Check out our Letting Go Bath Soak and our maximum potency Transdermal Magnesium here and get ready for your best sleep ever!
News of the numerous benefits that magnesium brings to your wellbeing has hit the mainstream.
Magnesium is a mineral commonly found in nature which is integral to our physical, mental and emotional health.
Being as magnesium is integral to literally hundreds of transactions in the human body, increasing your daily intake often proves transformative. It is an essential building block of every cell, and is vital for overall health and wellbeing.
The benefits of magnesium are too vast to mention, but here are a few examples:
Easing aches, pains and muscle tension, helping with insomnia, assisting bone production and strength, aiding organ function and repair, promoting heart and circulatory health, helping ease anxiety, as well as bringing a general sense of wellness.
When working as a natural health practitioner, one of my first questions to clients has always been ‘Do you take magnesium?’
Having accompanied hundreds of clients on their healing journeys, I have witnessed magnesium literally changing people’s lives.
How do I ensure I get enough Magnesium?
We all get magnesium naturally from the foods we eat, but the reality is that most people just don’t get enough (the recommended daily intake is 280mg to 420mg per person, depending on size, weight and other factors).
Ideally, it’s best to source magnesium from your daily food intake, and I encourage everyone to work towards that goal!
Magnesium-rich foods:
Many foods contain magnesium; however, some are particularly valuable sources.
Avocados, leafy greens, green vegetables, potatoes, fruit, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, almonds, molasses, flax seeds, legumes and cacao are a few of my favourites. Not only are they high in magnesium and delicious, they also form part of a balanced, nutrient-rich diet so it’s a double win.
Drinking water:
Pure water is an excellent source of magnesium, although actual content depends on the source and quality, so always drink the best water available- your body will love you for it.
Drinking at least 2 litres of pure water daily is beneficial in numerous ways, and contributes to maintaining healthy magnesium levels.
A few tips:
* Drink two glasses of water on rising in the morning. This will hydrate your body, refresh your mind and bring you increased energy. Plus you will have already had 30% of your daily intake- great for those of us who find drinking enough water a challenge!
* Adding a few grains of Celtic Sea Salt (or another quality natural sea salt) to a glass of water increases its electrolyte action, therefore delivering hydration to the cells faster. It also softens the water, makes it more palatable and easier to drink.
*Research what sources of water are available in your community as alternatives to your filtered tap water at home. Some communities have free artesian filling stations where you can take your own bottles.
Supplementation:
There is a vast array of options to choose from when it comes to magnesium supplements. These have exploded onto the market and have taken the pharmaceutical and supplement worlds by storm.
No one product works for everyone, so if your first source of magnesium doesn’t work for you don’t be afraid to try another.
Supplements tend to come in one of two forms; oral (via the digestive system) and transdermal (via the skin). Let’s take a look at both of these.
Oral Supplements:
Oral capsules and powders are easy to take, and work well for some people.
They come in many forms such as: Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Magnesium Bisglycinate and Magnesium Taurate. Some of these are optimised for better absorption.
Orally-ingested magnesiums can produce digestive issues; most notably a laxative effect, due to poor absorption rates and its ability to draw water from surrounding tissues. If you find this to be the case, try decreasing your dosage to non-symptomatic levels, try an alternative brand compounded with different magnesium forms, or swap to topically applied magnesium.
Transdermal Magnesium:
Magnesium has been taken via the skin for centuries, due to their evident benefits and quick rate of absorption without the potential stomach upset that oral ingestion can bring.
The most commonly used forms are Magnesium Sulfate and Magnesium Chloride.
As with oral supplements, transdermal products can vary hugely in efficacy and quality, so check your source, and make sure it is naturally-occurring, as opposed to synthetically produced as some branded as 'epsom salts' can be.
Naturally-occurring Transdermal Magnesium is available in liquid or crystal form.
The liquid (sometimes called magnesium oil due to its oily texture, yet is water soluble) is usually applied to the skin via a spray, and can be massaged in.
The crystals are usually added to a warm bath, or can be used as a foot soak for those who are unable to access a bath.
Tip:
If you are lucky to have natural mineral springs nearby, make the most of them! New Zealand has many natural springs, and this is a great way of boosting magnesium levels.
Summing up:
Magnesium is hugely beneficial, readily available, and comes in various forms that will suit most people. If you’re not already a fan, give it a go. You won’t look back.
Bioformulations offers two tried and true transdermal magnesium products.
Both were developed for clinical and wellness establishments by us more than two decades ago, and we have many return customers who enjoy them for their quality and efficacy.
Check out our Letting Go Bath Soak and our maximum potency Transdermal Magnesium here and get ready for your best sleep ever!