Why is Magnesium so important?
Posted on October 25 2021
What is Magnesium, why is it so important and how much should you be getting? Our handy guide has all you need to know about this essential mineral.
What is Magnesium?
Magnesium is a vital nutrient that can be found naturally in plants and animals. Your body needs Magnesium for over 300 different processes to function properly. In fact, Magnesium is the third most prevalent mineral in your body, with around 60 percent being stored in your bones.1
What does Magnesium do?
Your body needs magnesium for a whole range of processes, from making sure your heart beats steadily to keeping your internal clock in time. Let’s take a look at some of the key roles Magnesium plays.
- Manages mental performance
Your body needs magnesium to relay the signals from your brain and create new synapses, or pathways. It’s also essential for memory, learning and even has an effect on your mood too.
- Supports energy & sleep
Magnesium is crucial for turning food into energy, for regulating your internal body clock and promotes a good nights sleep.
- Promotes healthy bones & muscles
Magnesium helps your body to absorb other important nutrients including calcium and vitamin D. Low magnesium levels have also been linked to muscle spasms and cramping.
- Maintains heart health
Your body needs magnesium to keep muscles healthy, including your heart and it’s beat. Making sure you get enough can lower the chances of cardiovascular problems.
How much Magnesium do you need?
It’s recommended that women get at least 270mg of magnesium a day, and men 300mg a day.2 Magnesium deficiency can result in a range of symptoms inclusion fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, migraines, nausea and muscle cramps.
How to get enough Magnesium
Your body doesn’t make magnesium on its own, so it’s important to get enough through your diet, or with supplementation. Magnesium rich foods include spinach, broccoli, seeds and nuts, avocado, chickpeas, dark chocolate, tofu and bananas. Unrefined foods that are high in fibre such as whole grains are generally good sources of Magnesium too.
What to remember
Magnesium plays a huge part in keeping your body and mind in tip-top condition. It’s needed for hundreds of processes from sleeping well to keeping your heart beating steadily. As your body can’t make Magnesium, it’s worth taking a closer look at how much you’re getting.
