Magnesium - the over performer

I was lucky enough to meet the brilliant Neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart earlier in the year. Her research and thinking on neuro-plasticity and mindset are fascinating, empowering and innovative. I gulped down her book The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life.

So when I talked to her about our product launch and asked her to give me her thoughts on Magnesium, which I have always held in high esteem and been aware we may not have sufficient amounts of, she said she'd love to: "I can go on about magnesium a lot".

 Here are a cutting edge   neuroscientists thoughts on this  critical mineral, and how it  impacts so much of our  functions:

 

"The modern world is stressful and when we have higher circulating levels of the stress hormone cortisol, magnesium is leached from our system at a rate that it’s impossible to replenish through diet alone. Up to 70% of the population are magnesium deficient and are not getting the recommended daily amount of 270mg per day for women (300mg for men). 

Twitchy eye lids, small muscular twitches especially in the hands and feet, cramping muscles, anxiety and sleep disturbance are the most common tell-tale signs of magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is essential for brain function and also helps with fatigue, tension, anxiety, mood, sleep and healthy functioning of the entire nervous system.

Magnesium plays a critical role in regulating our stress response. Replenishing the amount of magnesium in the body affects many systems throughout the body, including the brain. Magnesium improves sleep, and induces physical and mental relaxation.

Other vitamins and some medications can’t be effective if  our magnesium reserves are depleted. I consider it the single most critical mineral for busy, stressed people including children, particularly at the moment."

Dr Tara Swart June 2020
taraswart.com

My preferred way to take on minerals and vitamins is definitely through a beautiful bounty of fresh foods, and these are all good sources of magnesium:

Avocados, Nuts and seeds, dark leafy greens. wholegrain and soy products.

And Dark Chocolate is also a source of Magnesium.

But as Dr Swart mentioned, many of us are behind on that, and therefore adding some extra in might be a good idea.

For all its relaxing and nervous system calming properties we included Magnesium in our Be Sleepy formulation. 

***Please talk to your Doctor or Nutritionist if you think you may be deficient in anything.