Magnesium is a crucial co-factor in enzyme reactions in the body and brain. It plays a part in heart rhythm, blood vessel health, muscle relaxation, healthy nerve function and the release of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin).
It is thought that many people are magnesium deficient, impacting on these functions. Some studies suggest magnesium may help in relieving depression. Our need for magnesium goes up during stressful periods.
Magnesium-rich foods are: dark chocolate # avocados # nuts # legumes (includes lentils, beans, chickpeas, peas and soyabeans) # tofu (soybean curd) # seeds (especially flax, pumpkin and chia seeds) # wholegrains (wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat and quinoa) # some fatty fish (e.g salmon, mackerel and halibut) # bananas # leafy greens (especially kale, spinach, turnip greens and mustard greens.
Psychologist Kimberley Wilson takes a daily morning dose of half a teaspoon of powdered magnesium (citrate) dissolved in a glass of water.
Source: Item in Good Housekeeping, Sept. 2020.
