Sleep is a tricky subject, as many people want more of it but often struggle to do so. While there are a number of things you can do to encourage sleep, one of the most helpful ways is by simply adding a magnesium supplement to your diet. Magnesium is a wonder mineral that is needed by every cell and organ in the body in order to function properly, according to Healthline.
When it comes to the effect of magnesium on sleep, it’s able to help slumber along by relaxing the body and brain. It does this by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for inducing the feeling of calm.
It also regulates melatonin, the hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycles, while also managing the neurotransmitters that send signals to the brain and nervous system.
Basically, it calms your nervous system which in turn, chills out your brain and body. On the other hand, lacking magnesium in your body can also cause disrupted sleep and even insomnia, Healthline reports.
So, to achieve a good quality night of sleep, adding a magnesium supplement is super helpful. When it comes to consuming the supplement, there are two times to take it depending on your sleep issue.
If you struggle with getting to sleep, take the magnesium supplement about an hour before bed. According to mindbodygreen, “this should give the mineral and its supporting players enough time to latch onto the brain’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, which cue the rest of the body to start to relax.”
If staying asleep is your issue (and you’re constantly waking up and staring at the ceiling for hours during the night), then take the supplement just before getting into bed. “This will help it promote a steadier state of relaxation after you’ve already fallen asleep and cut down on tossing and turning,” said mindbodygreen.
Consuming magnesium isn’t going to undo behaviours like drinking coffee late in the day and using technology in bed, but it should do the trick if you’ve tried every other sleep hack in the book.
Always consult with your GP before introducing supplements into your diet.
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