Magnesium – 5 Reasons You Need It
Here at Pursuit Training, we’re sure you’ve heard discussions over Magnesium, but what is it and how does it really work? Magnesium is a chemical element that your body requires to function on many levels from athletic performance, training and daily recovery to our basic levels of health. Magnesium aids in many other functions including energy production, muscle and nerve function as well as the regulation of both blood pressure and blood glucose levels. When attempting to get your Recommended Daily Allowance, RDA (Men 19 – 50 between 400mg – 420mg, Women 19 – 50 between 310mg – 320mg) through diet alone you may come up short, which is one of the many reasons why you will hear us recommend a pharmaceutical grade supplement. Magnesium can be found in nuts (Almonds 1ounce= 80mg), dark leafy greens (Spinach ½ cup boiled=78mg), whole grains (Brown Rice 1/2cup=42mg) and in lesser amounts from various proteins (3oz Chicken Breast=22mg). After looking at those amounts you can see how it may be challenging to maintain the RDA on a daily basis through diet alone.
Why You Should Consider a Daily Magnesium Supplement
1. Magnesium can help you relax and sleep better.
Do you wake up tired? Does your mind go into overdrive as soon as your head hits the pillow? Are you waking up often or restless during the night? Magnesium can help you calm your nervous system and help to improve the quality of your sleep which will drastically improve our ability to fully recover from our workouts and positively effect training results and manage stress levels. By ensuring you have adequate magnesium (we typically recommend taking at dinner and bed, but can also be taken directly after your workout) you will reduce feelings of stress, relax more quickly and get a more restful sleep.
2. Magnesium can help to decrease inflammation.
When you hear inflammation you may relate it to the post workout or delayed onset muscle soreness you feel, but it also takes other forms. High levels of inflammation can also affect your blood vessels and cardiovascular tissue potentially contributing to heart disease. Increase levels of magnesium can not only improve your post workout recovery, it can also help you maintain heart health.
3. Magnesium can help with brain function and focus.
Are you often distracted or foggy? Do you have problems remembering appointments or what you came into the room for? Magnesium is a key component in brain function, helping to balance many different hormones like cortisol, the stress hormone and serotonin, the feel good hormone. Studies have shown that supplementing with magnesium can increase memory, improve learning and lengthen attention span.
4. Magnesium can help with digestion.
One of the strongest indicators of magnesium deficiency is constipation. Magnesium is a key chemical for digestion and proper levels help to create a healthy gut. A healthy gut helps to balance insulin levels and reduces risk of diabetes and colon cancer as well as directly effects our ability to recover from strenuous exercise and daily tasks. Choose your supplement carefully though as low quality supplements or too much too quickly can cause diarrhea.
5. Magnesium can help to reduce disease risk.
Whether it is aiding in the control of insulin sensitivity and helping to reduce the risk factor of Diabetes. Or, partnering with calcium to build stronger bones and muscles to help prevent Osteoporosis. Or, working to balance hormone levels and help to reduce the symptoms of depression, ADHD and insomnia. Magnesium is a powerhouse that can help to create better mental and physical health.
The key point is that magnesium is a powerful supplement that can aid in many ways that lead to higher levels of health and can play a key role in recovery and our exercise results. If you are interesting in a high quality, Pursuit Training approved magnesium supplement email: Michael@pursuittraining.ca to order.
Have a fantastic day!!
Your Pursuit Training Team
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