Sleep is an essential bodily function and is responsible for so much when it comes to our health and wellbeing. Sleep allows your body to rest and recharge, and if you are unwell or injured, sleep allows your body to heal. But, with 40-48{59a507b8689ef286a7cfc01d9e96a0d64f607887a5a52f7a2c71d18f555e98df} of adults suffering from some kind of insomnia or sleep disorder, not getting enough sleep or being unable to fall asleep, it can be a frustrating issue to try and resolve.
From changing your sleep routine to investing in new bedding, there are so many suggestions out there for what to do to help improve your quality of sleep and, unfortunately, there is no one method that is said to help everyone. However, many people who suffer from sleeping disorders turn to a popular option – supplements and, in particular, magnesium supplements. Let’s find out more about magnesium supplements and whether they can help you sleep.
What Are Magnesium Supplements?
Magnesium is present in many of the foods that we eat and is considered one of the most common minerals on earth. It’s vital for our health and is used in over 600 reactions and functions throughout the body. Every organ and cell in your body requires magnesium to function properly and it contributes to proper brain, heart and muscle health. As well as this, magnesium is also said to help treat sleep problems, which is why more and more people use magnesium supplements to help with their sleeping.
Magnesium Helps Your Brain and Body To Relax
To be able to get to sleep, your brain and body need to be relaxed in order to help you switch off and fall asleep. One of the reasons why magnesium is said to help with sleep is that it can activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is what is responsible for making you calm and relaxed in order to get to sleep. Magnesium also helps to regulate the hormone melatonin, which is important for the sleep-wake cycles in your body. By helping to calm and regulate your nervous system, magnesium helps naturally prepare your body for sleep.
Being Deficient in Magnesium Affects Your Sleep
If you are deficient in magnesium, then this in itself can cause you to have trouble sleeping, and can even lead to insomnia. Studies have shown that having optimal levels of magnesium is needed for sleep, with both higher and lower levels causing sleep problems.
There are some people who may be at higher risk of developing a magnesium deficiency, including those with digestive problems, diabetics, people with alcohol dependence and older adults. If your diet is naturally low in magnesium, then you might find that you are experiencing sleep problems.
Alleviate Depression and Anxiety
Anxiety and depression are illnesses that can both have huge impacts on your sleep quality. Magnesium has been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of these illnesses, especially for patients who are already deficient in magnesium and recent research has shown that magnesium could enhance the performance of traditional antidepressant medications, helping to alleviate symptoms. Although it is not yet fully understood why this happens, it seems as though it is related to magnesium’s ability to calm the central nervous system.
Things To Consider When Taking Magnesium Supplements
If you are having trouble sleeping, then it is well worth considering taking magnesium tablets or supplements, but you should look to consider your lifestyle choices first. Things such as cutting down on caffeine, improving your sleeping routine and avoiding screens before you go to sleep can all help to improve your quality of sleep. If you’d like to take magnesium supplements, then it’s important to consider that it can interfere with certain medications, such as antibiotics and blood pressure medication. It’s best to speak with your doctor before taking any additional medications.