A new analysis looking at eight different studies that included nearly 340,000 participants has found that increased ingestion of magnesium can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer. In fact, researchers at the Soochow University in China found that your risk for colon cancer is reduced by 7% for every additional 50 mg of magnesium that you ingest.

Magnesium has long been known to be a key element in health and is important with countless bodily functions. Magnesium supports your immune system, muscle health, nerve function, heart rhythm, blood pressure, sugar levels, and bone health. Still, most people do not get nearly enough of it through dietary means like vegetables and dairy. It is crucial to get your minimum amount of magnesium, 320 mg each day for women and 420 mg each day for men to support all of those functions properly.

This study, however, looked at increased intakes of magnesium meaning above the minimum recommended amount. On average, researchers found that increasing magnesium intake to have an average of 11% reduction in the risk of developing colon cancer with an average 7% reduction for every additional 50 mg of magnesium.

A similar study performed by researchers at the Imperial College London and Wageningen University found that for every additional 100 mg of magnesium your risk of colon or rectal cancer is reduced by 12%.

Cancer prevention is only one of the big reasons to add magnesium supplement to your diet. A study by researchers at the Karolinska Intitute in Sweden found that every additional 100 mg of magnesium your risk of stroke is reduced by 9%.

Magnesium has also been linked to prevention and management of heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Meanwhile, magnesium deficiency can lead to heart problems, immune system disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and severely low levels of calcium or potassium in the blood.