What makes sleep vital?

Sleep is an essential aspect of human life, and its importance cannot be overemphasized. A good night's sleep can do wonders for your health and overall well-being, while poor sleep can lead to a wide range of problems, including fatigue, irritability, and even chronic illnesses. For World Sleep Day we wanted to highlight the importance of sleep and magnesium.

"Is there any major operation of your brain or any physiological system in your body that is not wonderfully enhanced when you get sleep or demonstrably impaired when you don't get enough? ….so far the answer is no"- Matt Walker, Professor of Neuroscience at UC Berkeley

Magnesium for sleep

As you sleep, your skin's blood flow increases, and the organ rebuilds its collagen, repairs damage from UV exposure, reducing wrinkles and age spots.

Magnesium is nature's mineral sedative, helping to decompress the nervous system and regulate melatonin, which guides sleep-wake cycles in your body. Magnesium is also essential co-factor required for hundreds of cellular processes in the body, it helps protect skin from external damage by regulating cellular regeneration and repair and it helps to stabalise hormonal imbalances, including lowering cortisol levels which when increased can cause increased oil production in your skin glands and lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts.

A study conducted by UCLA researchers discovered that just a single night of insufficient sleep can make an older adults’ cells age quicker and The National Sleep Foundation survey, one of the first surveys in this field, found that 46% of women reported troubles with sleep almost every night.

Which magnesium is best for sleep and anxiety?

The form of magnesium which is frequently used in clinical research for studies that involve insomnia, sleep and anxiety is magnesium taurate. This form of magnesium is found to be more active in the brain than other forms of magnesium and has a higher rate of absorption than other types of magnesium.

Does magnesium make you sleepy?

While magnesium can help promote better sleep, it does not make you feel drowsy or sleepy. Instead, magnesium works by relaxing the body and mind, making it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Signs that you may be low in magnesium include restless legs, waking frequently during the night, difficulty getting off to sleep, a busy mind, anxiety and tension, muscle aches and pains. So, the relationship between magnesium and sleep is deeply intertwined.

Neutrient Magnesium is an essential part of any bedtime routine. It is a potent, high strength, fast acting restorative supplement to support busy minds, restless nights and sporty, active and demanding lifestyles. It features 4 types of bioactive magnesium chelates; magnesium taurate, malate, bisglycinate and citrate which offer optimised absorption and VIP delivery routes, while being gentle on the gut. It has added magnesium oxide, which contains an impressive 60% of elemental magnesium.

Menopause and the need for Vitamin D

The hormonal changes brought about by the transition to menopause culminate in a whole host of symptoms, some baffling, some uncomfortable and some extremely distressing. A woman’s ability to navigate the ups and downs of the menopause depends on many factors, but what’s clear is that women who focus on healthy diet and lifestyle choices during their 40’s are more likely to experience a milder, shorter and more manageable menopause. Others may experience a much longer and more troublesome menopause that interferes with daily life.

Hormone therapy can be invaluable, but what else can be done? Positive dietary choices and lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, stress management and adequate sleep can make a significant difference to the quality of life at menopause. There are numerous supplements that can also be hugely beneficial and one of these is vitamin D.