Magnesium is vital for 700 – 800 enzymatic processes throughout the body and it may be the hardest-working, most essential nutrient for total health.
With magnesium responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body, it’s an essential mineral for optimum health. But with the consumption of more sugary foods and drinks, fussy diets and a rise in food allergies and intolerances that eliminate magnesium rich foods (like nuts and seeds) from the diet and prevent essential minerals and nutrients from being absorbed by our bodies, there is a growing rate of children experiencing magnesium deficiency.
Children need magnesium for:
Sleep
Mood
Concentration
Energy
Respiration
Strong bones and teeth
Healthy muscles and nerves
Blood sugar and insulin management
Digestion, absorption of nutrients and regular bowels
Heart health and normal blood pressure
Hormone health
Here are just four of the ways magnesium can benefit the smallest members of your family and set them up for great health over the long term:
1. Sleep
Babies, children and teens need a lot of sleep to grow and function properly. But growth spurts, illness, stress and other factors can at times cause their sleep to be disrupted affecting your child’s energy levels, immune system and mood.
Magnesium is proven to be an effective way to increase both the amount of sleep and the quality of sleep you experience. Some magnesium rubbed on the body before bedtime or a soothing magnesium bath for babies, and young children.
2. Growing pains
Growing pains are common in young children and teens and can be quite distressing and painful as their bodies experience rapid growth. But did you know magnesium can help?
As a natural muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory, magnesium can soothe the aches and pains caused by growing bones and muscles. Simply apply some magnesium oil directly onto the affected area for relief.
With transdermal magnesium application, it is normal to experience a tingling sensation on the skin. Tingling reduces with regular use though you can dilute it with water where necessary.
3. Aches, pains and swelling
Let’s face it kids are forever hurting themselves. While bruises, bumps, and broken bones seem to be part of growing up, magnesium is certainly one we can help our children to cope with it!
From headaches to injuries, magnesium can help to ease the pain, reduce the swelling and dramatically speed up the healing process. Being an effective and natural way to heal pain and inflammation too, it also gives you the added benefit of minimizing the use of other over the counter medications that can treat the symptoms but not heal the problem.
4. ADHD and hyperactivity
Did you know research has shown a link between magnesium deficiency and ADHD and hyperactivity in kids? When you consider that magnesium naturally calms down the nervous system and produces serotonin (the chemical that regulates sleep and elevates mood), it’s not hard to see why.
Not only does magnesium oil help to calm children down, but it is also proven to decrease stress and increase their attention span making it perfect for those stressful school times.