How to Chelate With Magnesium

Currently, people are becoming aware of heavy metals such as mercury, lead and aluminum in the environment. The build-up of any of these metals in the body is beginning to be linked to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and autism as well as cancer. Anyone who has been exposed to large amounts of these metals may benefit from detoxifying. Chelation is one way to detoxify from heavy metals. In chemistry, the definition of a chelate is a chemical compound that presents as a heterocyclic ring. It contains a metal ion attached to at least two nonmetal ions by coordinate bonds. In medicine, chelation is a way to remove heavy metals such as mercury or lead from the bloodstream with a chelate, such as magnesium. Magnesium is essential to the immune and enzyme systems of the human body. Many minerals, including calcium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium will chelate metals.

Things You'll Need

• Quality magnesium supplement
• Magnesium-rich foods
• Green "superfood" grasses and algae

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Instructions

• 1

  Select a quality magnesium product. Choose one that does not have fillers such as starch, soy, corn, milk, yeast or anything else that could cause allergies or blood- sugar issues. Magnesium is available as magnesium oxide, sulfate or gluconate. Some magnesium products also contain calcium. If you choose such a product, look for a 2:1 calcium to magnesium ratio.

• 2

  Take no more than 300-400 mg magnesium oxide, sulfate or gluconate daily, advises Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D., professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Some magnesium supplements come already chelated. Amino acid chelates, lysinate and biglycinate are options to consider.

• 3

  Space the dosages throughout the day, such as at meal times. This keeps a small amount of magnesium in the body all day and reduces the risk of diarrhea symptoms. If you do experience stools that are too loose, reduce the amount of magnesium you are taking. Over time, you can increase your dosage.

• 4

  Take your last dose of magnesium no later than 5 PM. Taking magnesium too late in the day causes sleep problems for some people, since magnesium is energizing.

• 5

  Eat magnesium-rich foods. The best food sources of magnesium are chocolate, nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens. Also include plenty of sea vegetables such as nori, kelp and dulse, plus "superfoods" such as spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, and barley grass.If you regularly consume these foods you may not need magnesium supplements.

• 6

  Be patient. Not only will your body detoxify heavy metals, many organ systems will begin to change with magnesium supplementation and chelation. Specifically, magnesium targets improvements in the blood and cardiovascular system, blood pressure, bones, and tliver. It may take six months to see any positive changes.