While Sunday has been called a day of rest, the truth is we’re always very busy and don’t relax as much as is good for us. With stress levels at an all-time high, National Relaxation Day is a reminder to relax and let our bodies and minds catch their breath occasionally. Read a book, watch a movie, and maybe catch up on your sleep. If stress keeps you from being able to relax, the mineral magnesium may help.
Stress is known to negatively impact the body in several ways, including sleep and immune function. Increases in stress create chemical imbalances in the body. Fortunately, dietary nutrition can play a role in the body’s ability to relax, and one nutrient that has gained interest in this area is magnesium. Magnesium is important to the regulation of central nervous system excitability. It acts as N-methyl-D-aspartate and gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist, and in this role, magnesium can promote sleep. In fact, after melatonin magnesium is the second most popular dietary supplement to support better quality sleep.
Magnesium promotes mood and relaxation by reducing cortisol levels, and it regulates mood by modulating glutamate uptake at the NMDA receptor. It also helps muscles relax, which is why some people get relief from leg cramps by increasing their magnesium levels.
And if you can’t relax, you probably can’t sleep, which allows your body to recharge, and to repair the cells depleted during the day, and the brain to go through the neural reorganization process.
The best mineral forms for dietary supplements are chelated, which are better tolerated, more bioavailable in the body, and taste better. Chelation means a mineral is bonded to an amino acid, forming a protective protein shell, which shields it through the digestive process until it reaches the point of optimal absorption. Chelated Albion MetaMag by Balchem is Magnesium Bisglycinate, with glycerine forming the protective shell. It’s the perfect solution for relaxation.
To find out helpful tips on how to build healthy habits to support your relaxing day, click here.
Want to learn more? Contact Balchem today!
