2440 Hooks Street, Clermont, FL 34711 - Call us: 352-394-0833
Skip to main content

The Mineral That Can Help With Pain

Magnesium is critical in many body functions, but did you know magnesium plays an important role with muscle and nerve function along with reducing pain? 

A mechanism of pain is excessive NMDA a pain carrying neurotransmitter. Magnesium seems to settle down NMDA just like many medications, but naturally.

Magnesium is found in many whole foods, but often most people are not getting the recomended daily intake of 400-mg per day. The good news is with adding healthier whole food options you can get the daily intake needed and potentially see changes in how you feel each day.

Here are 10 food options high in magnesium to add to your daily diet.

1. Dark chocolate. Not only high in magnesium, but also antioxidants. A 28-gram serving has 64-mg.

2. Avocados. Also high in potassium, vitamins B and K. 

3. Nuts. For example an ounce of cashews has 82-mg of magnesium.

4. Legumes. Nutrient dense lentils, beans, chickpeas and peas. A cup of black beans has 120-mg of magnesium.

5. Tofu. Made by pressing soybean milk into curds, a 3.5-ounce serving has 53-mg of magnesium.

6. Seeds. Whether you choose pumpkin, chia or flax, they are packed with omega-3 and magnesium. A one ounce serving has 150-mg of magnesium.

7. Whole grains. Grains include wheat, oats, quinoa and barley. 

8. Fatty fish. Salmon, mackerel and halibut are great sources of magnesium. For example a half filet of salmon has 53-mg of magnesium.

9. Bananas. Best known for their potassium, but they are also rich in magnesium with one large banana offering 37-mg of magnesium.

10. Leafy greens. Greens include kale, spinach, collards, turnip and mustard. A cup of cooked spinach has 157-mg of magnesium.

Magnesium is an important mineral that you may not be getting enough of. Thankfully, many whole foods will give you all the magnesium you need. 

Author
South Lake Pain Institute

You Might Also Enjoy...

A New Tool for Chronic Pain

To date, physicians have used a myriad of tools to restore quality of life and reduce chronic pain, and soon pain management physicians will have an exciting new tool to add- VR, virtual reality technology.