How Magnesium Helps You Sleep Better
By Sara Butler
A lot of people have trouble sleeping. Breaking out of a cycle of poor sleep or insomnia can be difficult. You may have tried a million things to try to sleep better at night, but it’s just not making a difference. So, what can you do? Well, you might be missing out on something that can have a big impact on the quality of your sleep: magnesium. Here’s how magnesium impacts your sleep and how it just might be the answer to your sleep troubles.
The Lowdown on Magnesium
So, what is this mineral that could help you sleep and where can you find it? Magnesium is one of the most common minerals you can find anywhere. It’s in a ton of things you eat and your body needs it to function at its very best. It contributes to the health of your bones, and your muscles, heart, and brain need it to function properly.
How Magnesium Impacts the Brain
To fall asleep and stay that way, your brain and your body need to be able to relax. Magnesium helps during the sleeping process by helping to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for your level of relaxation.
Magnesium also helps to regulate the neurotransmitters that send signals from your central nervous system to the rest of your body, helping to regulate hormones that guide your sleep cycles. You could say it’s pretty important!
If You Don’t Get Enough
If you’re not getting enough magnesium every day, then it can cause big problems with your sleep. The biggest groups at risk for magnesium deficiency are:
- People with diabetes – Insulin resistance and diabetes seem to be linked to magnesium loss.
- People with digestive issues/disease – If your digestive system isn’t working as it should be, it can make it difficult for your body to absorb minerals and vitamins from the foods you eat properly.
- Older people – Older people tend to eat less magnesium than younger people.
- People who abuse alcohol – Drinking heavily may cause magnesium deficiency.
The bottom line is that making sure you get enough magnesium in your diet is one way to ensure your brain is working well, which means healthy cycles of sleep and wakefulness. If you are having trouble sleeping, then make sure you get enough magnesium in your diet daily, but you don’t want more than about 350 grams per day or it could cause problems. Eat magnesium responsibly!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.