Feeling sluggish with a dash of brain fog? Insomnia got you counting sheep at night? Has your workout plateaued?
A magnesium deficiency may be the culprit.
Magnesium is an essential mineral and is found in every cell in your body. It keeps your bones healthy, your hearts rhythm in check and your digestion system on track. Every day stresses like kids activities, and hectic schedules can deplete our magnesium supply giving mamas and kiddos just another reason to not feel our best.
I was complaining to a friend of mine a few years ago how I couldn’t seem to get going in the morning. That and I kept waking up at night. She told me her secret- magnesium. I went and grabbed a bottle, and within a week I was sleeping more soundly, and my brain fog had disappeared.
Benefits of Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential nutrient that most foods contain. Unfortunately, not many are rich in this fabulous nutrient, and it can be easily removed by processing and cooking. Our bodies need almost as much magnesium as Calcium. So supplementing is the most beneficial way to make sure your body is getting its daily needs. Besides being healthy, why is this important? Well, this little magic nutrient helps us with moods, better sleep, muscle function as well as keeping our cool under pressure.
I personally take a daily dose before bed in addition to making sure I eat plenty of green leafy vegetables. It is also something I give my children before bed as well. (One of my favorite features about this mineral is that it helps with sleep!) As much as I like to offer veggies to my kiddos, I know that kale and spinach are not top on their choices for meals. So giving them this valuable supplement helps them get an extra boost to make sure they are getting enough. I do see a difference in my daughter’s allergy symptoms when she doesn’t take it for a few days. I can also tell the difference in her Asthma symptoms as well.
10 Reasons why Magnesium is a fabulous supplement:
Reduces Depression and Anxiety
Low levels of magnesium have been associated with depression. Magnesium plays an essential role in maintaining cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone, and its levels rise when you are under stress. When cortisol is controlled, it helps the body lower its anxiety levels. Knowing tweens mood swings and the stressful lifestyle of parents, low levels of magnesium aren’t going to help anyone. So adding this supplement to your diet will definitely help in the mood department.
Digestion
Magnesium is known to help relax muscles, including the ones in your digestive tract, not just the ones you used in your last workout. As a result, it helps relieve constipation and move things along in your intestines. As something I struggle with myself, I can attest that it has helped me significantly in this area.
Improves Exercise Performance
Speaking of muscles it also helps in your gym and other workouts as well by loosening tight muscles so you can get in that pigeon pose and stretch those tight hamstrings just a little easier.
Hormonal
This super supplement also helps us ladies out with our “monthly visitor” as well. Bloating insomnia, cramps it helps ease the premenstrual symptoms. Not to mention it helps keep those extra water lbs at bay.
Sleep Regularity
As I mentioned before, this really helps with sleep. When you are deficient in magnesium, your natural production of melatonin can also suffer- leaving your rest and wake schedule out of whack. It also helps your mind and body relax by quieting your nervous system. It’s a natural sleep aid your body craves!
Headaches
As a mom, headaches are something most moms experience at least once. Studies show that magnesium may be low during a migraine. So help keep your mind at ease and prevent those crippling headaches and migraines with a daily dose of magnesium.
Bones (Got Milk?)
Most women do have concerns with bone density. Perhaps when you’re young, it’s not a significant concern but seeing how calcium (or lack of it) can play a role in causing osteoporosis, it’s definitely food for thought. The older we get, the more difficult it is to maintain bone density. Calcium is usually the headliner for this fight for bone density. Did you know that Magnesium is essential for the absorption of Calcium? So, the next time you opt for some dairy or calcium supplement, remember Magnesium needs to be a part of that tango.
Muscles
Anyone who has rigorously worked out has experienced cramps. Not exactly a motivator when muscles are complaining. Twitches, cramps, and muscle tremors all can be a sign that you may be lacking Magnesium. Magnesium is a fabulous workout partner due to its ability to help prevent injury by aiding in flexibility as well as loosening tight muscles. It also helps with the buildup of lactic acid. When I’m sore from a bike ride or an intense workout, I make sure to take my magnesium supplement before bed so that I can wake up with fewer aches and pains.
Heart Health
Your heart is a huge fan of Magnesium as well. It has the highest requirement of magnesium of any organ- more specifically, your left ventricle. When you are low in the magnesium reserves, it can’t function properly. This can lead to serious complications such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. It also helps relax blood vessels. So keep your heart happy with a daily dose.
Aids in Memory and Concentration
A must for mothers. My memory was razor sharp a child, but as my life got busier, and I became a mom, my memory has not been quite the same. As mothers, we have to keep our minds alert and aware constantly. Magnesium will help you keep your mind in the game. By not only keeping your brain fog away, studies have shown it helps with focus as well as learning.
Need more to convince you? In addition, it a:
- Required for energy production.
- lowers sugar cravings
- Aids in pain relief
- Helps control blood sugar
- May lower symptoms of Asthma and Diabetes
Disclosure: I am not a doctor or therapist and advice given here is given as a sharing of my own experiences. Please use your own good judgment in implementing any advice or activities given and consult a professional should the need arise. Please see full disclosures here.
