When you think of essential nutrients, you might picture protein, carbs, or maybe even vitamin D.
But there’s one unsung hero quietly powering over 300 processes in your body – magnesium.
And here’s the kicker: most people aren’t getting anywhere near enough of it!
So, what is magnesium – and why should you care?
Magnesium is a mineral that your body can’t produce on its own, yet it’s needed for everything from muscle function and energy production to sleep quality, mood, and brain health.
In fact, magnesium plays a key role in:
• Regulating muscle contractions (including your heartbeat)
• Supporting deep, restorative sleep
• Calming the nervous system and reducing stress
• Balancing blood sugar and insulin levels
• Supporting bone health and calcium absorption
• Converting food into energy (ATP production)
Without enough of it, your body quite literally struggles to function properly.
Low levels can leave you feeling fatigued, tense, anxious, foggy-headed, and wide awake at 2 a.m.
Why are we all so deficient these days?
Here’s the problem – our diets used to supply more than enough magnesium. But that’s changed.
These days, even if you eat relatively well, modern farming and food processing methods have stripped magnesium from our food sources:
• Over-farmed soil contains fewer minerals, so crops grown in it are less nutritious.
• Highly processed foods are devoid of magnesium (and that’s a lot of what people eat).
• Stress, caffeine, alcohol, and some medications (like PPIs and diuretics) all deplete your magnesium stores even further.Combine those factors, and it’s easy to see why studies suggest that up to 70% of adults aren’t hitting the recommended intake.
And yet, most people have no idea they’re running low.
Should you supplement?
In an ideal world, you’d get everything from food. But for most people today, a well-formulated magnesium supplement can be a game-changer.
The right kind of magnesium (there are many forms — not all are equal) can help support:
• Better sleep and reduced night-time restlessness
• Muscle recovery after exercise
• Improved focus and mental clarity
• Lower stress levels
• Fewer headaches or crampsThe key is choosing the right type (like glycinate, malate or threonate) and taking it consistently – ideally in the evening to help unwind.
Whether you’re training hard, working long hours, or simply trying to feel more like yourself again, magnesium might just be the missing link.
If you’re looking for a quality magnesium supplement that ticks all the boxes, check out our Vitalise ‘health’ section.
Steve