The Best Form of Magnesium for Anxiety
With enough variations of magnesium to make our heads spin, I get this question repeatedly: “Why should I choose magnesium glycinate for anxiety?”
Well for one, you won’t have to be anxious about risking not making it to the toilet if taking too much…
Something enough of us experienced when hearing about the dangers of magnesium deficiencies the first time around. You know, when you took initiative by popping a “couple” extra capsules of magnesium citrate or oxide thinking this would speed up the process.
While not the smartest move, this lesson is learned quickly helping with one layer of easing anxiety levels ?
Jokes aside, in this article we’re going to cover 4 solid ways magnesium glycinate is an absolute must for anxiety management.
Magnesium Glycinate, Quality Sleep & Reduced Anxiety go Hand in Hand
This is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s always good to be reminded.
Getting consistent deep quality sleep is one of the absolute foundations for improving our health. And while I’m no doctor, I’ve consistently heard this concept from them:
Capturing the health benefits of quality sleep into a pill, would be a complete game-changer.
And here’s the beauty of it, WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS. We can easily increase our health by keeping mineral deficiencies at bay.
Some of the ways magnesium aid’s in better sleep quality is via:
- Improving melatonin levels, helping to tune your circadian rhythm.
- Regulating neurotransmitters such as GABA and Serotonin.
- Activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for triggering a calm and relaxed state.
- Reducing leg pain, relaxing muscles.
It’s also worth noting that GABA and magnesium bind to benzodiazepine receptors resulting in an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect.
Another honourable mention for this miracle mineral is its ability to balance cortisol levels. Which in turn, promotes better sleep, leading to a less anxious, healthier, and happier you!
A Vital Mineral for Nerve Signalling & Brain Function
One of the hundreds of essential functions this vital mineral provides our body is through nerve signaling. Over time, deficiencies can damage nerve cells, which can also lead to depression.
On the other hand, balancing a magnesium deficiency directly not only improves brain function but also calming of the mind. This is achieved by regulating neurotransmitters. Our brains chemical messengers which send messages creating effects throughout the body.
To illustrate this, if we don’t have enough Mg in the body, they can’t function properly. The messages cant be sent smoothly through our brain, muscles, and organs. The signaling system is weakened thus, messages can’t effectively get across. Leading you to eventually feel like your health is deteriorating.
Something I’m sure many of you can relate to; when our health has completely turned upside down or going through a lengthy stretch of not feeling like ourselves.
It’s clear to see that this is really hard on the mind and not only generates anxiety about your health but depression as well.
As a side note, if you feel you’re currently suffering from this, you may want to check out magnesium threonate.
Due to its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, it can help increase brain levels of magnesium quicker. Possibly accelerating the balancing of any deficiencies.
Mag Threonate is on the expensive side though when compared to glycinate, which is my general go-to for numerous reasons. In particular, the calming stress-relieving effect of glycine in magnesium glycinate.
Magnesium Deficiencies lead to Chronic Pain & Depression
Experiencing chronic pain, headaches or even migraines throughout your days can be crippling. Whether you experience this or not, it’s easy to see the waves of anxiety and depression that tag alongside it.
And studies conclude that magnesium deficiencies causing this type of chronic pain go hand in hand with increased anxiety.
A journal published in 2018 on the NCBI’s site states:
There is strong data for the role of magnesium in migraine and depression. There is also good potential for magnesium to be having an effect in chronic pain conditions, as well as commonly comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression.”
Generally, neurological disorders such as chronic pain or migraines don’t just affect us physically. If you’ve experienced living with such ailments, then you know how rough they can be psychologically.
What’s more striking is that over 50% of the US population alone are deficient in magnesium. This makes it clear how a magnesium mineral deficiency is a component of a variety of health troubles.
Magnesium’s Role in Heart Rhythm
Without any thought, many vital processes are happening like clockwork. Our heart being one of them constantly pumping blood and nutrients to every cell in the body. Though while we don’t have to think about it, it’s likely come to the forefront of your mind when beating irregularly.
Without a doubt, unusual thumping is a powerful warning that something is wrong. Your ticker doesn’t feel right, setting off instant anxiety.
Ensuring you’re not deficient in this element helps keep your heart healthy and steadily pumping. Beating within its natural calm rhythm, giving you one less reason to feel anxious.
How Long Does it Take to Work for Anxiety?
This would be impossible to definitively answer. The reality is that it takes a while for a deficiency to develop.
Likewise, to balance this vital mineral’s levels in your body may take a number of weeks.
To accelerate this process, make sure to include whole foods rich in magnesium within your diet. While of course supplementing with a quality chelated magnesium glycinate.
Do however take note of the “elemental magnesium” per serving.
And to clear up any confusion regarding magnesium bis-glycinate or di-glycinate; this means the elemental magnesium is chelated(bonded) with 2(bis) or 3(di) glycine salts. So Neither of these three will be better than the other.
Some bottles may also have small percentages of magnesium oxide. Regardless, do your best to bring your levels up to the RDA via food and choose a quality magnesium supplement.
Immediately Manage Anxiety
Is magnesium glycinate going to be the cure-all for anxiety?
In short, no. But we can’t deny the sheer volume of ways (I’ve barely touched on) that deficiencies impact us. Whether directly or indirectly affecting our mental and physical health, raising anxiety levels.
Regardless, make sure to use magnesium glycinate for anxiety alongside L-theanine as they really compliment each other.
Check out this video here to learn more about it or my growing YouTube playlist regarding the miracle of L-Theanine.
Don’t let my anxious expression throw you off 🙂
Check out the video format AND share this with someone you feel this information will help.
It’s a Win-Win for both of us.