What food have magnesium in them

Time to make some dietary changes to boost energy and build a healthy immune system? While magnesium is considered a minor nutrient, it plays a significant role in your overall health and is essential to every function and tissue in the body.

In general, to provide magnesium to your body, the National Institutes of Health recommends looking for foods packed with dietary fiber, including:

Not only do magnesium-rich foods support a healthy immune system and improve bone health, they may play a role in preventing certain cancers, according to a study published in June 2017 in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. Foods with magnesium have been found to help improve heart health, prevent stroke, and even potentially reduce your risk of dying from a heart attack. Additionally, magnesium foods help to support normal nerve and muscle function and keep your heartbeat in sync.

A study published in October 2017 in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research found that a nutritionally balanced vegan diet filled with fresh fruit and vegetables lowered triglycerides, insulin, and cholesterol in study participants when compared with a healthy, controlled omnivorous diet (both plant and animal foods). A plant-based diet includes magnesium-rich fruit, vegetables, beans and peas, grains, soy, seeds, and nuts. A vegetarian diet is plant-based, but a vegan diet excludes all meat, dairy, and animal products, notes Medline Plus.

A study published in February 2014 in Diabetes Care reveals that a high daily magnesium intake may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 32 percent. Meanwhile, a 2013 article published in Pharmacological Reports reveals that supplementing with magnesium may help ward off depression.

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How Can I Raise My Magnesium Quickly Through Diet?

Magnesium supplements are available over the counter at most supermarkets and pharmacies, but registered dietitians say it is preferable to eat whole foods containing magnesium naturally to prevent a magnesium deficiency.

While your body absorbs between 30 and 40 percent of the magnesium you eat, magnesium deficiency may happen due to an underlying health condition, alcoholism, or certain medication, per the National Institutes of Health.

In fact, nearly two-thirds of the Western world doesn’t get the recommended daily intake of magnesium, according to a September 2017 review published in Scientifica.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that American adults get between 310 to 420 milligrams (mg) of magnesium daily.

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Check out the following foods high in the macromineral magnesium, including dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, fish, soybeans, avocados, bananas, dark chocolate, and fat-free or low-fat yogurt.

Just 1 ounce (oz) of dry roasted almonds contains 80 mg of magnesium, or about 19 percent of the DV. Other foods containing magnesium include cashews, peanuts, and pumpkinseeds, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Combine your favorite magnesium-rich nuts and seeds in a healthy homemade trail mix — the perfect afternoon snack to keep your energy up and hunger levels down. Just remember that nuts are also a rich source of calories, per past research, so a little goes a long way, especially if you’re watching your waistline.

Avocados are a good source of magnesium, as well as being loaded with vitamins, heart-healthy nutrients, and disease-thwarting chemical compounds. Magnesium-rich avocados are one of the most nutritious and versatile produce picks around. Add 1 cup of cubed avocado to your salad or sandwich at lunch, and you’ll easily consume 11 percent of the DV of magnesium, according to the USDA. Like nuts, avocados are also rich in healthy fats, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which makes them a concentrated source of calories. So keep portion size in mind when you're enjoying this healthy delight.

Think of dark chocolate as a great way to get your magnesium fix while also indulging. One oz, or about one square, of 70 to 85 percent dark chocolate provides 64.6 mg of magnesium, which is 15.4 percent of the DV, for 170 calories, per the USDA. Furthermore, dark chocolate offers flavanols, which are a type of antioxidant that may help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and lower inflammation, according to a past study.

Nonfat or low-fat yogurt is a great source of magnesium: Expect roughly 32 mg (7.6 percent DV) in just one 6 oz container, according to the USDA. Yogurt is also high in protein (9.7 g for 19.4 percent of the DV). Past research suggests that high-protein meals can make you feel fuller longer, which may help you eat fewer calories overall, ultimately leading to weight loss. Pair yogurt with a fiber-rich fruit for an easy, healthy breakfast.

Additional reporting by Debbie Strong.