Of the 172 women, only 21 (fewer than 15%) were able to stick to the required diet for the 5 year study. That left a fairly small sample to make conclusions from, but we have to speculate something don’t we? Otherwise, a 5 year study has been wasted, right? Of those 21 women who completed the study, 16 of them gave birth to girls. That’s a success rate of almost 80%. So if you’re looking for a girl, you’ll have to cut way back on dairy and other potassium/sodium rich foods, and start getting more magnesium and calcium. Keep it up for few years, and have regular sex – except around ovulation. If you believe the results of this study enough to do all that. Of course, since I recommend magnesium all the time on this website, part of it should be easy enough.

On the other hand, if you want a boy, start eating bananas and potassium rich foods. I can’t bring myself to tell you cut back on magnesium rich foods, though. At least, not for this reason.

Plenty of companies make liquid calcium magnesium, and the ratios of calcium to magnesium vary. Many go with the 2 parts calcium to one part magnesium formula. I myself am more inclined to favor something closer to 1:1, which is similar to the Japanese diet.

Let’s start with a smaller brand:

Angstrom Liquid Calcium Magnesium Supplement

This is not a widely know brand, yet has the richest blend of magnesium to calcium, actually 2:1 (2 parts magnesium, one part calcium). They also claim to be strict about not placing additives or flavorings in their product. They also say their product is “cell ready,” meaning it doesn’t need to go through the digestion process that tablet or capsule supplements require – and that it can be in “every cell in your body within 10 minutes.” They don’t say how this is different from every other manufacturer of liquid calcium magnesium, though. Nor do they specify whether they use magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, or yet another form of magnesium. Still, worth visiting their website at angstrom-mineral.com to have a look for yourself.

Bluebonnet Liquid Calcium Magnesium

This has the advantage of being one of the most widely available, as well as one of the lowest priced, supplements of this category out there. They offer strawberry flavor, mixed berry, orange, and vitamin d enhanced blends, among others. They use magnesium citrate, and their biggest sales point is that they don’t make you gag. Straight magnesium is not the tastiest thing out there, and so these flavorings help you wash it down. Others can claim that makes it less pure, but even the purest magnesium won’t help you if you can’t stomach the thought of drinking it. The ratio is 2:1 calcium to magnesium, just the opposite of the above, but the one that is most commonly suggested. Bluebonnet is found on Amazon, as well as elsewhere, from $11 and up.

Tropical Oasis Calcium Magnesium

The advantage of Tropical Oasis, according to the reviews, is that it’s the best tasting (even if a bit chalky) and more effective than other brands. With 720 mg of magnesium citrate and 1200 mg of calcium, as well as vitamin d and creamy orange flavoring, they strive to be the upper end product that tastes good. Priced at $19 to $29 (check both Amazon and their website), it looks like a fairly safe option if you want to spend the extra money and are concerned about taste.

Floradix Liquid Calcium-Magnesium w/ Zinc

Floradix contains 186 mg magnesium and 155 mg calcium per serving, as well as 3.5 mg of zinc. At a price  in the $20-$25 range, it is made with both magnesium gluconate and citrate. The ratio is almost a 1:1 ratio for magnesium and calcium, yet there is nothing that distinguishes it from the others here except for the use of glutamate forms of magnesium, which have different effects on the body, and the addition of zinc.

Target-Mins Liquid Calcium Magnesium

Liquid Target-Mins Calcium-Magnesium is focused on this formula with an added Vitamin D3 Complex. The “unique Target-Mins delivery system for increased effectiveness of mineral supplementation.” In their words, “First, we use a complex of free form amino acids combined for increased absorption. Second, we use not only a 2 to 1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium, but we also use a 2 to 1 ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus. In a clinical study at Creighton University by Dr. Haney, it was demonstrated that for every 1,000 mg of Calcium consumed as a supplement, your body requires 500 mg of added Phosphorus for proper utilization. Third, we add vitamin D3, which has been shown to support proper regulation of the body?s Calcium/Phosphorus ratio and activate osteoblast function to support healthy bone structures.” That answers most of my questions. The magnesium comes in the form of magnesium citrate, aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and taurinate. The price is around $28, but can be had more cheaply at Amazon.

Liqumins Cal/Mag/Zinc Liquid Supplement

Liqumens specializes is easy-to-drink liquid supplements. This one comes with an exotic pina-colada flavor, which suits the milkiness of magnesium. It has a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium (1200 mg to 600 mg), but also includes phosphorous , zinc and several other ingredients. Very favorable reviews on Amazon, with a price similar to the others – in the $20 to $29 range.

I am sorry that I haven’t provided any link for these, though they are easily found by searching Google or Amazon. I just don’t want to link to products that I am not personally familiar with. Several of the above look interesting to me, but I get plenty of magnesium through my diet here in Japan. If I wasn’t, I would be tempted to try a liquid calcium magnesium drink, though one with at least as much magnesium as calcium.

Magnesium deficiency keeing you awake?

Magnesium Deficiency – What are the Signs?

A magnesium deficiency is very hard to detect without a visit to the doctor for an actual test of your blood levels. However, there are some factors in your life that may suggest deficiency in magnesium that are worth looking at first. These factors fall into two categories:

1- Symptoms of magnesium deficiency
2- Things you are doing or drinking that leach magnesium from your body

Let’s look at the symptoms first, varied as they are:

Insomnia-
Tiredness and insomnia (funny how there go hand in hand) are the earliest signs of a deficiency. You are restless at night, and may wake up frequently. During the day, you’re just tired. Any reason for this? It could be stress, yet stress itself is know to use up the body’s magnesium.

Nausea and vomiting, with loss of appetite-
Another early sign.

Later stage signs of numbness, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat and coronary spasms-
These are scarier. Nothing like laying awake at night with insomnia, and feeling your heart struggle. It certainly was enough for me to start looking at sources of magnesium in food.

Headaches-

These are frequently reported, and I have personally heard from people who have stopped chronic headaches that they have suffered for as long as 2 years by simply upping their consumption of foods high in magnesium. Others have supplemented the foods with magnesium “oil,” a topical application.

There are numerous other signs that cover just about everything you can imagine, including depression (insufficient magnesium lowers the body’s production of the neurochemical serotonin), mood swings, jumpiness and more.

Remember, even before you consult with a doctor, there is no harm in increasing your natural intake of magnesium. It is only with supplements that you need to be careful of dosage.

Now…take the symptoms above and consider what you are doing to your body that might be draining you of magnesium.

Stress, both mental and physical, excess coffee, sugar, salt, alcohol and sweetened sodas all have an effect. So does tobacco and excess sweating. Various medications are also know to deplete the magnesium in your body.

Moreover, there’s the big issue of excess calcium. Yes, it’s possible to take in too much calcium, which ironically has the effect of making your bones weaker. Excess calcium depletes your magnesium. Osteoporosis and fragile bones can actually be caused by calcium rather than prevented.

On the other hand, too much magnesium is simply not possible when you source it naturally from food.

If you can identify with some of the signs above, it’s a very good idea to start increasing your magnesium intake immediately. Follow the links above to see what foods you need, and get ahead of any magnesium deficiency that may be dragging you down in every area of your life and health.