Today is Workaholics Day, and if you are working today, this blog is for you.
One thing many workaholics have in common is neglecting their health because they are too busy working. Hard as it may be for those who spend most of their waking hours working, taking some time for yourself, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are all important factors in self-care. Prioritizing proper nutrition may be one of the most important factors in helping to optimize your wellbeing and your body’s functions for health.
Workaholics may not take time to focus much on eating a healthy diet. Even those who focus on a healthy diet may still have nutrient deficiencies. As production practices have evolved, so has the composition of soil in which food is grown. One result of those shifts in agricultural practices is less minerals in the soil, which translates to fewer minerals in the foods we eat. For example, one study found that approximately 50% of the US population consumes less than the daily requirement of magnesium from their diet1. Given the profound importance of minerals in so many of the body’s functions, we all need to make sure to get adequate amounts.
If the form your workaholism takes involves too many hours sitting at a desk, that may increase the risk for obesity, which is linked to multiple health concerns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 1.9 billion adults 18 years and older are considered overweight, and over 600 million of these adults considered obese2. Some of the health concerns linked to obesity are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers. More attention to diet and increased exercise are the obvious solutions, but did you know that some minerals are reported to play a role in weight loss?
Several studies indicate that calcium plays a role in body weight reduction and fat metabolism, which means lowering cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol. One key study found that increased calcium intake increased fat excretion by 350 calories per day3. Manganese-activated enzymes play a role in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, and cholesterol. Their effect on body fat and body weight comes from their impact on the thyroid gland and regulation of blood sugar. Most consumers think of zinc for its role in supporting immune function, but zinc deficiency also tells the body to store excess fat. Zinc also helps regulate hormone function and allows insulin to regulate serum glucose and prevent the formation of excess glucose.
In recent years, consumers and health care providers have developed a high level of interest in magnesium for its multiple benefits, including brain health, energy production, mood support, and more4. When people work a lot, it’s important that they be able to relax, and to fall asleep, and magnesium can help. It plays a role in stress reduction, reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol5. It modulates glutamate uptake at the NMDA receptor, which regulates mood6. And it helps muscles relax, mitigating cramping and tension7.
Those who don’t tolerate normal mineral supplements well don’t have to miss out on the benefits – chelated minerals can help solve that problem because they are bonded to an amino acid, which forms a protective shell around the mineral. Albion® Minerals are truly chelated and are well tolerated.
Happy Workaholics Day! This is a great day to fit in some self-care.
Contact us to learn more about supporting your overall wellbeing with clinically proven Albion® Minerals.
1. Costello, R. B., Elin, R. J., Rosanoff, A., Wallace, T. C., Guerrero-Romero, F., Hruby, A., . . . Van Horn, L. V. (2016). Perspective: The case for an evidence-based reference interval for serum magnesium: the time has come. Advances in Nutrition, 977-993.doi:10.3945/an.116.012765
2. (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
3. Int. J. Obes. Relat Metab Disord:2005, Jan.18
4. Hunt, S. M., & Groff, J. L. (1990). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.
5. Cuciureanu MD, VinkR. Magnesium and stress. In: Vink R, Nechifor M, editors. Magnesium in the Central Nervous System [Internet]. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507250/
6. Kirkland AE, SarloGL, Holton KF. The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders. Nutrients. 2018;10(6):730. Published 2018 Jun 6. doi:10.3390/nu10060730
7. Potter JD, Robertson SP, Johnson JD. Magnesium and the regulation of muscle contraction. Fed Proc. 1981 Oct;40(12):2653-6. PMID: 7286246.
