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What are the benefits of magnesium?

Have you been feeling tired, tense, anxious, and achy lately? It may not all be in your mind; it may be in your body. See, when your body is low on certain nutrients, it can mess with everything from your mind and your mood to your energy and overall health. One of the nutrients you need to function, focus, and feel relaxed is magnesium. This mighty mineral does so much for your muscles and your mind, but you may not know much about its importance, and you may not be getting enough. Discover the magic of magnesium and its many different forms. Then, understand how it benefits your body and brain, as well as ways to safely supplement your diet to stay calm, stay fit, and stay well.

Why magnesium matters

Magnesium is one mineral that doesn’t get the respect it deserves. This underappreciated and under-consumed mineral is one of the nutrients your body needs to work well and for you to feel good. This essential mineral is truly essential because it keeps your body functioning properly. Along with keeping your muscles moving, your heart pumping, your nerves signaling, and your blood sugar stable, it also keeps your mood and energy up, while keeping your stress and your blood pressure down. But that’s just the beginning of the more than 300 metabolic reactions and internal processes that magnesium makes happen in your body.

Since magnesium is involved in so many essential functions and internal processes, you need to make sure that you’re getting enough. If your body is low in magnesium, you will notice a significant difference in the way you feel and function. Getting too little for too long can lead to a serious magnesium deficiency, which can evolve into diabetes, among other things. Low levels of magnesium can cause a variety of distressing and dangerous symptoms, including:

Fatigue
Weakness
Mood and personality changes
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Muscle cramps
Numbness in the arms and legs
Abnormal heart rhythm
Seizures

One form doesn’t fit all

Just as magnesium takes on many roles, it also takes on many forms. Not all magnesium is created equal. There are several forms available, each with different uses. The most common forms of magnesium include:

Magnesium citrate – As one of the most easily-absorbed forms of magnesium supplements, it’s ideal for raising magnesium levels, as well as treating constipation.
Magnesium oxide – Rather than being used to resolve magnesium deficiency, this form can help with digestive issues like heartburn and indigestion.
Magnesium chloride – Another well-absorbed form of magnesium, it’s used to increase low magnesium levels.
Magnesium glycinate – This easily-digested form helps create protein in the body and may have natural calming abilities, such as reducing stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
Magnesium L-threonate – This easily-absorbed type is most effective for boosting magnesium levels in the brain, which may help with depression, age-related memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Magnesium malate – Naturally occurring in food, this easily-digested form is gentle on the stomach and is used to treat low magnesium levels.
Magnesium lactate – This easily-digestible form is used to fortify foods and is very gentle on the stomach.

Feel good about the benefits of magnesium

Magnesium is most widely known for its mind-calming, mood-improving, muscle-relaxing, and sleep-supporting benefits. But magnesium does dozens more things for your body, your brain, your mood, and your quality of life. Some of the biggest benefits of magnesium include:

Relaxes your mind
Reduces anxiety
Helps you sleep
Stabilizes your mood
Regulates muscle function
Transmits nerve signals
Produces energy
Builds bones
Controls blood sugar levels
Manages your blood pressure
Produces protein

Peace of mind about taking magnesium

The ideal way to get magnesium is through foods, including whole grains like quinoa, leafy greens like spinach, legumes, seeds such as pumpkin seeds, beans, nuts, milk, yogurt, and fortified foods like breakfast cereals. To get the most out of the mineral, you need to get the proper amount. Adult women need 310 to 320 milligrams per day, while adult men require 410 to 420 milligrams daily. If you aren’t getting enough from food, then a magnesium supplement can help “fill in the gaps” in your diet. Magnesium supplements are considered safe for most people. But always speak to your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor before taking any supplement to see if it’s right for you. As with all supplements, you must avoid taking too much. If you take an excessive amount, you may have diarrhea or an upset stomach. In rare cases, too much can cause toxicity with symptoms such as nausea, muscle weakness, irregular breathing, and vomiting.

You may be surprised that this one little mineral can do so much for your body and mind, but knowing the benefits of magnesium can help you keep calm and carry on.

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