How to Get the Most Out of Magnesium

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16 extra minutes of sleep for someone with insomnia is a really nice score, actually...

I acknowledge all the hard work that goes into researching the content for each video, reading various science journals, etc. But as someone who recently turned 30 and has always had a knack for wordplay: I LOVE SciShow's commitment to terrible puns. Please don't stop.

Im an infusion nurse now and we give magnesium iv to certain folks who cannot absorb it in food or supplements. One feels their best when all the electrolytes are happy.

Magnesium deficiency is also correlated with cramps, specifically leg cramps. So if a magnesium deficiency is giving you leg cramps in the middle of the night, then remedying that deficiency and alleviating those leg cramps will lead to a better night’s sleep.

Magnesium for vascular headaches, including migraines. I was recently prescribed mag for my headaches stemming from a terminal brain condition. I haven't been taking it for long but I haven't had a severe headache since.

I take magnesium glycinate supplements and I can attest anecdotally to better sleep, better mood, and better bowels. I learned that omeprazole will inhibit absorption of magnesium and that they should be taken 2 hours apart. I wish I had known this sooner.

16 extra minutes of sleep a night is over 97 hours of extra sleep in a year. Yes please!

After a lot of research, I started taking a complex magnesium supplement about 8 months ago, and it has made a MASSIVE difference in regard to my anxiety disorder. I slept better for the first 2 months or so, but after that, I went back to my insomniac ways. That being said, as long as it helps the anxiety, I plan to keep taking it.

im extremely skeptical about "natural remedies" like these but taking magnesium supplements for anxiety did so much good for me when i was a brain-problem-having teenager,and still does today

Be careful with magnesium supplementation, i was taking 500mg of magnesium glycinate for about a year and a half before I started getting extreme symptoms of hypermagnesemia (arrhythmia, confusion, seizures, muscle weakness). Turns out I was getting enough from my diet. These symptoms lasted for about 6 weeks in varying degrees of severity. The more you know

The U.S. Department of Health and HUman Services (2015) determined that Magnesium is a "shortfall nutrient of public health concern." And likely caused by ingestion of highly processed foods. Magnesium defiency can also cause hypocalcemia, tetany and muscle cramps, tremors, muscle weakness, and severe cardiac dysrhythmias. (This is the short list.) Just sayin' :)

I have had a diagnosed magnesium deficiency for years. I take it daily to reduce migraine severity, leg pain, and sleep better. Studies are also showing people with ADHD need more magnesium on average.

My husband's cpap has really helped with my ability to get a full nights sleep.

eta: This is a joking way of saying I sleep fine without taking supplements. So long as I don't have my roommate's 80 sleep apnea incidents per hour waking me up.

Sleep can also be ruined by stomach issues. My gluten intolerance used to have me wake up from 4am-6am and just lay there exhausted.

If you are having digestive issues, don't ignore it. It can lead to a ton of problems physically and mentally.

Been working in the magnesium supplement field for years now. It's amazing what in your body actually requires magnesium.

New? I've been using magnesium supplements for decades. It not only helps your muscles relax to get to sleep, it helps with muscle cramps, twitches, and soreness after exercise.

Magnesium is also necessary for calcium absorption. (Take at least 3 hours away from calcium for relaxation.)

And yes, magnesium increases water absorption in the gut, so forget stool softeners.

I used to take magnesium for sleep and just started to take it again because I've been having problems. Great timing for the video

Most electrolyte powder mixes already contain magnesium and plenty of other metal salts that your body needs. I drink it so I don't pass out from standing too fast and it helps a lot.

Personally, I discovered magnesium helped my sleep on accident. I got an electrolyte supplement containing magnesium malate and saw a huge increase in my deep sleep time as measured by my watch (4-5 minutes per night to 45 to 60 minutes per night). It went away the day after when I didn't use the supplement. Next time I used it, same increase again. Then I started supplementing. I can still see on the graphs when I forget to take it, even if I fail to remember skipping it (thus preventing a placebo effect). It's been a fun experiment on myself :)