Magnesium is having a moment.
Found in everyday foods like spinach, almonds, and soy milk, this necessary mineral is what our bodies need for energy production and a variety of other complex reasons, and has recently been developed into a holistic treatment for anxiety. It is widely used as a law.
This craze started gaining momentum a while ago, with TikTok users like: tyler wesley (@tylerjohnwesley) gained viral fame for posting about his experiences with supplements. Just 500 mg of magnesium per day could end decades of panic problems, Wesley claimed.
Months later, TikTokers continue to share their success stories. #magnesium is currently a popular app with over 1 billion views. First reported by the Guardian.
And while the growing enthusiasm is sure to have many potential users buying into the hype, what does the science say?
It boils down to two things. First, magnesium seems to have an overall calming effect. And second, most Americans don't get enough nutrients in their daily diet. That may explain why bulkers feel less frustrated, according to people familiar with the matter.
Professor Louise Dye, from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, UK, told the Guardian that about 50% of Americans consume less than the recommended daily intake of 300 to 400 mg.dye I am a co-author of the paper It reviewed a series of studies on magnesium, and 4 out of 8 found that magnesium was beneficial for anxiety patients.
What experts know from research conducted on the subject is that magnesium has the ability to counteract the effects of glutamate, which causes excitement, and reduce stress in the body. Too much glutamate can interfere with brain health and cause mental health problems. Katie Holton, nutritional neuroscientist at American University;
“We know a lot about how magnesium works in the body,” Holton says.
What we still don't know is how much magnesium people actually need, how magnesium interacts with medications, or whether we're not getting enough magnesium in our daily diets. The question is whether people mainly feel the sedative effect. people who do
That's why Holton recommends curious parties start by boosting their magnesium levels at the dinner table. Pumpkin, chia seeds, almonds and cashews are rich in minerals. Spinach and salmon, soy milk and banana are all winners.
If you need a supplement, chelated magnesium, which is widely available, is fine. It is verified by the nonprofit United States Pharmacopeia, and the Food and Drug Administration does not perform quality control on the largely unregulated supplement.
“Given the importance of magnesium in the body, it may not be surprising that significant effects are observed after magnesium intake,” Dai says. “However, magnesium should not be viewed as a 'miracle' molecule that can solve all problems.”
Don't be surprised if you don't see any changes.
“Like any intervention, our study didn't work for everyone,” said Emily Tarleton, assistant professor of health sciences at Vermont State University.
And this is the only real danger of relying on magnesium to treat a very real problem: promising big changes to vulnerable anxiety sufferers. It's harmful, experts agree.
Psychiatric philosopher Jake Jackson says people who are “epistemologically adrift” – people who struggle with knowing which treatments will ultimately save them – are especially at risk. He says there is. The promises TikTokers make every day can make people with severe anxiety disorders feel even worse, feeling “morally inadequate and under pressure to do the right thing without clear direction.” “It can make you feel,” Jackson said.
In other words, consult a medical or mental health professional first.
