Magnesium is often talked about when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, but it isn’t quite as simple as some make it sound. Its role in the body goes far beyond sleep—being used more than any other mineral in powering the body.
Magnesium is an essential mineral, critical to energy and hormone production, the activation of vitamins, as well as neurological, muscle and cardiovascular functions, including heart beat and blood pressure regulation. It helps with calm decision making when you’re under pressure, while also helping to reduce anxiety.
You might be magnesium deficient if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Muscle cramps or tension
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- High blood pressure
- PMS
- Menstrual cramps
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Osteoarthritis
- Diabetes
- Obesity
Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency is more common than you might think. Easily depleted by exercise, stress, alcohol, and refined sugars, this essential nutrient might be what your body is missing.
MAGNESIUM IS NOT A LONE WOLF, IT WORKS BEST IN A PACK
As importantly, the ratio of magnesium to other minerals, in particular, calcium is extremely important. A high influx of calcium into muscle cells increases muscle contraction, therefore low levels of magnesium and high levels of calcium is a recipe for producing hyper-excitable muscles (translation: muscles that are easier to pull, cramp and strain). Magnesium also protects against calcification of arteries and tissues, and deposition of calcium in joints, helping reduce arthritis when combined with other nutrients like organic flax oil, vitamin B6, B complex, zinc, and vitamin C if your body shows deficiencies.
Metabolic analysis is highly effective as it identifies not just mineral deficiency or excess, but the ratios of one to another. When supplementing magnesium you need to recognize the other nutrients that help support and synthesize this mineral. For example, Honed’s magnesium is designed to be combined with our B-Complex & Mineral Multi and our Fat Soluble Multi for complete utilization and absorption of this essential mineral.
NOT ALL MAGNESIUM IS CREATED EQUAL
When choosing magnesium, you need to choose carefully as there are many types, all of which are absorbed differently.
- Magnesium Aspartate has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attack
- Magnesium Orotate has also been shown to exert beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system
- Malate is involved in the synthesis, maintenance, and repair of nerve and lipid membranes
HOW TO INCREASE MAGNESIUM THROUGH DIET AND LIFESTYLE
Eating a healthy diet that includes magnesium rich foods – like green leafy vegetables and nuts and seeds – is a good place to start if you need to increase your magnesium intake. With a balanced diet, you also get the other vitamins and minerals essential for its absorption.
Here are some of the best sources of magnesium rich foods:
- Spinach
- Dandelion greens
- Swiss chard
- Collard greens
- Edamame
- Avocado
- Kelp
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Buckwheat
- Brazil nuts
- Rye
- Barley
- Garlic
When shopping for a magnesium supplement, be sure to check the form you’re getting, and that you’re taking it with synergistic nutrients. Be mindful of the diet and lifestyle choices that are harder on the body (we’re talking about stress and alcohol), and deplete magnesium along with other key nutrients inhibiting your ability to thrive.
HOW MAGNESIUM SAVES YOU THE TROUBLE
Designed and tested to support energy uptake and deep sleep for maximum recovery, our magnesium has been precisely crafted over 15 years with our professional athletes, built to work in combination with the other vitamins and minerals in your personalized vitamin packs. There is no better magnesium supplement available to bring your system into balance to help you catch that perfect sleep.