The Gift of Magnesium: Revealing the Ocean’s Secret to Wellness

In the quest for the most bioavailable magnesium supplement or magnesium cream, we often overlook the treasures that lie beneath the ocean’s surface. One such treasure is magnesium – a vital mineral that plays a crucial role in our well-being. But not all magnesium sources are created equal. Let’s dive into the world of magnesium, its importance, and how Seaflora’s innovative thalasso skincare products, packed with the goodness of seaweed, are changing the game for magnesium absorption.

What is Magnesium?

Magnesium is a chemical element, a mineral that is essential for life. It’s the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body and is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions that keep our body functioning properly. This mineral is a key player in our overall health, and yet, it’s often overshadowed by other nutrients.

The Marvel of Magnesium: A Key to Holistic Health

Magnesium, an unsung hero among minerals, is crucial for our well-being. This essential nutrient plays a pivotal role in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Think of it as a multitasking maestro orchestrating everything from muscle and nerve function to maintaining a steady heartbeat, supporting a healthy immune system, and fortifying our bones. It’s not just a mineral; it’s a cornerstone of health.

What Does Magnesium Do?

Imagine a conductor of an orchestra, ensuring every section comes in at the right time to create a harmonious performance. Magnesium acts similarly in our body. It helps regulate muscle and nerve functions, making sure they work smoothly without any cramps or spasms. It’s also vital for maintaining a healthy heart rhythm and supporting a robust immune system.

The power of magnesium extends to our bones, as it aids in the formation of bone and is essential for the metabolism of calcium – another key player in bone health. Furthermore, it has a hand in controlling blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and it’s involved in energy production, making it indispensable for those leading active lifestyles.

The power of Magnesium

Understanding Magnesium’s Impact

  • Muscle and Nerve Function: Aids in the contraction and relaxation of muscles, ensuring smooth physical operations.
  • Regulating Blood Pressure: It assists in maintaining a healthy blood pressure, crucial for cardiovascular health.
  • Bone Health: A key player in bone formation, this mineral works in concert with calcium to build strong, healthy bones.

Signs of Magnesium Deficiency

Our body is quite adept at sending us signals when something is amiss, and magnesium deficiency is no exception. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include muscle cramps, spasms, and weakness. Fatigue and a general sense of tiredness are common, as magnesium is involved in energy production. Mental health can also be affected, with mood changes such as anxiety and irritability often reported. In more severe cases, irregular heart rhythms and numbness can occur.
Often overshadowed by more talked-about nutrients, a deficiency in this nutrient can silently impact our health. Key symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Muscle Cramps and Spasms: An early sign, often indicating inadequate magnesium levels.
  • Persistent Fatigue: Feeling tired isn’t just about lack of sleep; it can be a cry for magnesium.
  • Mood Changes: Fluctuations in mood or increased stress can sometimes be attributed to low magnesium levels.

The Silent Challenge

A deficiency in this vital nutrient can be a silent challenge, often overlooked in routine health checks. The initial symptoms of magnesium deficiency, such as fatigue, muscle cramps, and mild irritability, can be quite subtle and easily attributed to other causes. This makes it difficult to immediately link these symptoms to a deficiency. Routine blood tests do not always include a magnesium level check. Magnesium levels are not routinely measured in standard blood tests because only a small percentage of the body’s magnesium is in the bloodstream. Most of it is in bones and cells, making blood tests less effective in detecting a deficiency.

Magnesium is involved in a wide array of biological functions. This means that its deficiency can present a variety of symptoms, affecting multiple systems in the body, which can lead to misdiagnosis or a failure to pinpoint the deficiency as the root cause. There is generally less awareness about the importance of magnesium compared to other minerals which can lead to dietary patterns that do not include enough magnesium-rich foods, contributing to widespread deficiencies. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency can overlap with those of other conditions, such as Vitamin D deficiency, electrolyte imbalances, and hormonal imbalances, making it difficult to diagnose without specific testing.

Seaweed Bath Experience

Magnesium’s Natural Bounty: Foods Rich in Magnesium

While supplements are an option, nature offers a bounty of magnesium-rich foods. Notably, seaweed stands out for its high content of this mineral and nutrient. These items represent a diverse range of food categories, including grains, seaweeds, herbs, and spices, each offering a substantial amount of magnesium. Including these in your diet can help in meeting suitable requirements. Here’s a brief list of some foods that contain high amounts of magnesium in 100 gram portions:

  • Rice bran, crude: 781 mg
  • Seaweed, agar, dried: 770 mg
  • Chives, freeze-dried: 640 mg
  • Spice, coriander leaf, dried: 694 mg
  • Pumpkin seeds, dried: 535 mg
  • Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened: 499 mg

Going Skin Deep: The Superiority of Topical Magnesium

Interestingly, the skin, our largest organ, is an excellent medium for the absorption of this mineral. Studies suggest that topical application can be more effective than oral supplements. This method bypasses the digestive system, delivering magnesium directly to the cells.

Why Topical?

Direct Absorption: Bypassing the digestive tract means no loss of potency, ensuring more a more efficient intake.
Easier on the Body: Especially beneficial for those with digestive issues or sensitivities to oral supplements.

