Alongside sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, magnesium is a key micronutrient in supporting our bodies. It helps to regulate blood pressure, aids muscle and nerve function, keeps bones healthy, and could help to reduce leg cramps and bone fractures, according to research.
As such, a recent social media fad has prompted many people to turn to magnesium for just about any ailment. Generally, though, experts caution that immediately jumping to supplements is not the best approach for personal health concerns. So, why all the hype around magnesium?
“A lot of the research has pointed to magnesium being a really valuable micronutrient in relation to most aspects of health,” says Hazel Flight, program lead of nutrition and health at Edge Hill University in the U.K.
In relation to sleep and anxiety, Flight underlines magnesium’s connection to the nervous system.
“It can help regulate melatonin levels, which is one of the hormones ...
