Here at Apothecary & Co., we focus on empowering you with knowledge and resources to support your health holistically. One way we do this is by creating a tailored health plan specific to you and providing you with the best supplements, specialized compounded medications, etc. One great supplement that can be beneficial for many people is magnesium. Magnesium is involved in more than 600 reactions in the body, including energy creation, muscle movement, protein formation, nervous system regulation, and gene maintenance. This essential mineral has been shown to have therapeutic benefits for a variety of health conditions such as fibromyalgia, migraines, heart disease, diabetes, aging, and many more. Here are some of the benefits of taking magnesium supplements and how they may help improve your health.
1. Improved Mood
Magnesium plays an important role in brain function and mood. Low levels of magnesium have been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Additionally, research suggests that stress may reduce magnesium levels, increasing your susceptibility to more stress and depression. One study showed that taking magnesium supplements daily may lead to significant improvements in depression symptoms for people with a magnesium deficiency, and another study showed that taking magnesium each day decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety even in those not deficient in the mineral. Taking magnesium supplements can be a great way to treat mood disorders at the root cause.
2. Better Sleep
Do you struggle to get a good night’s sleep? Magnesium supplements can act as a natural remedy for sleep issues like insomnia. This is because this essential mineral helps regulate several neurotransmitters that are involved in sleep. A study of older adults with insomnia discovered that taking magnesium supplements lowered the time it took to fall asleep by an average of 17 minutes. Another study found that an increased intake of magnesium may help improve both sleep quality and duration. Taking magnesium can be an effective and natural way to treat sleep issues.
3. Blood Sugar Regulation
If you have type 2 diabetes, there’s a good chance you may also have low levels of magnesium in your blood. Research shows that magnesium deficiency affects approximately 48 percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes. This deficiency can impact your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels. Taking magnesium supplements may help enhance insulin sensitivity to aid in blood sugar control. Furthermore, research suggests that people who consume more magnesium tend to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Magnesium supplements may be able to help you control blood sugar and even reduce your chances of developing this chronic disease.
4. Heart Health
Magnesium is crucial for your heart health. A study performed in 2021 showed that magnesium supplements can help lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Another study also found that high magnesium intake has a link to a lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Taking magnesium supplements may improve multiple factors for heart disease, especially in individuals with a magnesium deficiency. When combined with a heart-healthy lifestyle, magnesium may be able to help improve heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease and other potentially dangerous conditions.
5. Bone Health
You may not have known that 50 to 60 percent of your body’s magnesium is found in your bones. This mineral is essential for maintaining bone health and preventing bone loss. Low levels of magnesium have been associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis, which can lead to weak and brittle bones. A three-year study performed on individuals undergoing hemodialysis showed that those who had the lowest intake of magnesium experienced three times more bone fractures than those who consumed the most magnesium. If you are concerned about your bone health, you may benefit from taking magnesium supplements to increase bone mineral density and prevent bone loss.
6. Migraine Prevention
If you suffer from migraines, you know how miserable they can be. Migraine headaches can be very painful and are often associated with nausea and sensitivity to noise and light. Some research suggests that people who experience migraines are more likely to have a magnesium deficiency. There have been several studies that suggest that taking magnesium supplements may be able to help treat and prevent migraines. One study even found that supplementing with one gram of magnesium provided relief from acute migraine attacks more effectively and quickly than a common migraine medication. If you frequently suffer from migraines, you may have low magnesium and could potentially benefit from taking magnesium supplements.
7. Reduced Inflammation
Low levels of magnesium have been linked to increased levels of inflammation in the body, and inflammation plays a large role in chronic disease and aging. Magnesium supplements may have anti-inflammatory benefits to help decrease chronic inflammation. Some research also suggests that magnesium deficiency may be linked to increased oxidative stress, which in turn is related to increased inflammation. If you are not consuming enough magnesium, you may experience higher levels of inflammation, so taking magnesium supplements may help reduce inflammation and its negative effects.
8. Improved PMS Symptoms
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is one of the most common conditions experienced by women of childbearing age. PMS can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including abdominal cramps, irritability, tiredness, migraine attacks, water retention, and others. Research suggests that taking magnesium supplements may help relieve PMS symptoms. This is because magnesium levels tend to fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, and this can lead to worse PMS symptoms in individuals with a deficiency. Supplements may help reduce the severity of symptoms, including menstrual migraines. A study found that taking 300 mg of magnesium daily was able to help reduce bloating, anxiety, and depression in college students with PMS.
These are just some of the many potential benefits of taking magnesium supplements. Here at Apothecary & Co., we offer Reacted Magnesium capsules that provide three unique forms of highly-absorbed magnesium to ensure maximum absorption of this essential mineral. If you have any questions about how much magnesium you should be consuming daily or you want to know more about how to improve your health through supplementation and lifestyle, please reach out to us so we can help you determine the best functional health strategies for your unique health needs.
