5 Science-Based Benefits of Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral. In fact, it’s one of the main essential minerals the body needs in large quantities. Our body doesn’t produce magnesium on its own, so it’s important to obtain this mineral from foods or supplements via diet.
Foods rich in magnesium include:
Dark leafy greens
Seeds and nuts, including sunflower and sesame seeds, cashews and almonds
Squash, broccoli, and other vegetables
Legumes
Dairy products
Meat
Unprocessed whole grains
Chocolate
Coffee
What is Magnesium Chelate?
The magnesium found in Dr. Khalili’s Plant-Powered Sleeping Powder is magnesium chelate. Chelated magnesium is a form of magnesium that is easily absorbed by the body. This particular magnesium is oftentimes used as a supplement to maintain proper magnesium levels throughout the body.
The top science-based benefits of magnesium chelate:
Involved in many biological functions in your body
May improve exercise performance
May help fight depression
Provides anti-inflammatory benefits
Reduces insulin resistance
#1: Magnesium Is Involved in Hundreds of Functions in Your Body
Magnesium is a mineral found in people, animals, plants, and the sea. Every cell in the human body needs magnesium in order to function properly.
60% of the magnesium in your body is found in bone, while the rest is in muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood, and other fluids.[*]
Believe it or not, magnesium chelate is involved in more than 600 reactions in your body, some of these reactions including[*]:
It helps convert food into energy.
Helps create new proteins from amino acids
Helps repair DNA and RNA
It improves the contraction and relaxation of muscles.
Improves the regulation of neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout your brain and nervous system
#2: It May Improve Exercise Performance
Magnesium also plays a role in physical performance.
As mentioned above, magnesium helps with different biological functions including moving blood sugar into your muscles and helping get rid of lactate (lactate builds up in your muscles which causes pain).[*]
In fact, one study even showed that athletes who supplemented with magnesium for about a month had improved their running, cycling, and swimming times during a race.
#3: May Help Fight Depression
Magnesium also plays a role in cognitive health and overall mood. Interestingly enough, increased risk of depression has been associated with low levels of magnesium.[*]
A study published by Magnesium Research gave depressed older adults either an antidepressant or 450 mg of magnesium a day for 12 weeks. After these 12 weeks, the moods of the individuals within the magnesium group was improved as effectively as the antidepressant group.[*]
#4: Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Magnesium deficiency is associated with inflammation, the root of almost all chronic diseases we see today.[*]
In fact, one study showed that children with magnesium deficiency actually had extremely high levels of the inflammatory marker, CRP. These children also had increased insulin and blood sugar levels.[*]
#5: Reduces Insulin Resistance
Speaking of insulin, magnesium is thought to play an important role in improving insulin resistance as well as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. You see, insulin resistance is one of the major causes of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
Some symptoms of these conditions include an impaired ability of liver cells to absorb sugar from the bloodstream. Magnesium plays a key role in this process.
If you’re worried your diet might be lacking magnesium, try our Plant-Powered Sleeping Powder. Not only will it improve your sleep, but you’ll receive the benefits of optimal levels of magnesium as well.