All posts tagged: Magnesium

Do supplements like collagen, magnesium and lion’s mane actually help with menopause symptoms? Here’s what the science says

Do supplements like collagen, magnesium and lion’s mane actually help with menopause symptoms? Here’s what the science says

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Social media is saturated with menopause solutions: powders for brain fog, gummies for sleep or capsules promising hormonal balance. Supplements such as magnesium, lion’s mane, creatine and collagen are being marketed as must-haves for perimenopause and menopause. But how much of this is actually grounded in science? During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating and declining oestrogen levels can trigger symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disruption, anxiety, brain fog, joint pain and changes in muscle mass and body composition. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains the most effective treatment for many symptoms, but not everyone can or wants to use it. This is why alternative remedies attract so much attention. Magnesium Magnesium plays a role in more than 300 metabolic processes, including muscle relaxation, nerve signalling and blood pressure regulation. Several menopause-related symptoms overlap with areas where magnesium has effects. For …

Magnesium Supplements: Why Is Everyone Talking About Taking Magnesium?

Magnesium Supplements: Why Is Everyone Talking About Taking Magnesium?

This story is from Manual, GQ’s flagship newsletter offering useful advice on style, health, and more, four days a week. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Like protein, creatine, and vitamin D, magnesium is one of a handful of nutrients that has achieved escape velocity from niche wellness circles and routinely makes the rounds through the broader conversation—and not undeservedly so. “The importance of magnesium cannot be overstated,” says J. Rand Baggesen, MD, founder and medical director at Executive Health Group. While magnesium tends to come up on podcasts in the context of improving sleep or supporting healthy muscle function, the mineral actually plays a vital, much broader role in all kinds of bodily functions across the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems, says Daniel Chavez, RD, CSCS, a registered dietician at Fay Nutrition—everything from regulating blood sugar to repairing DNA. “You could actually be so broad as to say magnesium supports every function of the body,” says Laura Purdy, MD, MBA, founder and CEO of Swell Medical. You get the picture: …

Magnesium vs. Melatonin: Which Is Better for Sleep?

Magnesium vs. Melatonin: Which Is Better for Sleep?

Ten years ago, bragging about four hours of sleep was a badge of honor. Now? Eight hours is the real power move. In the biohacking bro era of Whoop scores, cold plunges, and longevity podcasts, a full night’s sleep has become the ultimate performance enhancer. But knowing you need it and actually getting it are two very different things. While maintaining good sleep hygiene in the evening is key to getting consistently adequate shut-eye, many people also turn to the supplement aisle, most often to melatonin or magnesium, for help falling asleep. But does one outperform the other—and should you really take either to begin with? Melatonin for sleep Melatonin isn’t just a common sleep aid; it’s a hormone your body naturally produces nightly in anticipation of sleep. Contrary to popular belief, melatonin supplements aren’t exactly sleeping pills at all. Rather, they’re time-setters that reset your circadian rhythm (aka your internal clock) earlier. They work best when timing is the main issue, like when your schedule’s off due to jet lag, shift work, or delayed …

Corsair Sabre V2 Carbon Fiber and Magnesium Gaming Mice Review

Corsair Sabre V2 Carbon Fiber and Magnesium Gaming Mice Review

While this assembly works well and allows for the mouse to be incredibly lightweight and rigid, I found a few concerns with repairability. With both shells, there is a risk of repeated disassembly breaking the plastic clips. With the carbon fiber shell, there is also a risk of the threads in the upper shell becoming stripped if the screws are over-tightened, something that is made worse by the fact that the screws used are self-tapping. Typically, anything made from carbon fiber or lightweight plastic would use metal inserts inside of the material to prevent stripping, but this has not been done with this mouse—presumably also for weight savings. Because of this, half of the screws in this mouse already had material lodged between the threads during my initial disassembly, seemingly having already been over-tightened by the factory. This doesn’t impact usability, since the mouse is primarily held together by the plastic clips, but it could cause issues later down the line if the plastic clips fail. I did actually break one of these plastic clips …

Can magnesium supplements improve sleep, energy and concentration?

Can magnesium supplements improve sleep, energy and concentration?

Can magnesium supplements help with sleep or energy? Maria Korneeva/Getty Images In the 1600s, wealthy people in England flocked to a well on Epsom Common that was said to contain healing water. It had a bitter taste but a strong laxative effect that provided welcome relief from their rich, meat-heavy diets. “People coming there took a few glasses of the mentioned water – which has a taste different from ordinary water – after which, walking up and down, these had in our opinion very good effect,” one happily unclogged visitor reported. This was later found to be due to the water’s high content of the mineral magnesium sulphate, also known as Epsom salt. Four hundred years later, magnesium’s therapeutic properties are being heralded once more, and it has been called the “super mineral of the moment” in the press. On social media, I am being bombarded with posts about the supposed benefits of taking magnesium supplements, including improved sleep, energy levels, mental clarity, bowel movements and heart health, as well as reduced muscle pain, anxiety, …

