In a groundbreaking new study, Swiss researchers discovered that your immune system could only target and destroy cancer cells in the presence of a critical mineral.1
This breakthrough report highlights what I’ve been telling my patients for years… Your good health depends on the nutrients you put in your body.
And in this case, the miracle nutrient is magnesium.
Earlier research had already identified magnesium deficiency as a significant health problem – especially when it comes to cancer.
In the new study published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, researchers determined that magnesium deficiency increases metastasis – the spread of cancer – in mice.2
Additional research found that deficiency is a risk factor for certain human cancers, including breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers.3,4,5
But what the Swiss researchers discovered suggests that magnesium deficiency could be life-threatening.
In the study, scientists at the University of Basel observed that magnesium activates a particular protein – LFA-1 – on the surface of “killer” T cells. This allows the immune cell to lock on to and target cancer cells.
Results like this don’t surprise me. You see, your body needs magnesium for more than 600 biochemical reactions in the body.6
And when you don’t have enough, your body stops functioning efficiently. Your nervous system slows down. Inflammation runs rampant. Your heart beats erratically. Your immune system becomes impaired.
In fact, people with a magnesium deficiency have a higher risk of dying from ANY cause.7
Sadly, nearly 80% of Americans are deficient in this “miracle mineral.”
And you don’t need a cancer diagnosis to experience symptoms. These include loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and insomnia, weakness, muscle spasms, muscle and bone pain, cramps, and an abnormal heartbeat.
In extreme cases, seizures and personality changes can happen.
But on the flip side, increasing your magnesium level has incredible
benefits. In addition to cancer protection, magnesium’s health benefits include the following:- Better blood sugar levels
- Protection against bone loss and breaks
- Less depression and anxiety
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
- Less inflammation
- Fewer migraines
- Better sleep quality
- Relief from constipation
3 Easy Ways To Increase Magnesium Now
I tell my patients to get about 1,000 mg of magnesium a day. That’s much higher than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 320 and 420 mg.
The good news is that it’s easy to boost your magnesium levels and get them back where nature intended.
- Start With Your Food: Eating magnesium-rich foods is the easiest way to increase levels. Some of the best foods for this include pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, peanuts, avocado, figs, and leafy greens, like spinach.To ensure you’re getting the maximum amount of magnesium from your vegetables, I suggest you steam or sauté them instead of eating them raw. Contrary to what most people believe, cooking certain vegetables is the best way to release their nutrients.
- Take A Supplement: No matter how much greens you eat, it’s hard to get enough magnesium from diet alone. Levels in today’s foods have plummeted. A hundred years ago, Americans ate more than 400 mg of magnesium per day, thanks to vegetables grown in nutrient-rich soil. Today, the average magnesium intake is less than 200 mg a day. Adding magnesium supplements to your daily routine can fill in the gaps your diet lacks.I recommend supplementing with 1,000 mg a day. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate. Take it with vitamin B6 to increase the amount of magnesium that accumulates in your cells. I also recommend adding vitamins D3 and K2, which synergize well with one another.
- Bathe In Magnesium Flakes: Add magnesium flakes to your bath water. You’ll get the nutrients you need, plus hydrated skin. I used to recommend Epsom salts for this, but I’ve found magnesium flakes absorb much more easily.Add about two cups of flakes to a warm bath and stay in the tub for about 20 minutes for maximum absorption. Do this two or three times a week.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. Lotscher J, et al. “Magnesium sensing via LFA-1 regulates CD8+ T cell effector function.” Cell. 2022;185(4):585-602.
2. Nasulewicz A, et al. “Magnesium deficiency inhibits primary tumor growth but favors metastasis in mice.” Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2004;1739(1):26-32
3. Huang W, et al. “Direct and indirect associations between dietary magnesium intake and breast cancer risk.” Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 8;9(1):5764.
4. Larsson SC, et al. “Magnesium intake in relation to risk of colorectal cancer in women.” JAMA. 2005;293:86-89.
5. Dibaba D, et al. “Magnesium intake and incidence of pancreatic cancer: the Vitamins and Lifestyle study.” Br J Cancer. 2015;113:1615-1621.
6. De Baaij J, et al. “Magnesium in man: implications for health and disease.” Physiol Rev. 2015 Jan;95(1):1-46.
7. Reffelmann T, et al. “Low serum magnesium concentrations predict cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.” Atherosclerosis. 2011;219(1):280-284.