3 Telltale Scenarios That Indicate You Should Take A Magnesium Supplement

Magnesium supplements seem to be everywhere you look these days (partially thanks to the sleepy girl mocktail craze). But how do you know if—and what—magnesium supplement is right for you? 

For starters, it's safe to say most of us aren't getting enough magnesium through food alone. A new report even shows that nearly 90% of the U.S. population1 is falling short on this vital mineral, so prioritizing magnesium intake is likely beneficial. 

Magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical processes in the body, and many of those processes are related to neurotransmitters.

Magnesium plays a crucial role in influencing neurotransmitters2 that calm down excitatory and activating ones that help you relax—particularly GABA. Low magnesium levels impair GABA production, which research shows is linked to feelings of stress and anxiousness. 

Well, low magnesium—and the subsequent low GABA—may be to blame. GABA is also an important neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, and many people with low magnesium report waking up frequently3 overnight or have issues achieving deep sleep. 

Magnesium supplementation can help counter this.

Researchers of a 2012 study found that adults (ages 60 to 75 years) who were given a magnesium supplement for eight weeks4 fell asleep faster and stayed asleep longer than those who were given a placebo.

Exercise comes with a lot of perks (better blood sugar balance, more muscle, a positive mood, etc.). Something you need to be aware of, though, is that exercise depletes your magnesium stores and levels faster as you lose this mineral in sweat and use it to generate energy and fuel muscle function.

Overall, if you’re someone who exercises regularly, your magnesium intake needs to be even higher than the average person’s.

 "For those struggling to wind down, calm their mind, and relax before bed, magnesium glycinate can be a helpful aid," Maeson Temple, RDN, L.D., CNSC previously told mindbodygreen.

Magnesium doses vary greatly from supplement to supplement. However, choosing one between 100-350 milligrams of magnesium per serving is a good place to start to support dietary dietary and reap the mineral’s relaxing capabilities. 

You can also pair magnesium with other ingredients that promote similar outcomes (like sleep and exercise performance, and recovery).*

And mindbodygreen's magnesium+ rest & recovery checks all the boxes. 

This powdered blend is perfectly portioned to provide 230 milligrams of readily absorbable magnesium and 480 milligrams of 100% tart cherry powder (to further promote deep rest and faster recovery).*