Magnesium for Migraines: How the Nutrient Can Help

Magnesium for Migraines: How the Nutrient Can Help

There’s a reason why everyone is talking about magnesium. The nutrient can support essentially every aspect of health. Dealing with sore muscles? Having trouble falling asleep? Feeling anxious lately? Magnesium’s got you. Required in more than 300 processes in the body, magnesium just might be the biggest multitasking nutrient there is. Yet another benefit magnesium can add to its resume is migraine management. “Magnesium can help with migraines, both during an attack and for migraine prevention. Studies show that it can reduce migraine frequency, intensity, and duration,” says Danielle Wilhour, MD, a neurologist and headache specialist at UCHealth. If you’re going to use magnesium for migraines, it’s important to know what types of migraines it helps with, how much you need to consume, and the best way to get it. Magnesium’s role in migraine treatment Magnesium is a micronutrient that’s found in foods like grains, fruit, vegetables, and fish. While there is a correlation between being deficient in magnesium and getting migraines (as shown in a 2011 study published in Neurosciences), David Curfman, MD, a …

Taking magnesium supplements? The warnings experts want everyone to know

Taking magnesium supplements? The warnings experts want everyone to know

Magnesium is one of the most essential minerals in the body. It plays a part in over 300 biochemical reactions, offering a wealth of benefits for almost every internal system. For these reasons, many people turn to magnesium supplements to feel their best, but it pays to be careful when choosing one. Not all forms of magnesium are created equal; their bioavailability (how well your body absorbs them) varies wildly.  Experts remind us to always read the ‘small print’ and seek advice from a healthcare professional to ensure you choose a high-quality version that actually meets your needs. Why are so many people taking magnesium supplements? © Getty ImagesMagnesium supplements are trending, especially for women in midlife There is a whole range of benefits to keeping your magnesium levels balanced: For our bones, it ensures calcium is absorbed correctly, preventing bone loss and helping to maintain a strong, resilient skeleton.  In terms of gut health, it aids intestinal transit, helping to ward off constipation and ensuring we absorb essential nutrients effectively. It is also a …

How to Use Magnesium to Calm Anxiety

How to Use Magnesium to Calm Anxiety

There are times when anxiety is useful, motivating you to get started on a long put-off task or steering you away from danger, for example. But if you’re constantly feeling on edge, taking shallow breaths without even realizing it, or so stressed that you’re unable to do things you love, it’s a problem. To effectively treat your anxiety, you have to get to the root causes of it, including considering how your diet may be contributing. Case in point: A 2018 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that adults with a magnesium deficiency had higher levels of anxiety than those who got enough magnesium. If you do a relatively good job of eating a wide range of nutrient-rich foods, you likely get enough magnesium. But if you cycle through the same handful of meals or know your diet isn’t exactly the healthiest, there’s a good possibility you’re lacking it. Roughly half the U.S. population is deficient in magnesium, according to a 2018 study in Nutrients. While upping your magnesium intake isn’t the …

When’s the Best Time to Take Magnesium?

When’s the Best Time to Take Magnesium?

The internet is buzzing about magnesium supplements: the benefits of taking magnesium, the different types of magnesium that are available, and how to time your supplementation to max out the benefits. But before we get into the latter, it’s important to recognize that while there is a time for magnesium, there is also a place. And that place is not always in your supplement routine. “Influencers and health coaches have exaggerated the need for supplementation,” says Maddie Pasquariello, MS, RD. “Most people can get enough magnesium through food without making drastic or expensive changes to their diet, and we should be encouraging this before telling everyone to supplement.” Indeed, there are many common magnesium-rich foods that can easily cover the 400–420 milligrams that the National Institutes of Health recommend for men over 19 years old. Of course, if for whatever reason you aren’t able to get enough magnesium through your regular diet, supplements can help. And, in that case, you’ll want to make sure you’re aware of the best times to take magnesium, whether you …

10 Best Magnesium Supplements of 2026 for Better Overall Health

10 Best Magnesium Supplements of 2026 for Better Overall Health

You’re looking for the best magnesium supplements, so we’re assuming you’re already looped into what they can do for you. And there’s really no understating the importance of magnesium. “Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body, found in our skeleton, muscles, soft tissues, cells, blood, and extracellular fluids,” says Brittany Michels, MS, RDN, LDN, CPT, registered dietitian with The Vitamin Shoppe. “Magnesium is needed in over 300 processes in the body,” Michels says, “including nerve function, blood pressure management, energy metabolism, immune support, cardiovascular health, and protein synthesis.” A quality magnesium supplement can help you raise your baseline magnesium levels, but it can also do a lot more—like help improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and accelerate post-workout muscle recovery. The key, and this part really is crucial, is knowing which type of magnesium to look for, as the mineral comes in several forms that work in different ways and even offer unique benefits and drawbacks. Below, with the help of registered dieticians, we’ve rounded up the best magnesium supplements for everything …