185 of 186 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why I Value Dr. Dean's "The Miracle of Magnesium", September 2, 2003
This review is from: The Miracle of Magnesium (Paperback)
While I have long been interested in the mineral magnesium - because of personal health problems as well as my professional training in hospital dietetics - I have found no other book on the subject that describes in layperson language the complexity of magnesium metabolism and the many health problems related to magnesium deficiency, as well as does THE MIRACLE OF MAGNESIUM.
Laypeople need access to this information because most physicians fail to see the connection between magnesium deficiency and, for example, heart disease - America's No. 1 killer! Why? Physicians learn comparatively little about the body's essential minerals in medical college and only recently has an ACCURATE test for measuring body magnesium been made available. Most physicians depend on the serum test for magnesium, not dependable for measuring the ACTIVE form of magnesium. Dr. Dean explains that mineral testing has evolved from taking whole blood measurements to testing for cell minerals to testing for mineral ions, the active component of minerals working at the tissue level. She writes: "Every year for the past forty years" the two dedicated scientists who developed this test "have produced on average a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles on magnesium and ionic magnesium testing. Their research convinces even die-hard skeptics...of the clear need for magnesium supplementation and the absolute requirement for ACCURATE testing."
Health problems Dr. Dean lists as having been successfully treated with magnesium therapy include HEART ARRHYTHMIA, SEIZURES, HYPOGLYCEMIA, COLITIS, HEAVY METAL TOXICITY, ASTHMA, MIGRAINES and NERVE PROBLEMS. I have been diagnosed with each of them -- most before it was known they can be magnesium-deficiency symptoms.
Two years ago I was stricken with periods of rapid heartbeat - a form of HEART ARRHYTHMIA. At first I thought possibly my new anticonvulsant might be causing me to lose potassium since taking extra potassium slowed my fast pulse and when I no longer took potassium my frightening sieges of rapid pulse would periodically reoccur. So I asked my nutritionally-oriented physician if he could test for potassium "leakage". Luckily he knew that for potassium to function it needs sufficient magnesium, and he ordered a 24 hour urine test for potassium, magnesium and other minerals. The test indicated I was excreting excessive amounts of BOTH potassium and magnesium. Follow-up tests showed that while the magnesium in my white blood cells was LOW that the potassium in my red blood cells was NORMAL. Obviously not enough magnesium was reaching my cells. At that point my physician prescribed INTRAVENOUS magnesium, and the night following my first shot I slept better than I had in a long time!
Several months later, following publication of her book, I noticed that Dr. Dean had written: "....magnesium is responsible for maintaining normal potassium and sodium concentrations INSIDE HEART MUSCLE CELLS." She also said that a magnesium deficiency can result in one's having not only arrhythmia, seizures and convulsions but also muscle weakness. MUSCLE WEAKNESS! I recalled that muscle weakness is one of the four major side effects known to be caused by my new anticonvulsant -the anticonvulsant I started taking shortly before I was stricken with rapid-pulse arrhythmia! At the time, I only related muscular weakness to leg and arm muscles. But after reading what Dr. Dean wrote I wondered, "COULD LOW MAGNESIUM BE WEAKENING MY HEART MUSCLES?" It seemed to me that a heart muscle that was too weak to produce a strong beat might beat much more rapidly, trying to pump more blood.
Elsewhere in the book I read, "Magnesium expert Mildred Seelig tells us that the side effects of many drugs may be associated with magnesium deficiency because MAGNESIUM BECOMES DEPLETED WHILE THE BODY IS TRYING TO DETOXIFY DRUGS."
My physician had told me the anticonvulsant I had previously taken - marketed for many years and, therefore, better evaluated - depleted magnesium. Upon reading Dr. Seelig's statement I began to suspect that my new anticonvulsant might be causing my low magnesium level and the low magnesium, in turn, might be weakening my heart muscles and triggering periods of rapid pulse arrhythmia.
In addition to receiving magnesium IVs and taking oral supplements I have paid close attention to Dr. Dean's suggestions for maintaining a healthy magnesium level. For example, she lists which foods and which brands of bottled waters have the highest levels of magnesium, which foods can block its absorption and which foods require extra magnesium for digestion and metabolism.
Just a year ago, following a 24 hour Holter test that recorded my periods of arrhythmia, my cardiologist recommended Digoxin for treating it. Because my arrhythmia had responded to taking potassium, I asked if - before trying any prescription drugs -- he would consider my first trying nutritional supplements that have been successfully used to treat arrhythmia. Unlike three other cardiologists I had consulted, he was enthused about exploring this comparatively new field with me.
His trust in me and my faith in what Dr. Dean had written were rewarded. Following my recent treadmill test, my cardiologist wrote:: "On the standard Bruce treadmill she has an excellent aerobic capacity of 10.1 METS. She completes 53 seconds of stage 3 with a maximum heart rate 158 and no arrhythmia...Recovery is rapid to heart rate 83 within six minutes and her examination and treadmill test electrocardiographically are normal before, during and after exercise."
Jerri Spalding Fredin, 78 years young
September 2003
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86 of 86 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Miracle of Magnesium, June 11, 2003
This review is from: The Miracle of Magnesium (Paperback)
As a nurse I am required to have 24hrs of CE credits, to renew my license. We can choose from various subjects and titles to accomplish this. I am a Medical/Surgical nurse which basicly deals with every possible ailment out there, so my choice is endless. However, we have noticed a new interest in some of our doctors for monitering the Magnesium levels on their patients. Magnesium is a mineral that got very little attention. I wanted to know why and this book just happened to be one of the selective readings I could choose from.
All I can say is what a fabulous choice! I am willing to bet that anyone reading this book will feel they are reading about themselves. It is astounding the effect magnesium deficiency has on our bodies. As I look at my patients now- it all makes sense.
This book is simple to read and understand. You do not need a medical background. It explains how magnesium deficiencies cause or contribute to certain conditions that we all have experienced, such as: fatigue, muscle cramps, heart palpitations, headaches, sleeping problems and so much more. Then it gives you directions on how you can prevent or solve it before it gets worse. It also shows how magnesium has an important role in heart disease, strokes, Alzheimers, and more.
Dr. Carolyn Dean's book is a very inexpensive investment in your health and will save you not only your money in the long run!
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95 of 97 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magnesium is essential for good health., January 4, 2003
This review is from: The Miracle of Magnesium (Paperback)
For far too many years the mineral magnesium has been largely overlooked as a nutrient which is essential for good health. Most doctors and laboratories don't even include magnesium status in routine blood tests. Thus, most doctors don't know when their patients are deficient in magnesium, even though the majority of Americans are deficient in magnesium. And magnesium deficiency is very important. In fact, magnesium deficiency is a significant factor -- often the major factor -- in many severe illnesses including heart attacks and other forms of heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, fatigue, diabetes, migraines and other headaches, osteoporosis, insomnia, and most cases of muscular problems. Because magnesium deficiency is largely overlooked, millions of Americans suffer needlessly from the foregoing ailments or are having their symptoms treated with expensive drugs (which often have unpleasant or dangerous side effects) when they could be cured with magnesium supplementation. This excellent and easily-readable new book by Dr. Dean discusses these and other important aspects of the essential mineral magnesium in detail. Everyone who is concerned about his or her health should acquire and read this very important book. So should their doctors.
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