If you aren’t watching your magnesium intake, you’re probably not getting enough –which could be bad news for your heart.

Magnesium may reduce the inflammation that causes heart disease, according to a study in the journal Nutrition Research.

Researchers evaluated the diets and heart health of 10,024 people and found that only 21.9 percent met the U.S. RDA for magnesium. How much magnesium do you need daily? The adult RDA for magnesium ranges from 310 to 420 milligrams.

Those who weren’t getting enough were 40 percent more likely to have high levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation. But popping a daily magnesium supplement lowered their levels by 22 percent.

I’m not a big fan of supplements and think that it’s better to get your magnesium from a diet.

Some of the magnesium-rich foods are: roasted almonds (80 mg per ounce), halibut (30 mg per ounce), instant oatmeal (55 mg per cup), and spinach (75 mg per ½ cup cooked). [sources: National Institutes of Health, Women's Health]