Can Magnesium Really Help With Stress And Sleep?

You'll be pleased to know, the short answer is yes! The mighty mineral magnesium can work wonders for helping with feelings of stress and can even help you unwind and prepare for a perfect night's sleep, two things we're big on here at NEOM.

Why Is Sleep So Important?

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things we can do for our overall health and wellbeing. When you wake up feeling groggy after a bad night’s sleep or you feel like you’re not the best version of yourself… there’s good reason for it. 

Unsurprisingly, healthy sleep patterns also play a big part in regulating our mood.

“The benefits of sleep include improved mood, stress reduction, lower prevalence of depression and anxiety, better relationships, and a higher frustration tolerance,” says Courtney Bancroft who runs a New York-based private practice focusing on sleep wellness and insomnia.

Getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis will help:

• Repair heart and blood vessels and restore other minor damage from daily wear and tear.
• Support the full function of the immune system. 
• Help keep hormones balanced. 
• Aid memory, concentration, alertness, and problem-solving.
• Regulate blood sugar and support a healthy level of appetite.

Sleep And Stress

With busy modern day lives, it's no surprise stints of stress can catch us all out from time to time.

“Elevated stress levels cause higher rates of stress hormones (like epinephrine, adrenaline, and cortisol) to be produced in the bloodstream,” adds Courtney Bancroft. 

“These are all in charge of our ‘fight or flight’ response that occurs in the sympathetic branch of our central nervous system (CNS) and when they increase, our body and brain get signals that our safety is threatened. It is this response that can stop us from sleeping and even make our dreams more vivid.”

How Does Magnesium Help With Stress And Sleep?

There are many things that can cause you to have a sleepless night.  There are a whole host of factors that can lead to disrupted sleep but it’s fair to say that stress is one of the biggest culprits. Did you know stress also depletes your magnesium? 

When we’re stressed, our magnesium levels naturally drop and it’s this that stands in the way of drifting into a sound and restful slumber.

According to a study, “Magnesium supplementation has proven benefits for the treatment of symptoms of psychological daily stress (fatigue, irritability, sleep). It has been shown that subjects with mental and physical stress can benefit from a daily intake of magnesium. 

“Male students experiencing common stress factors such as sleep deprivation, malnutrition, and a lack of physical activity, and receiving magnesium 250 mg/day for four weeks not only presented an increase in erythrocyte magnesium content but also a reduction of serum cortisol.”

Magnesium and sleep

It’s so  easy to see how directly connected magnesium and sleep are, as well as how much magnesium impacts your stress levels. 

That’s why magnesium is so popular in the wellness industry, as people try to do more to reduce stress and get better sleep.

How To Use Magnesium For Better Sleep

Tips For Sleep

You can up your magnesium intake through your diet by consuming more high-magnesium foods like:

• Whole wheat.
• Seeds.
• Dark leafy greens.
• Avocado.
• Edamame and black beans.
• Almonds, peanuts, and cashews.
• And the best news - dark chocolate. 

Supplements 

Magnesium supplements come in various forms, each with its own different absorption rates and benefits. There’s such a wide choice on the market these days so it’s all about finding the one that works best for you, whether it’s magnesium in tablet form, dissolvable powder, or something else. 

According to Henrietta Norton, Co-Founder and Technical Director of Wild Nutrition: “Magnesium supplements are an excellent way of increasing your magnesium levels, especially when demand for it is higher than usual (during times of stress or high intensity exercise for example). 

“Signs of being suboptimal in magnesium can be sleeplessness, anxiety, heart palpitations, muscle twitches and this is where supplements can be a great support. However, taking high doses of it is not the answer - absorption and the form of magnesium are key to avoid much of it being excreted. 

“So I would always recommend magnesium in a 'food form' so that it is gentler on the body and supports strong absorption through the gut, but with clinically effective results. 

Magnesium Products 

Another way to introduce more magnesium into daily routines is to treat yourself to some products with magnesium as the key ingredient. And of course, including our Magnesium Based Body Creams.

Here are some of our favourite magnesium products:

Magnesium Bath Milk

This beautiful silky bath milk is powered with mighty magnesium, which, when infused in a warm bath, helps relieve sore and tired muscles. The perfect predecessor for a deep and restful night’s sleep. It will also nourish, soothe, and hydrate skin thanks to skin-restoring jojoba oil, argan oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera.

Did you know? Taking a warm bath can increase your body temperature and help to regulate your circadian rhythm which can be disrupted by stress.

Shop Real Luxury Magnesium Bath Milk.

Magnesium Body Butter

Made with naturally derived ingredients and the magical mineral, all of our magnesium body butters nourish and soften the skin while helping you drift off with our signature dreamy scent.

When we put it to the test, 88% felt they had the best night's sleep after using the Perfect Night's Sleep Magnesium Body Butter.

Use our Great Day Magnesium Body Butter with zingy and uplifting essential oils of wild mint and mandarin, it’s the perfect daily boost. 

Scent To Sleep™

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the NEOM Scent To Sleep™ collection. Here you’ll find even more products, from pillow mists to bath milks and everything in between, specially formulated with 100% natural fragrances and designed to relax the mind and body. 

Using products like these, made to promote relaxation, is one of our top tried-and-test tips for sleep so we’re pretty sure you’ll love them too. Using them frequently can help your brain connect them with feelings of sleepiness and they can quickly become a symbol for bedtime.

Remember: We would always advise visiting your GP about any serious and prolonged stress or sleep issues but getting into good habits and prioritising your wellbeing can really help.

Find Everything You Need To Sleep Soundly Here at NEOM

Hopefully, you’re now feeling more in the know about all things magnesium, and are ready for a perfect night’s sleep… 

Once you’ve stocked up on your favourite NEOM Scent To Sleep™ products, don’t forget to explore the rest of our collection. 

We’ve made it super easy for you to shop by need, whether you’re looking for Better Sleep, Less Stress, More Energy or a Mood Boost.

Love this? Read more… How To Use Grounding To Reduce Stress | The NEOM Guide To Mood Boosting Scents | Top Tips For Levelling Up Your Wellbeing… and check out our Better Sleep Hub