Magnesium, Natures Chill Pill

A Nutrition Piece
by Zoe Davis

Magnesium, Natures Chill Pill

Whenever we are experiencing excess physically, mentally and emotionally it’s an ideal time to dose up on the wonderful and underrated mineral magnesium. 
Magnesium works in unison with calcium, calcium makes muscles contract, magnesium makes muscles relax.

The first thing that happens when you are magnesium deficient is you may find your shoulders tensed up around your ears, or are absently bouncing your legs or knees up and down.

​Other symptoms of deficiency may be headaches, grinding of the teeth/jaw, muscle cramps (including PMS) or spasms, constipation, hypertension, high blood pressure, poor sleep quality, fatigue and an inability to sit still or relax. Any state where the body is in sustained
contraction.

We dilute our magnesium reserves if we drink a lot of purified water, coffee, tea, alcohol and juices or eat foods that are high in fat and sugar. Loss is also increased if we have high physical or mental stress, take any medicinal drugs, have a high calcium diet, suffer from chronic pain, sweat excessively or have heavy menstruation.

Emotionally we use up magnesium if we are holding on or needing to let go of something. Feelings of loss are supported by having adequate magnesium in the diet.

Some foods that are rich in magnesium include fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, shellfish and dark chocolate, that’s right dark chocolate! So if you find yourself craving chocolate specifically, then you are probably craving magnesium! 

​You can of course take magnesium supplements; see what your  naturopath or health store recommends for you. Taking a 30 minute Epsom salt (magnesium) bath is also beneficial, better yet; enjoy a long soak in the ocean!