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Magnesium glycinate – Complete guide to improving your health

Many biochemical reactions in the body require magnesium. Magnesium is essential to body function. Since modern diets are low in magnesium, magnesium deficiency is very common. Humans are mostly composed of magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

  • Regulating muscle and nerve function
  • Supporting energy production
  • Synthesizing protein, bone, and DNA
  • Assisting the activation of B vitamins
  • Aiding the absorption of other minerals like calcium and potassium
  • Promoting restful sleep

With magnesium playing so many crucial roles, it’s no wonder that magnesium deficiency causes numerous unwanted symptoms. These include muscle cramps, anxiety, fatigue, restless leg syndrome, migraines, high blood pressure, and more. Changes in soil quality and modern intensive farming methods have depleted magnesium levels in crops and drinking water. Factors like medication use, chronic disease, stress, and poor gut health increase the risk of magnesium deficiency. Correcting a magnesium shortfall is vital for good health. One of the most effective ways to do this is by taking a highly absorbable magnesium supplement.

Why magnesium glycinate is the best form? 

Magnesium supplements are available, including magnesium oxide, magnesium citrate, magnesium chloride, and magnesium glycinate. The form you take makes a big difference in how much your body absorbs and utilizes. Studies show that magnesium glycinate has excellent bioavailability, meaning it’s absorbed at the cellular level. It’s also gentle on the stomach compared to other forms like magnesium oxide. Magnesium oxide is commonly used in supplements because it’s very cheap to manufacture. However, it is poorly absorbed, with less than 5% of the magnesium element being bioavailable.

What’s more, the unabsorbed magnesium oxide has a laxative effect in some people. In the best magnesium to take, you will find magnesium bound with glycine, a calming amino acid. Since glycine moves easily across the intestinal wall, it helps carry magnesium along with it, increasing its absorption significantly. One clinical trial found that taking 500 mg per day of magnesium glycinate raised cellular magnesium levels at nearly double the rate of 500 mg of magnesium oxide. Other research indicates magnesium glycinate is absorbed 3-4 times more effectively than magnesium oxide.

Eases stress and anxiety

The busy pace of modern life keeps many people in a near-constant state of stress. It elevates cortisol and other stress hormones that trigger anxious thoughts and feelings. Magnesium deficiencies allow stress hormones to remain elevated for too long. Supplementing with magnesium glycinate calms the nervous system, promotes relaxation, and helps normalize your stress response system.

Reduces muscle cramps and pain

Without enough magnesium, nerve signals become overexcited, leading to involuntary muscle contractions, spasms, and cramps – especially noticeable at nighttime. Magnesium helps calm these unwanted nerve impulses to relax muscles for pain relief. Studies confirm magnesium supplementation reduces the intensity of muscle cramps by up to 90% for many people. The glycine in magnesium glycinate adds further anti-inflammatory, nerve calming, and muscle relaxing properties to its pain-relieving abilities.