Realm of supplements, magnesium can seem like a relatively safe option. It’s a mineral that’s naturally found in foods like vegetables, grains, and legumes, after all. Even the purported benefits of magnesium — better sleep, less stress — make it sound like a pretty low-risk addition to your wellness routine. Magnesium does have relaxing properties that can calm muscle (and mental) tension, and many people swear by it as a sleep aid. But some experts say its benefits aren’t quite as strong as supplement companies would have you believe. What’s more, the mineral isn’t something you can safely take huge quantities of; you have to know the right dose. Plus, supplements use different forms of magnesium, and certain types of magnesium can have side effects that you definitely want to avoid. Magnesium, an essential mineral that plays a role in more than 300 different processes in the body, has gained popularity as a sleep aid because it’s known to ease muscle tension and create a general feeling of relaxation. Magnesium’s sleep benefits aren’t as legit as it may seem on the wellness side of TikTok, however. In fact, experts agree that magnesium isn’t for everyone. Magnesium has also been proven to help people with restless leg syndrome (RLS), which makes the supplement a viable option for those whose sleep problems stem from their urge to move at night. This includes nonclinical conditions, like involuntarily kicking in your sleep. If you have RLS or otherwise feel restless at night, Dr. Avidan notes that taking magnesium about 20 to 30 minutes before bed may help. Additionally, if your insomnia is severe, the best thing you can do is talk to your primary care physician. “We don’t want people to be self-medicating,” Dr. Avidan says — because there’s a risk that by simply masking your symptoms with supplements, you’re leaving a more serious condition, like sleep apnea, untreated. So, make that appointment.
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Wednesday, September 11, 2024