Numerous vitamins and minerals can affect your hormone health and a deficiency in any of them can throw the delicate balance off track. Magnesium is no exception and is quite possibly one of the top nutrients needed for proper hormone balance. It also plays a role in nerve and muscle function, blood sugar, bone health, and metabolism.
Magnesium is important for a substantial number of essential functions in the body, including hormone production. In fact, Magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical bodily processes. According to Norman Shealy, MD, Ph.D., an American neurosurgeon and a pioneer in pain medicine, “Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency and it’s the missing cure to many diseases.”
You may know that lack of magnesium can cause certain physical issues including muscle cramps, headaches as well as sleep problems. Many people are less familiar with how it can also affect your hormone health.
One of the key roles that magnesium has for hormone health involves the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to release specific hormones in response to stress and changes in the body. If the HPA axis becomes desensitized to these messages due to long term stress your hormones will become out of balance.
Magnesium reduces the effects of progesterone on the central nervous system and helps the liver to function optimally. Liver detoxification is important for eliminating excess estrogen and preventing “estrogen dominance.”
This is one of the reasons why low progesterone and estrogen excess can at least partially stem from a magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies, especially if you are under chronic stress.
Magnesium deficiency symptoms may include:
- Muscle cramping and twitching
- Mood changes
- Irregular heartbeats
- PMS, cravings and menstrual cramps
- Headaches and migraine
- Constipation
- Fatigue and weakness
- Loss of appetite and nausea
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
Good nutritional sources of Magnesium include nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, avocados, and leafy greens.
Other factors that can affect your magnesium levels include gut health, birth control pills, medication, alcohol and increasing age. These can be culprits for low magnesium levels, especially if your diet is lacking as well.
For balanced hormones and overall health, it is crucial to make sure you are getting plenty of magnesium!
Here are my 2 favourite Magnesium Supplements:
Magnesium Breakthrough BioOptimizers – 7 Forms of Magnesium in One Supplement
- Best magnesium supplements for sleep
- Reduce your stress levels and feel relaxed and at peace
- Sleep faster and deeper
- Boost your immune system
- Maintain normal heart rhythm
- Build strong bones
Magnesium bisglycinate chelate is a highly absorbable and bioavailable form of elemental magnesium chelated to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. It should not cause any of the unfavorable gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that are sometimes associated with magnesium supplementation due to the very stable chelate formed between two glycine molecules and each magnesium ion via a patented process.