs it to function. However, it also has a critical role as a co-factor.

Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body. This means that a deficiency in magnesium can also affect how effective other minerals ingested are.

Sixty per cent of magnesium in the body is found in the bones, but it is also important for the health of other bodily systems and processes. It is thought to help in boosting exercise performance, maintaining healthy sugar levels, reducing inflammation and heart health.

Magnesium is also important in regulating the neurotransmitters that transmit messages throughout the brain and wider nervous…