11 Miraculous Ways Magnesium Heals Your Mind & Body
1. Better sleep – The sleep regulating hormone melatonin is disturbed when Magnesium is deficient. Furthermore, Magnesium brings balance and controls stress hormones. Stress and tension are often reasons why people suffer from insomnia in the first place
2. Relaxes the nervous system – Serotonin, which relaxes the nervous system and elevates mood, is dependent on Magnesium
3. Bigger, stronger muscles – Magnesium allows the body to produce more Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), which is a major contributor to the growth and strength of muscles. Furthermore, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the cell’s energy store, and is created with help from Magnesium
4. Better flexibility – Magnesium loosens tight muscles. Without Magnesium, muscles do not relax properly and cramps occur. Magnesium is important for flexibility, because low Magnesium results in a buildup of lactic acid, causing pain and tightness
5. Bone integrity and strength – Magnesium helps to fix calcium properly. It may blow some people’s mind that the calcium supplements they’re taking are not only useless, but are actually contributing to osteoporosis! There are actually about eighteen essential nutrients that contribute to bone health; Magnesium is definitely one of the most essential, because it stimulates a particular hormone called calcitonin. And, it also suppresses a hormone called parathyroid that breaks down bone
6. Remineralizes teeth – Magnesium deficiency causes an unhealthy balance of phosphorous and calcium in saliva, which damages teeth
7. Alkalizes the body – Magnesium helps return the body’s pH balance. Magnesium reduces lactic acid, which is partly responsible for post-exercise pain (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)
8. Hydrates – Magnesium is a necessary electrolyte essential for proper hydration
9. Helps to relieve constipation – Magnesium can be used to cleanse the bowels of toxins
10. Enzyme function – Enzymes are protein molecules that stimulate every chemical reaction in the body. Magnesium is required to make hundreds of these enzymes work and assists with thousands of others
11. Diabetes – Magnesium enhances insulin secretion, which facilitates sugar metabolism. Without Magnesium, glucose is not able to transfer into cells. Glucose and insulin build up in the blood, causing various types of tissue damage, including the nerves in the eyes
There are several ways to add magnesium to your diet. The first, and most beneficial, is to add more magnesium-rich foods to your diet. Snack on seaweed or have a big spinach salad for lunch.
Here are a few of the top providers of magnesium:
1. Spinach
2. Swiss Chard
3. Pumpkin seeds (Pepitas)
4. Almonds
5. Cashews
6. Artichokes
7. Halibut
My personal favorite is a product called Magnesium Calm. It’s a powdered supplement that comes in different natural flavors and has added calcium for optimal absorption. They’re a little effervescent and all delicious but my favorite flavor is lemon. I make it with warm water so it’s like tea and drink it an hour or so before bed. It’s deeply relaxing to my sometimes-overworked muscles and it helps me to sleep like a baby!