Magnesium glycinate is good for sleep and recovery but functional medicine asks: Is it right for YOU? In this article, we want to tell you the signs that indicate you may need magnesium glycinate.
Sign 1: You are not sleeping well and struggling with midnight crashes
“In functional medicine, sleep is a key indicator of nervous system balance and mineral status.”
Problem: Sleep may be affecting you in different ways. You may struggle to fall or stay asleep, wake up tired, anxious, or restless in the morning, feeling high stress levels during the day, etc. Sleep issues are associated with magnesium deficiency, according to studies.
Solution: In today’s modern lifestyle, it is always important to track your sleep and stress patterns.
Sign 2: You are dealing with muscle cramps and they may get worse at night
“Muscle symptoms are often the body’s way of signaling an underlying nutrient imbalance rather than a need for pain suppression.”
Problem: You feel muscle soreness but may keep ignoring it. You may have taken pain killer to manage it but still your issue continues.
Solution: Work on the roots and not the temporary solution. You may have magnesium deficiency. Focus on diet first, then you may consider taking magnesium supplements and experience the transformational change especially when you have deficiency.
Sign 3: How well do you know magnesium-rich foods—and are you eating enough of them?
“Functional medicine often starts with diet before supplements”
Problem: Functional medicine often begins with diet before supplements. Many people unknowingly consume too little magnesium because they are unaware of the best food sources. Dark leafy greens, seeds, and beans, nuts and dark chocolate are rich in magnesium. You should consume them.
Solution: Start consuming magnesium rich food.
Sign 4: You may not have checked for symptoms of low magnesium and may be experiencing them without realizing it
“Symptoms are not random in functional medicine—they are messages pointing toward deeper imbalances.”
Problem: Common signs of magnesium deficiency may include difficulty sleeping, anxiety, irritability, muscle cramps or tightness, restless leg syndrome, low mood, tiredness.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it's a signal it may be worth consulting your healthcare provider and investigating magnesium deficiency.
Solution: You may consider basic testing like serum magnesium, RBC magnesium and other tests on recommendation by a functional medicine expert. Testing can reveal whether magnesium is actually needed or not.
Sign 5: You are taking a magnesium supplement but it's not working
“The effectiveness of supplementation depends not just on the nutrient, but on the form, dose, and individual needs.”
Problem: You may have read somewhere that magnesium is supportive for sleep and muscle recovery. Also you must have read it is involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. You may have started with a magnesium supplement but have you chosen it wisely?
Magnesium glycinate is for sleep and anxiety, magnesium citrate is for digestion and constipation, magnesium threonate is for brain health, magnesium oxide is low cost but poor absorption.
Solution: Choosing the right magnesium form by a doctor-recommended brand is important. Start with a low dose, track results and adjust with guidance.
Sign 6: You are taking the right magnesium supplement but never built a sleep routine for yourself
“Supplements support the body best when lifestyle habits create the right conditions for healing.”
Problem: You are very inconsistent in your sleep schedule and keep scrolling your phone even after taking magnesium supplements. You are not maintaining calmness.
Solution: Start building a simple sleep routine, work on fixing bedtime schedule, avoid screening an hour before sleep, reduce caffeine after 2 PM, do gentle stretching daily and practise breathing/relaxation before sleep.
You may be surprised to know that magnesium works best when you feel calm (You feel calm when you take actions that help to keep calm.)
Final takeaway
Before starting a magnesium supplement, ask yourself:
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Are you sure you have magnesium deficiency?
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Is your lifestyle healthy enough so that supplements can complement?
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Have you taken an opinion from an expert?
