Alexis Unlimited

Health Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

Most of us know about the importance of iron and calcium for your bodies but what about magnesium? It’s the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth most important positively charged ion in your body. It helps your body regulate over 325 enzymes and plays an important role in organizing many of your bodily functions, like your muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production and your elimination of harmful toxins. (Sounds darn good to me 🙂 )

Most of us are deficient in magnesium,

so I’m putting on my wise-granny hat here and telling you this: soaking in a bath with Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium, is one of your easiest ways to get a boost.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, your magnesium deficiency helps to account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a number of other ailments.  This is a pretty long, scary list of ailments we may get from a magnesium deficiency.

Who knew?!  I only wish I knew this years ago, prior to my being diagnosed with osteoporosis, but I’ll move forward and do the best I can now to take care of myself.

Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and our diets. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from our soil and your typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. In fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up your depletion of magnesium from your bodies.

Another factor in decreased magnesium levels

has been our focus on getting enough calcium. It’s a delicate dance a

calcium depletes magnesium yet calcium functions best when enough magnesium is present in your body. Studies indicate that your taking a calcium supplement without enough magnesium can increase the shortage of both nutrients in your body. Researchers have found that many Americans have 5 times as much calcium as magnesium in their bodies, although your proper ratio for optimum absorption of both minerals in your body is two to one.

With such widespread magnesium deficiency

you might think that magnesium supplements would be called upon, but studies show that magnesium is not easily absorbed through your digestive tract. The presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions you may have, and the chemistry of your stomach acid can render magnesium supplements ineffective.

This brings us to Epsom salt.

Known scientifically as hydrated magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is rich in both magnesium and sulfate. While both magnesium and sulfate can be

poorly absorbed through your stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from your soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt!

Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through your skin.

Sulfates play an important role in your formation of brain tissue, joint

proteins and the proteins that line the walls of your digestive tract. They stimulate your pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help you detoxify your body of medicines and environmental contaminants.

Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulfate levels, as listed on the web site of the Epsom Salt Industry Council:

• Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of your arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering your blood pressure.
• Improved ability for your body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
• Flush toxins and heavy metals from your cells, easing muscle pain and helping your body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improved nerve function by regulating your electrolytes. Also, calcium is your main conductor for electrical current in your body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in your blood.
• Relieve stress. Your excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium,  a natural stress reliever, from your body. Magnesium is necessary for your body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within your brain that helps you create a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduce inflammation to relieve your pain and muscle cramps.
• Improve your oxygen use.
• Improved absorption of nutrients in your body.
• Improved formation of your joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.

All this from a bath?

Hurray! While there are many different brands of Epsom salt for you to

buy, they are all the same product chemically, and you can be find them at most of your local drug stores. (Walmart sells it and it isn’t expensive) Add two cups of Epsom salt and you soak for 15 minutes. Do this 3 times weekly.

 

 

If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, please check with your doctor before you use Epsom salts.

---

I found this to be great info! I posted about Epsom salt back in April, prior to my using them & now I have been using Epsom salt for a few months.  I have osteoporosis & joint pain, as well as sleep issues. It definitely helps me, and I love relaxing in a wonderfully hot bath at night!

If it helps me absorb the calcium I take, it’s even better, that’s most definitely a plus! I will keep you posted on how I feel, but so far so good. Does anyone out there take Epsom salt baths? we should share our experiences to help one another.  I’d love to hear from you about it…

In a separate post, I’ll talk to you about using magnesium (Epsom salt) for your lawn and garden. It really has many good properties for us to take advantage of…

Have a great healthy day!