Phew! Man, what a day? While you were feeling stressed out you may have sought out comfort and energy in a cup of coffee and a buttery baked good. According to research you may be better off reaching for a handful of nuts or a salad that is rich in magnesium. Okay, agreed – these options are not as tasty as your coffee shop treats but the science on magnesium is hard to ignore. Here’s the scoop…

Magnesium may help squash that jolted, stressed out feeling. Like a gatekeeper, magnesium works to help control how often a receptor in the body is triggered. The receptor is called the N-methyl-d-asparate (NMDA) receptor. Interestingly, blocking the NMDA receptor is the target of a group of antidepressant drugs. In the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology in 2014, researchers found in their test rodent model that magnesium does appear to have anti-depressant abilities. Ah-ha! Magnesium has happiness potential. Now that you’re smiling, let’s give you a reason to chuckle – some witty scientists refer to magnesium as the original “chill pill”.

Foods rich in magnesium are commonly under-consumed in the diets of busy, North American people: leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

Magnesium is involved in over 300 reactions in the body, including nerve function and energy production. So, are you getting enough?

Maybe tomorrow when the photocopier jams right before your big presentation you’ll breathe a sigh of relief knowing your lunch box is filled with magnesium-rich foods. But, if you think you can’t get enough magnesium from your foods, magnesium supplements are an option.

Health First Magnesium Supreme is a pure and potent source of magnesium. Each capsule contains 125mg of magnesium glycinate. Health First Magnesium Supreme, also available in an Extra Strength formula, helps prevent magnesium deficiency and maintain proper muscle function.

Think you might be magnesium deficient? Some of the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency in humans are confusion, insomnia, accelerated heartbeat, seizures, muscle weakness and twitching, chronic pain and fatigue, and a host of cardiovascular issues. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any of these issues!

References:

Neuron 2010.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20152124
PLoS One 2014.

http://pubmedcentralcanada.ca/pmcc/articles/PMC4182554/

About the Author: Health First Network

Health First Network is Canada’s leading membership group for independent health & wellness retailers and the exclusive supplier of the premium Health First supplement brand. There are over 130 independently owned and operated retail Members across the country. Learn more at healthfirstnetwork.ca