My bestfriend asked me what my holy grail anti-aging supplement is & I knew she expected me to state an impressive sounding supplement that (probably) neither of us could pronounce.
But honestly, I couldn’t help but say magnesium, because in my opinion its one of the most underrated and misunderstood supplements/nutrients.
I have spent A LOT of time studying magnesium & I wish so deeply that people knew how important this mineral is. That pretty much every single mental & physical health condition that exists today is linked to a magnesium deficiency.
It is the second most abundant element inside of your cells & 4th most abundant inside of your body.
It is considered the “spark of life” and without sounding too woo-woo, it is my personal opinion that a lack of magnesium (& minerals in general), is what creates ‘darkness’ in someone’s mind & body.
That darkness does not only affect your health but your perception of life. Resulting in experiencing more negativity, engaging in more negativity and thereby also attracting it. Again this is just my personal opinion, but I believe that if the world were no longer magnesium deficient, there would be far less evil.
When I think of magnesium I think of light, happiness, peace, stress resilience, joy. I mean its literally used to make fireworks and creates a bright white light when burned.
After the immense amounts of research I have done, I think regularly supplementing magnesium is one of the best preventative measures any human can take to not only age well but also to protect against most chronic disease.
I am passionate about sharing this information because 99% of the people I meet think magnesium is just for sleep & muscle cramps 🤣💕
So here are 10 of the most important magnesium facts that will blow your mind, PLUS a breakdown of which forms of magnesium are actually worth your money (& which ones are a waste). Let’s get into it!
10 Mind Blowing Facts 🧠🤯
Fact 1: Centenarians have way more magnesium in their bodies
People who live to 100 years old and over, have higher total body magnesium & lower calcium levels than most elderly people. That’s not a coincidence, it’s one of the patterns researchers keep finding when they look at what actually separates people who age well from people who don’t.
Fact 2: Our calcium-to-magnesium ratio has gotten WAY out of balance
Research shows the ancient diet our earliest ancestors ate had a calcium to magnesium ratio of roughly 1:1. Today? That ratio sits anywhere between 5:1 and 15:1. We’re consuming so much more calcium relative to magnesium and this is a problem (see fact 3 below).
Fact 3: A magnesium deficiency can actually cause a calcium excess
Dr Jean Durlach & other researchers in the 1900s were convinced that aging tissues carry roughly 3x more calcium than magnesium. As it turns out, a deficiency in magnesium can actually cause an excess of calcium building up in the body. These two minerals work in balance (think of a seesaw) & when one is missing, the other gets thrown off too. Oh & btw calcium excess can lead to calcification in the body which is linked to major chronic diseases 🙃.
Fact 4: It’s tied to basically every chronic disease you can think of
Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol… & honestly any inflammatory condition (basically all of the main causes of mortality today)…magnesium deficiency is a major factor in it. This is why it is one of my favourite preventative measures!
Fact 5: Stress burns through your magnesium stores fast
Prolonged psychological stress raises your stress hormones...literally just negative thought patterns can do this...something that was happening to me for many years!
Those stress hormones deplete your body’s magnesium. In fact, magnesium is the first nutrient your body uses up when it’s under stress. Someone who has been through prolonged periods of stress can take up to a year to build up their bodies magnesium stores again. However, in the same respect, magnesium is the stress relief mineral, the more magnesium you have in your tissues, the more stress resilient you’ll actually feel.
Fact 6: It protects your telomeres (aka your aging clock)
Telomeres are the components of your chromosomes that basically hold the key to aging. Magnesium prevents telomeres from deteriorating, which means it’s playing a direct role in the aging process at a cellular level.
Fact 7: It’s required for making energy in your cells
ATP is the energy currency of the cell, every bit of energy you use throughout your day comes from it. ATP goes through 8 steps to actually get made, & 6 out of those 8 steps require magnesium. Without magnesium, that energy just…doesn’t get produced.
