There are few things I recommend to all my clients with almost no exception. We tend to have a varied physiology and most protocols will differ from person to person, even if they’re experiencing the same symptoms. When it comes to supplementing with an isolated nutrient, there is only one I immediately suggest to nearly every single client I see: Magnesium.
Implementing this safe and effective mineral is one of the simplest ways I’ve seen drastic positive improvements in my client’s symptoms.
In an ideal world, plants pull Magnesium from the soil, we eat the plants, and all is good. Unfortunately, due to modern farming practices, our soil has become drastically depleted. The produce we eat often has insufficient levels of Magnesium, which may have something to do with the fact over 75% of adults are found to be magnesium deficient. Even if you eat a plant heavy diet, you still likely aren’t getting what you need.
On top of that, caffeine, stress, sugar, and alcohol all cause our bodies to use up Magnesium at a much more rapid rate. Because it’s so necessary for cellular health, any upset to that balance is going to require additional stores of this vital mineral. It’s a vicious cycle that can leave you depleted very quickly.
Not only are our diets naturally deficient, but the standard lifestyle leads to an even higher Magnesium demand. Here are a few reasons you could use a little more magnesium in your life.
Calms muscle tension
Do you ever wake up and feel physically stifled by tightness in the body? Magnesium helps to ease the tension that builds up in our muscles. Imagine waking up and feeling like your muscles and tendons have a new lease on life. Magnesium has the ability to make that happen fast. It acts as a chemical signal that triggers your nerves to release constriction.
Gives you more energy
Who couldn’t use a little more energy these days?? Our energy stores start at the cellular level. Magnesium is required for about 600 chemical reactions including the type of reaction that produces our cells fuel. When I get a client complaining of fatigue, magnesium is one of the first supplements I turn to. Many people feel a huge difference just by this small shift. Give your cells a boost of magnesium and they’ll be sure to return the favor in energy.
Eases anxiety
If you’ve ever feel on edge for no apparent reason, chances are it’s your body’s way of asking for a little more magnesium. One of the first signs of deficiency is anxiety. It’s able to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety by calming the Central Nervous System. I’ve seen so many clients eliminate their anxiety symptoms simply by adding in Magnesium.
Improves ability to sleep
In addition to its physical relaxation properties, Magnesium is a precursor to GABA which is a neurotransmitter that induces a state of relaxation in the brain. GABA is one of the only neurotransmitters that’s an inhibitor. Without it, your brain is physiologically incapable of shutting down.
Supplements I recommend
I recommend taking Mary Ruth Organic’s night-time liquid mineral daily. It has well over the daily dose of Magnesium, along with other synergistic minerals. However, in times of increased stress on the system, or a night out on the town, I always have a magnesium supplement on hand. I find that once you begin taking it, you start to intuitively connect to when your body needs a boost of magnesium. I recommend Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate or Calm Powder.
One of the most effective ways to use magnesium to reduce muscle tension is topically. Either a magnesium bath (Epsom Salts) or a topical magnesium oil works wonders for achy muscles.
