10. Mineral – Magnesium
Recent studies suggest that supplementing your diet with magnesium-rich foods can lower your risk of cancer, especially colon cancer. Some of the analysis done indicates that for every 100mg higher magnesium intake, the risk of colorectal cancer can decrease by as much as 12%. Researchers indicated a connection between increased magnesium intake and its ability to reduce insulin resistance in the body. There is a lot more research needed, but it seems like the role of magnesium as a potential cancer preventative will magnify in time to come.
It is a fact that very few people get the necessary amount of dietary magnesium they need. This is even true of first world countries where inhabitants are exposed to varied diets. It is due to the poor diet of processed foods that they consume. Unhealthy kidneys, diabetes, and alcohol abuse are linked to decreased levels of magnesium. Magnesium levels also tend to decrease with age. If one of these factors affects you, it would be wise to monitor your magnesium levels.
Magnesium is found in a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. But how much magnesium these foods contain depends on where and how they were grown. Organic fruit and vegetables tend to contain more magnesium as they are not exposed to nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium through the fertilizers used on large-scale farms.
If you feel your magnesium levels may be low, it is advisable to get them tested. You may need to take a magnesium supplement. However, first consult a medical healthcare professional. Its magnesium content makes the jackfruit a useful addition to the daily diet as it can raise your magnesium levels without medical intervention.