Gotta' story that is off the tpoic but wanted to share with you all.

I have a friend whose dad is up in age. The friend got the call saying "come home quick dad is in bad shape." So friend and family took off across 2 states to see what was going on. When friend got there they said dad wasn't long for life. Dad stayed in the hospital for 2 days, and got a diagnoses of lupus. The family believes this diagnosis came because, for about 2 weeks before going into the hospital he kinda' wobbled around and wasn't steady on his feet. Anyway, for 3 more days they watched dad linger and continued to ask the docs what can be done to help him...Finally, one of his tests came back that said his potassium level was way to low. They corrected the potassium level and within 4 hrs he was up walking around in the hospital, no wobbling, went home the next morning. The afternoon of checking out of the hospital he cut his 2 acres of grass...

Electrolytes are critical for life.

Where there is loss of potassium often magnesium is low too.
Estimates are that 70% of Americans are low in magnesium.

What drugs does he take? Also were his kidneys tested?
Some kidney diseases cause low potassium.

Hi - Sorry this happened - but great outcome!

Don't know what meds he takes but will try to find out. And not sure about the kidneys either, I will ask about that also.

Hi Mrs. D.
Is it safe to take Magnesium supplements without Drs supervision? I do not take a calcium/mag supplement because in the past they made my joints ache. I'm suspicious that I have a deficiency. I take a multi vitamin/mineral liquid but only take selective additional vitamins. I do soak feet in epsom salts regularly and it helps. Will have a physical next week and will ask Dr to test for magnesium deficiency, also B6 overload (these are ones I haven't been tested for).

Tests for serum magnesium often show normal. The test is only good for very low or very high situations.

The easiest safest way to get magnesium is thru the diet.

High magnesium foods include beans, almonds, and yogurt.

Assume you are getting about 1/2 and take 1/2 the RDA as a supplement.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/ has listings of minerals in your food.
I find Edamame beans high in both magnesium and potassium. They taste good too, and are not expensive.

If you take a supplement do not use OXIDE form as it is not absorbed. and target about 200mg elemental.

more here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

What !?
I think they taste starchy, & bitter and dislike them. Even with salt and margarine/butter on them. My wife keeps buying them and can only get me to eat them if they are snuck into a stir-fry or soup, etc. Plain, & as a side dish- I'll pass, thank you. Just MHO.

Oh, I don't think they are bitter at all. You know some people low in zinc have different taste preferences. Taste is also genetic with some people testing aversive to many veggies. I think Edamames taste buttery and better than lima beans, and other things!
If anything for me they are kind of bland...sometimes I put a few drops of Italian dressing on them, but not alot.

I buy the frozen precooked ones at Costco. I just thaw them in hot water for 5 min and they are ready to go!

I wonder, Bob, if you hate other veggies like broccoli and brussel sprouts?

Ms D.,
I've gotten used to broccoli (hated it as a kid), won't touch brussel sprouts, limas were overdone in college when all we cooked was limas with fatback until we got a care package from home or someone in the apt got a job that paid, and we went grocery shopping. Ate a lot of limas in college. Cooked cauliflower is a no-no, but raw with dip is OK. Cabbage is off my menu too. I'm OK with cole slaw, but cooked cabbage is for St Paddy's day and not much else for me.
I'm really not too picky cause I'll eat just about anything else, from Kim Chee to oysters. Hummus to eggplant. Jalapenos to Sezchuan. Love seafood (except Tilapia- bass poop eaters)
Love fresh garden salads.
Go figure!