Which kind of Magnesium is right for you?

You might have come across various forms of magnesium:

• glycinate

• citrate

• malate

• threonate

• oxide

• chloride

How to know which one is right for you?

Here are some of the symptoms of low magnesium:

• Muscle pain, cramps and spasms from feet cramps to chest pain (due to spasms in your heart muscle), and even restless leg syndrome

• Headaches and migraines

• Feeling constantly fatigued or weak

• Depression, anxiety and edginess

• Craving chocolate (cacao is high inmagnesium)

• Quick exhaustion during exercise

• Insomnia and mid-night waking

Magnesium and hormones

Let’s not forget that magnesium also plays a huge role in hormonal balance.

Namely:

1. Improves the thyroid function

2. Supports estrogen detoxification of harmful metabolites

3. Lowers blood sugar levels

4. Lowers adrenalin and cortisol

5. Supports testosterone production

6. Increases serotonin

7. Increases DHEA

Which form of magnesium is right for you?

Not all supplements are made the same and magnesium is no different. Here is a low-down to help you understand each form of magnesium:

My 1st choice: Magnesium Bisglycinate (also known as magnesium chelate, magnesium diglycinate, magnesium glycinate) is a highly absorbable form of magnesium chelated to two molecules of the amino acid glycine.

This is the form of magnesium I take every day. I would double up to 600mg, or even 800mg per day if I’m stressed, or when I’m traveling (also a form of stress).

“Chelated” forms of a mineral mean that an amino acid has been attached to them making them a very stable form of magnesium that is less likely to cause gastrointestinal symptoms and reduces the laxative effect.

Yet, it helps with PMS, fibrocystic breasts, sleep, anxiety, cravings, pains, and cramps.

The brand I use and recommend: Magnesium Replenish.

Magnesium citrate is another chelated type of magnesium bound to citric acid. This form of magnesium is about 30% bioavailable, but it pulls water into the bowels giving it more of a laxative effect, which some may like if suffering from chronic constipation.

If you feel depleted in magnesium (based on the symptoms) and struggle with chronic constipation, here is the form of magnesium citrate I recommend: Pure Encapsulations MagnesiumCitrate.

Magnesium malate is a type of magnesium bound to malic acid. For those having issues with energy production, a magnesium malate supplement may be effective for helping with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia.

No surprise, this form may be too stimulating for some and may disrupt sleep, especially when taken at night (I had this experience first hand!).

Magnesium malate brand I recommend: DFH Magnesium Malate. To get 10% OFF (that’s $4), use DFH01052 coupon code at checkout.

Magnesium threonate is a form of magnesium chelated to threonic acid, a metabolite of vitamin C.

This form of magnesium in comparison to others was created to cross the blood-brain barrier – it may, therefore, improve learning and memory functions and maybe be especially beneficial for age-related cognitive decline.

Magnesium threonate brand I recommend: Pure Encapsulations - CogniMag. The suggested dose is 2,000 mg of magnesium threonate.

Magnesium oxide contains a lot of magnesium by weight but has a bioavailability of only 4%. This form is found in many magnesium supplements and should be avoided. Therefore, I have no brands to recommend here. I’ve also found that many MLM (multi-level marketing companies) use this form of magnesium in their product line-ups.

Magnesium chloride is a form of magnesium for topical use. The skin is a great way to increase magnesium levels and bypass using the gut – this is especially beneficial for people with IBS (or leaky gut) who suffer from malabsorption of nutrients.

I recommend Quick Magnesium is a pure, 100% natural solution of magnesium chloride, coming from high quality magnesium salt derived from the depths of the earth’s interior – all from the ancient Zechstein Seabed in Europe. Ultra-pure and untouched by pollutants, this magnesium salt was protected at depths of 5,000-6,500 feet in this seabed for the past 250 million years.

Many of our program participants have reported fantastic results using this form of magnesium; from pain reduction, feeling calmer, to deeper/longer sleep.

I hope this article was helpful in getting you on board to replenish your magnesium levels and one step closer to rebalancing your hormones!

If you want to read up more about the causes of magnesium deficiency, the dosages and which are the magnesium-rich foods – go to this article.