High Magnesium Diet (1023)

Key points below


 What is magnesium?

Magnesium is a nutrient found in food. Most people get enough magnesium in their diets. The body uses it to:

Remember: It is important for your child to eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet.

Why do I need a high magnesium diet?

Some medicines lower magnesium levels in the body. Many of these medicines are used for patients after a transplant. This includes medicines such as tacrolimus and cyclosporine.  If your magnesium is low, you may need to increase the magnesium in your diet or take an extra supplement. 

To get more magnesium, eat 3 to 4 of these foods each day:

Foods Highest in magnesium High in magnesium
Dairy/Milk alternatives Soy milk
Almond milk with added magnesium
Milk
Yogurt
Cheese
Fruits Raisins, prunes
Orange juice (from concentrate)
Apricots
Peaches
Black berries
Plantains
Pears
Bananas
Dried mixed fruits
Oranges
Mangos
Kiwi
Vegetables Dark green leafy vegetables
Beets
Taro
Acorn and butternut squash
Broccoli
Potatoes with skin
Canned tomatoes
Avocados
Corn
Peas
Green beans
Grains  Whole grains (breads, cereals and pastas)
Bran
Brown rice
Shredded wheat 
Instant oatmeal
Grains and cereals with added magnesium
Rice 
Corn meal 
Protein / Legumes Beans: Lima, black, kidney and pinto 
Almonds
Cashews
Peanuts
Peanut Butter
Edamame (soybeans)
Tofu
Seeds
Chicken
Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut, tuna)
Beef
Shell fish
Hazelnuts
Other foods
Dark chocolate
Chocolate hazelnut spread 
Molasses
Chocolate pudding 
 

For more information: Visit the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/pubs/usdandb/Magnesium-Content.pdf

ALERT

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.