Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

NATURE MADE: 400 mg tablets; Magnesium Oxide, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Gelatin (Porcine), Glycerin, Water, Soy Lecithin, Yellow Beeswax, Artificial Colors (Titanium Dioxide, Copper Chlorophyllin), Maltodextrin, Potassium Hydroxide. I do not take any supplements, pills or medicine for any condition at all. I have an extremely healthy diet but to increase my potassium only after getting blood test, to avoid muscle cramps when body surfing and doing other sports, my research shows; OXIDE (60% elemental) is a laxative, not absorbed by human body as much. Better forms of magnesium are TAURATE, GLYCINATE, CITRATE (16% elemental), MALATE (6.5% elemental), ORATATE, CHLORIDE (12% elemental) in form of oil. Chelated magnesium is far better absorbed than magnesium OXIDE but cost more. Complementary medicine practitioners rely on chelated magnesium, such as magnesium GLYCINATE, TAURATE and ORTATE (magnesium plus amino acids) to treat serious cases of magnesium deficiency. Those kind of magnesium have less laxative effect on the intestines than magnesium citrate, so they are recommended if you tend to have loose stools. OXIDE appears to have high amount of elemental magnesium. One 500 mg capsule of magnesium oxide contains 300 mg of elemental magnesium. But little of that amount is available to the body because it is not absorbed and therefore not biologically available. One recent study reported 4% absorption rate of magnesium oxide. This means 12 mg of 500 mg capsule are absorbed and 288 may stay in the intestines, acting like a laxative. CITRATE is the most cost effective magnesium, easily absorbed with milder laxative effect than OXIDE. CITRATE powder mixed in water is the better form of CITRATE, not CITRATE in form of pills or tablets. CITRATE is often used in liquid form as a saline laxative to treat constipation, or to completely empty the intestines prior to surgery, MALATR is most commonly used to treat a condition known as fibromyalgia, according to the University of Mary Washington. Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood disease characterized by fatigue, muscle pain, stiffness, headache and memory problems, and may be linked to low magnesium levels. Magnesium can be taken with or without meals, but it is preferable to take it between meals for better absorption. Magnesium requires stomach acid to be absorbed. After a full meal, stomach acid is busy digesting food and may not be available to help absorb magnesium. Also magnesium is an alkaline mineral and acts like an antacid where taken with meals, it may neutralize stomach acid and impair digestion. Developing loose stools while taking magnesium, it does not necessarily mean that body is absorbing enough and losing the rest; it may mean consuming too much at a time. BETTER NOT TO TAKE MAGNESIUM ALL AT ONCE. Spreading four times a day is best in absorbing and avoiding diarrhea. If that does not do the trick, one may probably need to cut back the amount or switch to another type or brand of magnesium. Consuming magnesium when waking up in the morning and at bedtime seems to be effective since that appears to be when body is most deficient in the early morning and late afternoon. Some even find magnesium as a good sleeping pill. Consult only with a licensed medical professional to see the magnesium levels in the blood by getting a blood test. Healthy diet is the best solution to supplements an unregulated business. The highest foods in magnesium PER DAILY % for amount of CALORIES are Pumpkin Seeds 180/47.7%, Sesame Seeds 206/31.5%, Sunflower Seeds 204/28.4%, Cashews 189/25%, Almonds 206/24.6% for 1/4 cup or infact less than 2 oz; Spinach 41/39.1%, Swiss Chard 353/7.6%, Soybeans 298/36.9%, Black Beans 227/30.1%, Navy Beans 255/24.11 for 1 cup or infact 8 oz, Cocoa, Bananas and Green leafy vegetables. Hemp seeds provides essential nutrients such as protein, essential fatty acids, fibre, vitamins and minerals without any chemicals and three tablespoon, once again only 3 tablespoon which is 30 gr, offers me 50% magnesium and 25% zinc as well as the highest percentage of globulin than any other plant which is an essential amino acid that helps my body to create antibodies, a component of a healthy immune system. Avoid falling into the world of `nutritional medicine' and vitamin supplements; these are nothing other than a substitute for what is really needed: weight control, regular exercise, and a carefully balanced nutritious dietary plan for the long term.