Life’s pressures like work, finances, and family can make anyone feel more anxious than usual. Surprisingly, a simple way to ease anxiety might be to boost your magnesium intake. Feeling anxious is pretty common, affecting more than one in ten people in the UK at some point.
While stress, medications, and illness are known triggers for anxiety, a lesser-known cause is magnesium deficiency. Recent studies have shown that daily magnesium supplements can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. For instance, a study published in PLoS One found that adults who consumed 248 mg of magnesium daily for six weeks felt much less anxious and depressed.
Despite magnesium being present in foods like brown rice, leafy greens, beans, avocados, almonds, and even dark chocolate, about 70% of us still have low levels. This essential mineral helps relax muscles and calm the nervous system, contributing to better sleep and more stable moods.
For adults, the recommended daily intake of magnesium is 375 milligrams. However, many people, particularly young women, don’t get enough. This deficiency could be due to modern diets full of processed foods and declining nutrient levels in common foods.
Magnesium is crucial for over 300 bodily processes, including muscle relaxation and detoxification. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include poor sleep, constant tiredness, mood swings, and a weakened immune system. Magnesium helps produce energy in our cells, so low levels can leave you both mentally and physically drained.
Regulating sleep is another essential benefit of magnesium. It interacts with a neurotransmitter called GABA, aiding relaxation and helping you get a good night’s sleep. Research has shown that adequate magnesium levels can improve sleep quality and duration.
Trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of magnesium in bettering sleep and lowering anxiety. Using products like magnesium lotion or spray can also boost your magnesium levels faster than oral supplements.
In our busy lives, having enough magnesium can help mitigate feelings of tiredness, anxiety, and moodiness. It’s integral in managing energy production, muscle relaxation, and immune function. Boosting your magnesium intake, either through diet or skin absorption, can make a significant difference in how you feel daily.
If you’re looking to try this, there are numerous ways to get more magnesium: apply it in lotions, use sprays, or even enjoy a soak in magnesium-infused bath salts. These methods ensure that the mineral is absorbed directly into your skin, delivering quick relief.
Overall, keeping your magnesium levels in check could help with anxiety, sleep, energy levels, and overall mood, making it easier to handle life’s many pressures.
