Why magnesium is the antidote to the stress of modern living

Lorna Driver-Davies

Head of Nutrition, Wild Nutrition

If our bodies have the right levels of magnesium — aka ‘nature’s tranquilliser’ — we will be able to relax more easily in the evening and feel more energised during the day.

After a busy day, we should be tired and ready to relax. Yet, our brains can be flagging but our bodies may still feel tense and unable to sleep. Lorna Driver-Davies, Head of Nutrition at nutritional health company Wild Nutrition, calls this the ‘tired but wired’ effect of ‘always on’ modern living.

Magnesium as ‘nature’s tranquiliser’

Causes include overuse of screens (the blue light they emit blocks the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates our circadian rhythms), eating at irregular times and over-reliance on stimulants such as coffee. “Then there’s stress,” she says. “If the stress we’ve built up throughout the day is unreleased, our nervous systems and adrenal glands become over-stimulated, and it’s harder to feel calm.”

Relaxing is easier if our bodies have the right levels of magnesium, a mineral found in green leafy vegetables, meat, fish and whole grains. Magnesium is vital for the function of around 300 body processes, including soothing and supporting the nervous system — which is why it’s known as ‘nature’s tranquilliser’.

Magnesium is clever because it will adapt
to whatever we need, whenever we need it.

Calming the nervous system and helping bodies unwind

“Magnesium is clever because it will adapt to whatever we need, whenever we need it,” explains Driver-Davies. “If you take a magnesium supplement in the evening, it calms the nervous system and helps you unwind, and it’s particularly good for relaxing the muscles.”

Taken in the morning, a magnesium supplement can help our energy levels. “Magnesium supports mitochondria function,” says Driver-Davies. “These are the energy factories in our cells, powering our bodies’ energy cycles. Energy isn’t the over-the-top stimulation we get from caffeine; it’s when we feel good in our skin and ready for the day. Magnesium can help with that: it’s very balancing.”

Benefits of natural magnesium supplements

Crucially, this can improve our outlook and mood. “If you are calmer and more positive, you are going to be more logical,” adds Driver-Davies. Unfortunately, for various reasons — including poor diet, soil depletion and modern standards of food production — our bodies don’t always get enough magnesium, which is why taking supplements can be useful.

Yet, not all magnesium is created equal, with 95% of the magnesium market synthetically derived. Food-Grown® is naturally sourced and presented to the body in food form, so your body recognises and welcomes it. It’s optimally absorbed, facilitating a better night’s rest. “If you have a better night, you’ll have a better day,” she concludes.