SFH #34: Magical Magnesium

Bringing awareness to this crucial mineral 🪨

My day usually ends with magnesium because of its magical powers to transport me to a good night's rest. I'm talking about Epsom salt--otherwise known as magnesium sulfate. I love my Epsom salt baths for the way it soothes my muscles, helps transport toxins out of my pores, and puts me into the rest and digest state (the parasympathetic nervous response).

That's just the tip of the iceberg of how powerful magnesium can be for us. And the truth is that most of us are typically deficient in this critical mineral. You ever feel tight, crampy, irritable, fatigued, or blocked? The culprit is more than likely magnesium. This vital mineral is found mainly in your bones, muscles, and brain. We need it for our cells to make energy, and it's responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions in our bodies! 🧪

How can we ensure that we are getting enough magnesium?

1. As always I like to start with foods that have a high concentration of magnesium, like nuts and green leafy vegetables. A quick hit list: almonds, cashews, buckwheat, brazil nuts, dulse, filberts, millet, pecans, walnuts, rye, tofu, soybeans, brown rice, figs, dates, collard greens, shrimp, avocado, parsley, beans, barley, dandelion greens, and garlic. 🥬 

2. Supplementally, you'll want to aim for the most absorbable forms of the mineral, including magnesium citrate, glycinate, taurate, and aspartate. The less absorbable forms (cheaper and more abundant) are carbonate, sulfate, gluconate, and oxide. You'll want to consult a medical professional and do some research on which form would be best for you! 💊 

3. And of course, taking a hot bath with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) is an excellent way to absorb and get a much-needed reset for your body and mood. 🛁