Magnesium Magnesium helps regulate hun- dreds of body systems, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and muscle and nerve function. We need magnesium to
help blood vessels relax, and for energy production, bone development, and transporting calcium and potassium. Just like potassium, too much magne- sium can be lost in urine due to diuretic use, leading to low magnesium levels. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that most older adults in the U.S. don’t get the proper amount of magnesium in their diets, although ex- treme magnesium defi ciency is very rare. It’s best to get the mineral from food, es- pecially dark, leafy green vegetables, un- refi ned grains, and legumes. Th e RDA of magnesium is 420 milligrams (mg) per day for men ages 50 and older; 320 mg/ day for women ages 50 and older. Too much magnesium from a sup- plement or from magnesium-contain- ing drugs such as laxatives may cause diarrhea. Th ere are no known adverse aff ects of magnesium intake from food.