It means that you can produce and conduct energy more efficiently. This energy supports enzymes to take out the garbage, as well as build new cells and repair DNA.
In fact, in a study by the University of Athens (Anastassopoulou & Theophanides; Park, Parker, Boardman, Morris, & Smith, 2011), scientists found that low magnesium status itself is carcinogenic because we need magnesium to repair damaged DNA links. The same study recommended to oncologists that they supplement their patients with extra magnesium because the radiation and chemotherapies cause excessive loss of magnesium.
No magnesium; no energy;
no life.
Low magnesium also leads to metabolic syndrome and diabetes (Barbagallo & Dominguez, 2015) because the mitochondria must have vital magnesium to make ATP – adenosine triphosphate – the energy currency of the cell. When magnesium is too low you are forced to switch from fat burning metabolism (aerobic) to sugar burning (anaerobic) which is much less efficient in producing ATPs and results in more acidic byproducts leading to acidosis.
Low magnesium equates to sugar sensitivity, low pH, dehydration, hypertension and insulin resistance. Conversely, an optimal magnesium status equates to more efficient energy production, cell hydration and alkalinity, and healthy weight.
Premature ageing is always marked by excessive weight gain (especially adipose tissue around the middle), exaggerated dehydration, hypercalcemia, joint stiffening, acidosis and inflammation. In other words, getting overweight, dry and stiff with creaky and brittle bones before your time.
The lower the magnesium the more prone we become to hypertension as the blood gets thicker and the arterial linings get harder. As we need magnesium to synthesise collagen proteins and elastin fibres, which are the structures that hold us together as skin, bone, ligaments, sinew, smooth muscle walls in arteries etc, low magnesium means those structures lose their integrity. (Senni, Foucault-Bertaud, & Godeau, 2003)
As oxygen and pH of cells drop, the hydration state in the cell also drops. Low oxygen and low pH means low cell voltage, leading to a positive charge where blood cells start getting attracted and stuck together, rather than having a negative charge which allows them to bounce off one another and move freely in the fluidity of the blood’s zeta potential. Magnesium is anti-thrombotic because it delivers electrons and has an antioxidant negative charge electrical effect.
Low magnesium leads to thrombosis and blood clotting. (Maier, Malpuech-Brugère, Zimowska, Rayssiguier, & Mazur, 2004). Sufficient magnesium reverses these conditions.
Low oxygen states and acidosis (low pH) also promote the right condition for pathogenic invasion and proliferation. In other words, the bugs move in to eat you for lunch. When the bugs move in you get inflammation and pain in various places and your immune system dips low. You catch colds easily, get headaches and feel under the weather. Magnesium however strengthens the immune system. (Kubenam, 1994)
One of the main reasons Grandma’s chicken and vegetable soup helps you recover more quickly from illness is because the soup brine contains a bunch of minerals (particularly magnesium and zinc) and gelatine from the bones, as well as healthy fats.
Sodium is also antagonistic to pathogens. Seasonings of parsley, garlic, onions and ginger are also great herbal healers. These are the type of alkalizing foods that feed our beneficial gut bacteria, which can overcome the toxin-producing bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Soups are a great way to get nutrients without burdening the digestive system too much. The older we get the less stomach acid we produce so we need more vegetable smoothies and paleo soups that partly digest the foods for us and make it easier to absorb the nutrients. Age also brings with it a lessening production of sodium bicarbonate by the pancreas – which we need to help neutralize acids.