So, when we talk about stress busters the number one go-to mineral is magnesium. It is known as the calming/ anti-stress mineral and nature’s tranquiliser.
Magnesium has a huge role in all areas of the body and its functions. It turns food into energy and helps regulate blood sugar levels. It is a catalyst in the production of ATP, the body’s energy source. It is muscle relaxant, required for brain function, nerve function, strengthening bones and teeth, is an energy booster, fights depression, helps with PMS, heart health, reduces high blood pressure, regulates cholesterol and so much more, including assisting with chocolate cravings!!
If you are deficient in magnesium, which many people are, you may suffer from cramps, stress, irritability, anxiety, muscle weakness, insomnia, high blood pressure, fatigue, memory loss, apathy, painful periods, irregular heartbeat, hyperactivity, depression, confusion, and calcium deposits such as kidney stones, as well as bed wetting in children and incontinence in the elderly. If you are taking Vitamin B6 for PMS and you are deficient in magnesium, it won’t have any effect, as magnesium is required to convert B6 to its active form.
Magnesium is stored in the bones, muscles, and soft tissues. Magnesium is one of the body’s main alkaline minerals. It is not made by our bodies so we require it from our diet. It is thus referred to as an Essential mineral.
Food sources include nuts, seeds, peas, beans, green leafy vegetables, kelp, eggplant, cocoa, and garlic. The amount contained in foods is variant on the amount of magnesium in the soil, which is depleted through chemical fertilisers and acid rain. It is also available in many supplement forms, so it is important to choose one that is readily available, easily absorbed and effective. It is best absorbed by the body when taken at night, in powder form and when taken with an acid such as tomato juice or apple juice. Stress depletes magnesium. Stimulants such as coffee, coke, tea also contribute to the loss of magnesium and other minerals in the body.