You might be wondering if you need to take magnesium supplements. Our bodies use magnesium to convert food into usable energy and to make many other biochemical reactions.

Our bodies store magnesium in our bones, where it can be accessed through a cycle of bone mineralisation and demineralisation. It is important for us to replenish our magnesium supply in order to stay healthy.

When might you need to take magnesium supplements? We will look at how the body uses magnesium, and how magnesium deficiency might affect it.

Why do we need magnesium?

Magnesium is important for many processes in the body, according to Cristy Dean, owner of Fettle and Bloom. If magnesium levels are optimal, it can help manage stress and anxiety.

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The body is hit harder by stress because it depletes the stores of magnesium. Our bodies end up in a cycle of magnesium depletion due to stress, then can't handle the stress because of the reduced magnesium levels. A poor stress response is caused by this. We need magnesium to deal with stress, so it can cause problems for people with chronic stress and anxiety.

nuts and seeds are a good source of magnesium

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A study in the Magnesium Research journal found that magnesium can be helpful in the treatment of anxiety and depression in women.

The sleep hormone melatonin and the neurotransmitter GABA are responsible for proper sleep. There is a correlation between magnesium levels in the body and sleep duration, quality, daytime sleepiness and even snoring.

Do magnesium supplements work?

According to the US Department of Agriculture, almost half of Americans are not consuming enough magnesium.

Dean encourages people to increase their magnesium intake by eating a variety of foods. She says to speak to a medical professional if you are worried about your magnesium levels.

food sources of magnesium

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People who have underlying gastrointestinal conditions such as Crohn's disease are more likely to have low magnesium levels. This is due to the damaged gut lining. If a person with type 2 diabetes has high concentrations ofglucose in their urine, it can mean that they end up passing higher levels of magnesium than the average person.

Dean says that people with health conditions related to malabsorption might want to consider taking a supplement.

pregnant women might want to consider taking supplements under the guidance of a doctor. The extra magnesium needed to build and support the baby's skeleton in the uterus is what causes pregnant women to have slightly higher magnesium requirements. A Chochrane review found that magnesium can reduce the risk of hospitalization in pregnant women. There are other factors involved and more research is needed in this area.

Are magnesium supplements safe?

If you exceed 400mg of magnesium a day, you may experience symptoms such as nausea and abdominal pain. Magnesium toxicity can be fatal in rare circumstances, so always take no more than the recommended dose.

It is important to note that magnesium supplements can interact with other medications, and some medications are already high in magnesium, so always check with your doctor before adding a supplement into your diet.

Dean warns that magnesium can be overdosed with supplements and that it is unlikely to make you ill.