Seaweed and Magnesium: The Advantage of Bioavailable Minerals

Seaweed is not just a food item; it’s a skin superfood. Rich in magnesium and up to 90 other minerals, it nourishes the skin when applied topically. The unique composition of seaweed makes it particularly effective for absorption when used in skincare products. This effectiveness is due to several factors inherent in the structure and composition of seaweed.

benefits of the Structure of Seaweed

  • Seaweed is naturally high in magnesium and other trace minerals like iodine, potassium, and calcium. When applied topically, these minerals are readily available for absorption through the skin.
  • Seaweed contains minerals in forms that are bioavailable, meaning they are easily absorbed and utilized by the body. This is partly due to the presence of natural compounds in seaweed that enhance mineral absorption.
  • Seaweed has a high water content, which helps in hydrating the skin. Hydrated skin is more permeable and can absorb nutrients, including magnesium, more effectively.
  • Seaweeds contain natural chelating agents. Chelators bind to minerals and assist in transporting them across the skin barrier, increasing their bioavailability.
  • The cellular structure of seaweed is relatively simple and porous, which allows for easier release and transfer of nutrients, including magnesium, into the skin when applied topically.
  • Seaweeds are rich in natural polysaccharides like alginates, which have a moisturizing effect on the skin. These compounds can form a gel-like layer on the skin that aids in the slow release and absorption of magnesium and other minerals.
  • Seaweed is rich in antioxidants which can help protect skin cells from oxidative stress. This protection can enhance overall skin health, making the skin more receptive to absorbing nutrients.
  • The mineral composition of seaweed is similar to that of human plasma, meaning the skin can tolerate and absorb seaweed-derived minerals effectively.

In summary, the combination of bioavailable minerals, natural chelators, polysaccharides, and the simple cellular structure of seaweed contributes to its effectiveness in enhancing magnesium absorption through the skin. This makes seaweed an ideal ingredient in skincare products aimed at delivering magnesium and other beneficial minerals.

Vitamin C Serum
Healthy options for menstruation
Seaflora Bath and Pacific Sea Salts

Seaflora Skincare: Harnessing the Power of the Sea

Seaflora Skincare steps in with its line of seaweed-based products, designed to enhance magnesium absorption and overall skin health. Let’s explore some of their flagship products and bioavailable magnesium creams:

Seaweed Baths: A luxurious yet simple and effective way to soak in the goodness of magnesium-rich seaweed.
Sea Salt Baths: Combines the benefits of sea salt and seaweed for a mineral-rich bathing experience.
Wild Sea Kelp Body Lotion: A daily moisturizer that infuses your skin with magnesium and the nourishing properties of seaweed.
Seaweed Body Gel: A light, easily-absorbed gel, perfect for a post-shower magnesium boost.

Why Choose Seaflora?

Seaflora Skincare products are not just about beauty; they’re about nourishing your body with nature’s best. Each product is a blend of carefully selected seaweeds, designed to boost your skin’s magnesium levels and overall health.

Founded by 3rd generation seaweed harvester Diane Bernard, and husband George Butcher who spent his life as a passionate marine biologist working for the Canada Government. George and Diane spent years figuring out how to best utilize seaweed in skincare and they decided that using the whole organism fresh, wild and raw was the best way to keep it biologically active. They refuse to boil, freeze or powder seaweed. However the best part about Seaflora Skincare is that fresh, raw, wild, organic seaweed makes up 50% – 80% of each skincare formulation!

Seaflora’s range of skincare products is an excellent way to harness the benefits of bioavailable nutrients such as magnesium. Whether you are soaking in a seaweed bath, moisturizing with sea kelp lotion, or rejuvenating with a seaweed gel, you’re taking a step towards a healthier, more vibrant you.

Embrace the Time-Honored Seacrets of the Indigenous West Coast Tribes

In the heart of the West Coast’s pristine waters, the Indigenous people have long cherished a sacred bond with the sea. They believe in the profound wisdom of the ocean, particularly in the gifts of seaweed, akin to rockweed alginate. This practice, steeped in ancient knowledge, is a testament to their deep connection with nature and its healing powers. Seaweed, for these communities, is not just a plant; it’s a treasure trove of life, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

It’s as if the sea, in its boundless generosity, has infused these fronds with the essence of health. When applied to the skin, this gift from the depths nourishes and rejuvenates, weaving the ocean’s vitality into the fabric of their very well-being.

First Nations of Canada
The Bounty offered at low tide
Wild Foraging at Low Tide on the Coast of Haida Gwaii

Ancient Secrets: Seaweed for the Body and Soul

The Indigenous people have always recognized seaweed’s remarkable ability to heal. Gently soothing the skin, it whispers secrets of relief to irritations, eases the redness of inflammation, and offers a comforting touch to ailments like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. In each application lies a ritual, a quiet conversation with the ancient wisdom of the sea.

The Wisdom In Seaweed

Hydration as Deep as the Ocean: With a composition as fluid as the waters it comes from, seaweed bestows hydration upon the skin. It’s as if the ocean itself is caressing the skin, infusing it with moisture and drawing out the impurities, leaving nothing but purity and calm in its wake.

Wisdom Woven Through Time: For centuries, seaweed has been more than a plant; it’s been a healer, a nurturer, and a sage in the Indigenous medicinal practices. Each use is a nod to the ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, a celebration of the harmony between nature and humanity.

A Spiritual Connection: Beyond its physical benefits, seaweed is a sacred link to the cultural and spiritual tapestry of these communities. It’s a symbol of life, a part of rituals and ceremonies that bind them to the rhythm of the tides, the spirit of the ocean, and the legacy of their ancestors.

Gift of the Tides: As the Haida people say, “When the tide is out, the table is set.” In this simple truth lies the ethos of sustainability and gratitude. Seaweed, a gift of the tides, is a testament to the sustainable practices of these coastal tribes, a symbol of taking only what is needed and giving back in equal measure.

This ancient practice is more than just the application of a plant; it’s a celebration of life, a dance of harmony with the sea, and a profound respect for the wisdom of the ages. It underscores the importance of honoring traditional knowledge and the gifts of the natural world, weaving a holistic tapestry of health and wellness that has endured the test of time.

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Seaflora Holistic Nutritionist, Researcher, General Manager at Seaflora Skincare Inc.
Vancouver Island is a Gift wrapped in Seaweed!