• Stress, and stress hormones, adrenalin, noradrenalin and cortisol (Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands – it is responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response to stress)
• Adrenaline, which burns through magnesium
• Physical exertion, sweat, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances
• Diuretics (Lasix given on the track routinely, and to speed event horses/barrel horses)
• Excessive sodium and/or calcium supplementation, or a calcium rich diet
• Imbalances in calcium, potassium and phosphorus.

Research of a human’s athletic muscle endurance and total work capacity shows rapid decline when there is a nutritional deficiency of key minerals like zinc and magnesium. “Magnesium is essential to a diet for athletes under a lot of stress, or those who want to experience the ultimate rush,” says Dr. James Thor, National Director of Extreme Sports Medicine. “One reason, is that if you are working out in a gym, or have continual stress, excessive amounts of lactic acid in the muscle have been linked to higher levels of anxiety.”  Dr. Thor adds, “Large amounts of magnesium are lost when a person is under stress. When magnesium chloride is applied to the muscles topically, it promotes the release of lactic acid from the muscle tissue.” A combination of heat and magnesium chloride increases circulation and waste removal, and this principle can be applied during breaks in competition, as well as after a game in deeply relaxing baths similar to Epsom salt baths, but much stronger.

A magnesium chloride bath helps draw inflammation out of the muscles and joints. Transdermal magnesium chloride mineral therapy enhances recovery from athletic activity or injuries. Dr. Marc Sircus explains, “A whole new world of sports medicine is going to explode onto the scene when athletes and coaches find out that magnesium chloride, from natural sources, is available for topical use.” Sircus adds, “With this new, exciting breakthrough in sports medicine, coaches can now treat injuries, prevent them, and increase athletic performance all at the same time. Magnesium chloride, when applied directly to the skin is transdermally absorbed. Transdermal magnesium chloride mineral therapy is ideal for athletes who need high levels of magnesium.”

Magnesium and Laminitis in horses

Magnesium supplementation has been advised by veterinary surgeons with excellent results.   The supplementation serves not only to re-balance the diet in low magnesium areas or with high grain diets, but also to help in combating fat deposition in overweight animals (cresty necks). In particular, with laminitics, to aid weight loss where necessary, and aids horses with insulin resistance.

MagRestore is veterinarian recommended for horses that have equine shivers, head-shaking syndrome and Lyme disease.

Magnesium deficiency and humans Dr. Steven Johnson says, “The range of pathologies associated with Magnesium deficiency is staggering: hypertension (cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver damage, etc.), peroxynitrite damage (migraine, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.), recurrent bacterial infection due to low levels of nitric oxide in the cavities (sinuses, vagina, middle ear, lungs, throat, etc.), fungal infections due to a depressed immune system, thiamine deactivation (low gastric acid, behavioral disorders, etc.), premenstrual syndrome, calcium deficiency (osteoporosis, mood swings, etc.), tooth cavities, hearing loss, diabetes type II, cramps, muscle weakness, impotence, aggression, fibromas, K deficiency (arrhythmia, hypertension, some forms of cancer), Iron accumulation, etc.”

Magnesium is essential in regulating central nervous system excitability. Magnesium-deficiency may also cause aggressive behavior, depression, or suicide. “Magnesium calms the brain and people do not need to become severely deficient in magnesium for the brain to become hyperactive,” says Johnson. This article (also published in PubMed) helps expand on the benefits of MagnesiumSRT.