Written by Chantel – resident Naturopath at Choice pharmacy
Magnesium is a mineral that is responsible for over 300 different reactions that occur in the body. It is one of the most important minerals available to us. So, what does Magnesium actually do?
- Magnesium helps in the relaxation of muscles- it is excellent for anyone who has muscular cramps and spasms. So great for people who get restless legs.
- Magnesium is beneficial in people who are stressed as it supports our neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters communicate messages between nerve cells in the brain and body.
- It is great for people who have headaches, especially tension headaches which occur due to stress. This is where we get tight muscles in our head, neck and shoulders.
- Magnesium can be very beneficial for people who suffer from constipation. The bowel is a muscle and when people stress, the bowel can tighten, leading to constipation. Magnesium helps to relax the bowel.
- Excellent for people who have high blood pressure, as it relaxes the blood vessels, allowing blood to pass more easily, therefore lowering blood pressure.
- Magnesium assists with sleep as it regulates a neurotransmitter called GABA, which helps you sleep at night.
- Great for women who suffer from PMS- it helps to ease symptoms such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, fluid retention and breast tenderness.
Forms of Magnesium
Magnesium comes in different forms; each has a different absorption rate by the body. It’s best to steer clear of Magnesium oxide, as it is not absorbed very well, this can give some people diarrhoea.
Magnesium diglycinate is the most highly absorbable form of magnesium. All cells have receptors, where minerals will get absorbed. Now the thing is that minerals all compete with each other to get into the cell, but they are not all able to be absorbed at the same time. This means that a large percentage of the minerals are not absorbed and you are not getting the full benefit. The diglycinate is absorbed differently. They have taken the magnesium and attached it to glycine, which is an amino acid. When it enters the body, it gets recognised as an amino acid, not a mineral. It then has no competition with other minerals and much more of it is absorbed. So, it’s always best to go with this form when selecting a supplement.
You can book our naturopath for in-store consultation online or e-mail to naturopath@choicepharmacy.com.au to organise a zoom consultation.