Fact 8: Higher magnesium intake = lower risk of death from any cause
A study published in 2014 documented a 34% lower risk of all causes of death in men & women who had a higher intake of magnesium. Ps. there are a lot of statistics like this.
Fact 9: It can cut the risk of death after a heart attack by over half
An analysis of 7 major clinical studies found that intravenous magnesium reduced the risk of death by 55% after an acute heart attack. The highest concentration of magnesium is stored in the heart & brain, which makes sense when you see how many heart & brain conditions are linked to magnesium deficiency.
Fact 10: Magnesium is involved in SO much, science can’t even pin down its “most important” job
There are thousands of ways our bodies use magnesium, it affects 80% of the body’s biochemistry. Which honestly makes it impossible for science to land on a single “most important function,” because it’s doing crucial work basically everywhere, all the time.
But here’s the catch: not all magnesium is created equal
Ok so here’s the thing nobody tells you. You could be taking magnesium every single day & still not be getting the benefits above, & it all comes down to one word: bioavailability.
When you’re choosing a supplement, bioavailability is what determines whether you’re actually helping your body… or just wasting your money.
For example — the magnesium supplements you’ll find in most drugstores use a form called magnesium oxide. It’s cheap, it’s everywhere, & it’s very poorly absorbed, with a bioavailability of only around 4%. That basically means your body isn’t able to absorb the nutrient, & your cells just can’t use it. You could be taking a magnesium supplement religiously & barely getting any of the benefit.
So what actually works? Magnesium is most bioavailable to your cells in liquid form. That’s the whole reason I got obsessed with making magnesium bicarbonate water in the first place. Oh, & it’s also super affordable and natural!
Why I make magnesium bicarbonate water (magnesium-rich water)
Magnesium bicarbonate water is an ionic, dissolved solution that’s ready for gut absorption straight away, no tablet disintegration needed. & it only takes 2 minutes to prepare.
How to make it with MgBicarbH2O+:
- Mix ½ tsp of MgBicarbH2O in 1.5L of sparkling water
- Shake for 30 seconds
- Refrigerate overnight (or at least 2 hours - shake again in between if you want it made faster)
- Your weekly supply of magnesium-rich water is ready
- Drink roughly 200ml a day
Easy 2 minute prep time, & one pack lasts up to 6 months.
Other forms of magnesium (& which ones to avoid)
I know not everyone wants to make their own magnesium water, so here’s a quick breakdown of where other forms fit in:
Transdermal absorption (through the skin) — magnesium baths or footbaths:
- Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts)
- Magnesium chloride (magnesium flakes)
Supplements:
- Magnesium glycinate/bisglycinate — my personal favourite in supplement form
- Magnesium malate, threonate, taurate — all totally fine in supplement form
Forms I’d avoid:
- Magnesium oxide — poorly absorbed, mostly a waste of money
- Magnesium citrate — it is well absorbed, but it’s known to irritate the gut & is actually often used specifically for constipation relief, so it’s not always the gentlest daily option
What people are saying about MgBicarbH2O
“Just wanted to say how great the MG bicarbonate is. I’ve used so many supplements down the years and this may be the best in terms of the instant impact on my health, energy and wellbeing. It even seems to settle my digestion. Makes me believe I’ve been mag deficient pretty much my whole life, even as a child.”
“Your magnesium bicarbonate powder has helped me so much during the day, didn’t realize how much stress I had before! I’m so calm now.”
“I sleep so well thanks to your magnesium water!!”
Magnesium genuinely might be the single most underrated supplement out there & the form you take really does matter. If you’ve been taking a magnesium supplement & not feeling much difference, it might just be down to bioavailability, not the mineral itself.
Want to learn more cool info like this? [Watch my video on magnesium here ]
It is an oldie but the information is solid and make sure to subscribe to my channel as I will be uploading new magnesium videos very soon!
As always, to your health 💖
Note: this article is purely for educational and inspirational purposes, some things stated here are my own personal opinion and should not replace medical advice.
