Magnesium is an essential mineral with numerous health benefits. It plays a key role in many bodily functions, such as regulating the nervous system, maintaining bone and dental health, and supporting sports performance.
In this article, we'll explore in depth the benefits of magnesium, how to incorporate it into your diet and how to identify the signs of magnesium deficiency.
What is magnesium?
Magnesium is an essential mineral for our body. It is present in significant quantities in our bodies, particularly in bones and muscles. It is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body.
It is involved in over 300 metabolic reactions, such as energy production, muscle contraction, heart rate regulation and protein synthesis. What’s more, it plays a key role in maintaining good bone and dental health.
The properties of magnesium
Magnesium has many beneficial properties for our health. Here are the most important ones:
Fatigue reduction
Magnesium helps reduce fatigue. It helps maintain normal energy levels and combat feelings of fatigue and exhaustion.
Normal functioning of the nervous system
Magnesium is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system. It is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and the production of neurotransmitters, the molecules that enable communication between neurons.
Healthy bones and teeth
Magnesium is a key element in the formation and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. In fact, nearly 60% of our body’s magnesium is found in our bones.
Muscular performance
Magnesium is also good for muscles. It helps muscle contraction and relaxation, contributing to improved physical performance.
Magnesium’s many roles in the human body
Rebalancing the nervous system
Our modern lifestyles are often stressful, constantly activating our sympathetic nervous system. Thanks to its antagonistic action to that of calcium, magnesium helps to counterbalance the activity of this system. It also promotes the production of serotonin, the well-being hormone, helping to reduce nervous fatigue.
Maintain bone and dental health
Half of our body’s calcium and magnesium reserves are found in our bones and teeth. Both minerals play an essential role in the production of bone cells. What’s more, magnesium helps calcium bind to bones, helping to maintain strong bones and healthy teeth.
Supporting sports performance
Magnesium is also prized by athletes for its effects on the nervous system and its properties on muscle fibers. In fact, its muscle-relaxing effects help muscles to relax after exertion, contributing to normal muscle function. It also plays a role in protein synthesis, essential for muscle fiber development.
How to recognize a magnesium deficiency?
Magnesium deficiency can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms. The most common signs of magnesium deficiency may include:
- Fatigue and weakness: Magnesium is essential for energy production in the body. A lack of magnesium can therefore lead to feelings of fatigue and weakness.
- Muscular disorders: cramps, spasms or tremors may be a sign of magnesium deficiency. This mineral plays an important role in muscle contraction and relaxation.
- Nervous disorders: Irritability, anxiety, depression or sleep disorders can also be linked to magnesium deficiency.
- Heart problems: Magnesium is essential for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Magnesium deficiency can cause palpitations, arrhythmias and hypertension.
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional to assess your condition and possibly consider supplementation.
Where can I find magnesium?
Magnesium is easily found in the diet, particularly in green vegetables, cereals, fruit and chocolate.
Here are some food sources rich in magnesium:
- Leafy green vegetables: spinach, cabbage, etc.
- Wholegrain husks: like brown rice, buckwheat or quinoa.
- Certain fruits: bananas, figs, kiwis or prunes, for example.
- Oilseeds: almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, etc.
- Legumes: chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, etc.
- Dark chocolate is also an excellent source of magnesium.
Magnesium supplements: which form of magnesium to choose?
In certain situations, such as periods of stress, a balanced diet may be insufficient to meet magnesium requirements. In this case, supplementation may be considered.
There are many forms of magnesium-based dietary supplements, the main ones being magnesium bisglycinate, magnesium glycerophosphate, magnesium orotate (banned in France), magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide.
They are not all equivalent in terms of assimilation. The best-known and most widely sold is "marine magnesium", otherwise known as "magnesium oxide". This inexpensive inorganic form offers very low magnesium assimilation. Magnesium oxide is favored by manufacturers because it is concentrated in magnesium, enabling them to use only a small quantity of powder to provide the recommended daily intake at low cost... But they forget to point out that this form of magnesium is only very slightly assimilable and provides very little in the way of results, apart from the appearance of digestive disorders, as magnesium oxide is sometimes poorly tolerated.
The forms authorized in France that are best assimilated are magnesium citrate, magnesium bisglycinate and magnesium glycerophosphate.
At Life's Code, we've opted for magnesium bisglycinate combined with vitamin B6 (in its reduced form). It's important to choose a high-quality supplement with good bioavailability, to ensure optimal absorption by the body.
Magnésium Bisglycinate + Vitamine B6
- Bisglycinate de magnésium chélaté ultra-assimilable concentré à 320 mg par dose
- Contient seulement du bisglycinate de magnésium et de la pyridoxine (vitamine B6) !
- Sans aucun conservateur
- Sans chlorure ni oxyde de magnésium ni stéarate de magnésium
- Gélule en pullulan 100% naturelle et végane
- Très bonne tolérance intestinale
1 dose de 4 gélules = 320 mg de magnésium (90% AJR*) + 1.4 mg vitamine B6 (100% AJR*)
Sachet kraft zip 100% recyclable. Format 120 gélules ou 360 gélules.
The benefits of magnesium bisglycinate for your body
Our highly assimilable formula supports the normal functioning of the nervous system and fatigue.
Magnesium contributes to :
- normal functioning of the nervous system
- reduce fatigue
- electrolyte balance
- normal energy metabolism
- normal muscle function
- normal protein synthesis
- normal psychological functions
- maintenance of normal bone structure
- maintenance of normal dentition
- play a role in the cell division process
Vitamin B6 is a valuable cofactor for magnesium, helping to maximize its assimilation and retention in the cell.
Vitamin B6 contributes to :
- normal functioning of the nervous system
- normal psychological functions
- normal red blood cell formation
- normal functioning of the immune system
- reduce fatigue
- regulate hormonal activity
- normal cysteine synthesis
- normal energy metabolism
- normal homocysteine metabolism
Chronic fatigue may be a sign of magnesium deficiency. This mineral helps reduce fatigue by facilitating energy production and supporting nervous system function. It also plays a role in regulating mood and the sleep-wake cycle, promoting quality rest.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for our health
It contributes to numerous bodily functions, such as reducing fatigue, ensuring the nervous system functions properly, maintaining healthy bones and teeth, and enhancing muscular performance.
If you are experiencing symptoms of magnesium deficiency, it is important to consult a health professional. A magnesium-rich diet or supplementation can help you maintain optimal levels of this mineral in your body.
Remember, your health is your most precious asset. Take good care of it!