I found that eating beans upsets my digestive system, pinto beans being the worst. I have stopped eating them. And I love beans. I love black beans and rice and used to have them at least once a week as a great meatless meal.

We do have a Baja Fresh! I looked it up. Since we rarely go out to eat, I am not that familiar with restaurants in town. I'm surprised, though, that it is not around the university area.

I'll check Dr. Oz's site for Tim Ferriss. Yes, putting weight on can be just as difficult as taking it off. I think once things settle down in my life I will put some back on.

I found this site that lists foods high in magnesium. Of course, getting the 320 mg per day (for women over 30) is difficult. According to this, halibut has the highest @ 90 mg. That's not much. You would definitely have to add many of the other sources to your diet to make up the full 320.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium/

Have you heard of Dr. Mark Sircus? He apparently did some research on magnesium and transdermal magnesium therapy. It's pretty interesting.

http://magnesiumforlife.com/

Red beans like pinto are hard for many people. I've read that they have lectins on the bean that interfere with some peoples' metabolisms. (per the Eat Right 4Your type diet).

http://www.foodreference.com/html/ar...poisoning.html

If I have beans more than once in a day, I use the Beano.
So far the Black beans are not bothering me. I am using canned for now. But the red ones are painful dynamite for me too!

My own cooked lentils are okay too. But I bought a Progresso lentil soup which was quite gassey for some reason?

I upped magnesium for my digestive issues I'm having.... oxide and Krebs cycle sources that's what it says on the bottle (nearly done... digestion did improve, but I also increased water and fibre intake, so it's hard to say what has helped the digestion most).

I'm wondering if perhaps next time I purchase magnesium, should I steer clear of the oxide and Krebs cycle stuff I have currently? (I am due to buy more soon.. this was just store brand stuff, "Elemental Magnesium", but went on to indicate oxide/Krebs).

Studies have shown that the magnesium from oxide is not absorbed into the blood stream. It remains in the GI tract.

For a constipated that is perhaps a useful function. But the magnesium itself does not get into the body to help with the hundreds of enzyme functions that require it.

Magnesium oxide has a high elemental value, but it is not absorbed so that is rather moot.

I'm just more confused than ever now.

I always heard that extra Magnesium is good for spasms.. Is it? and, if so, which kind and how much should I take...or should I just eat Beans?

Eating beans is good. So are almonds. Yogurt.
Green veggies have chlorophyll which contains magnesium in it.

The only magnesium to avoid is the oxide, unless you have severe constipation issues and want and need a laxative.
If any other supplement you get makes you loose, then you are not absorbing the magnesium...obviously.

The magnesium has to get into your blood stream to help with muscle spasms. You can soak in epsom salts, and there are even creams now with magnesium in them. I have all that on my magnesium thread.

There are estimates based on studies that 70% of Americans are below normal in magnesium intake...and that is because fast food doesn't have much.

LOL. That's why I started this thread . . .cause I was confused. I have been learning more and mrsD's magnesium thread is awesome! Lots of reading and researching, but is full of information.

I looked at Kirkman's but they are kind of expensive. I was look up a multi. I know I get enough calcium and vit. A as well as C in my diet and don't need to supplement that. It is hard to find just straight magnesium plus getting a multi is a great insurance measure. They do have vitamins without calcium and vit. A. with one having 200 mg of magnesium. But, that magnesium is a combination of ascorbate, glycinate, and oxide) and lists the oxide as the 2nd ingredient so I am assuming that there is more oxide in them. I'll keep researching.

I read that molasses is a good source of magnesium too. I love molasses and could certainly handle spoonful a day if need be.

BTW - mrsD, thank you so much for all the information you are sharing with us all. It has been so helpful to not only me but I think others in the MS forum as well.