Feeling more anxious than usual? It could be due to work, money, or kids. But did you know that increasing your magnesium intake might help reduce your anxiety? Here’s what you need to know.
Anxiety is common, with more than one in ten people in the UK experiencing it at some point in their lives. While causes can include stress, medication, and illness, one lesser-known cause is a deficiency in magnesium.
A study showed that daily magnesium supplements could significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. This trial, involving adults with mild to moderate depression, found that six weeks of magnesium supplementation improved their symptoms regardless of age, gender, or antidepressant use. Most patients saw improvements in just two weeks.
Despite magnesium being found in foods like brown rice, leafy greens, beans, avocados, almonds, and dark chocolate, about 70% of people have low levels. Magnesium is a natural relaxant for both muscles and the mind and is vital for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. It helps with sleep, regulates the nervous system, and reduces tiredness and mood swings. Magnesium also detoxifies the body by flushing out toxins.
Many people, especially women aged 19 to 34, don’t get enough magnesium. The recommended daily allowance is 375 milligrams, though this increases during pregnancy. A poor Western diet, which often includes processed foods and refined grains, may be to blame.
Magnesium deficiency symptoms like poor sleep, exhaustion, and a weak immune system can exacerbate anxiety. For instance, magnesium helps the body relax and prepares the brain for sleep by interacting with the neurotransmitter GABA, which reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation.
Research shows that sleep deprivation can lead to anxiety, and anxiety can cause sleep issues, creating a vicious cycle. Adequate magnesium levels can help follow the body’s sleep cycle, improving sleep quality and duration.
A trial found that using BetterYou’s Magnesium Sleep Lotion improved sleep quality for 92% of participants. Another clinical trial showed that elderly subjects who took 500mg of magnesium before bed for eight weeks had less insomnia.
Besides sleep, magnesium helps calm the nervous system and relax muscles, especially after stress or exercise. Low magnesium levels are linked to low energy and fatigue because magnesium is essential for producing ATP, the body’s primary energy source.
Magnesium also helps regulate positive neurotransmitters like serotonin and melatonin, which are crucial for mood balance. Low levels can result in feeling down or irritable. Anxiety can weaken the immune system by keeping the body in a prolonged state of stress.
Supplementing with magnesium is easier than you think. While the daily intake is 375mg, higher levels are safe, though oral supplements can cause stomach issues. Transdermal supplementation (absorbing magnesium through the skin) is an effective alternative. Products like BetterYou’s Magnesium Oil Sleep Spray and other transdermal options can elevate magnesium levels more quickly than oral supplements.
BetterYou offers a range of transdermal magnesium products like Magnesium Flakes, Gel, Skin Body Lotion, Skin Body Butter, and an Oil Spray. These products can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and boost overall health.
Feeling anxious and want to try magnesium? Consider incorporating these products into your routine for potentially calming effects.
