Sleep math and stressfully staring at the clock often becomes a frustrating and unwelcome part of your nighttime ritual. No matter if you've journaled, meditated, practiced gentle yoga, sometimes tossing and turning is just a part of life  regardless of how good your pre-sleep routine is.  But let's not forget, that getting good sleep is basically the VIP treatment for your physical and mental well-being. So, it's pretty clear that stressing about sleep just adds an unneeded layer to the whole falling/staying asleep game. And so the vicious cycle begins. 

It's not uncommon either! Many studies show that most of us get less than 7 hours of sleep each night! Even worse, 40-50% of women struggle with falling and staying asleep, restless legs, and insomnia, at all phases of life including pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. Thanks hormones. To make matters worse, half of Americans are deficient in magnesium according to a study by JAOA. If you’re asking yourself, what does magnesium have to do with sleep and restless legs? keep reading.

Magic of Magnesium: What is it good for?

The benefits of Magnesium are nearly endless when it comes to the body. It's actually involved in over 300 different processes like boosting and balancing your mood by regulating stress hormone cortisol and happy calm hormones of dopamine and serotonin, muscle and nerve function, and supports a healthy immune system, even sleep. The stress - estrogen - sleep - magnesium connection is real.

Sweet Dreams💤

Getting quality sleep is essential for that radiant no makeup needed glow. Magnesium helps regulate your body's internal clock known as your circadian rhythm, making sure you get restful sleep. It even promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety by regulating neurotransmitters GABA that calm the nervous system. So, say goodbye to a restful night of tossing and turning.

Soothe Anxiety Naturally 😌

Life gets busy to say the least, a little anxiety is normal, but too much can be overwhelming. Magnesium acts as a natural calming ability, helping to reduce anxiety levels. It regulates the release of stress hormones and supports a balanced mood. Hello, inner peace!

According to Dr Michele Duffy and Kate Duffy, NBHWC,  the mother and daughter duo at SHE Health, a Functional Medicine practice dedicated to digging into the root causes of stress and anxiety, ‘magnesium is one of the first nutrients the stress response uses up to create serotonin.’ Hence magnesium deficiency if you’re often stressed.

“In perimenopause and menopause our estrogen levels are naturally declining. Estrogen is important in nervous system regulation.” We’re looking at you serotonin. “In a state of stress, serotonin is vital in calming the cortisol response. Without estrogen it’s easy to stay in a chronic state of stress.” And why so many functional and integrative doctors recommend magnesium to help promote restfulness.

Bye Restless Legs and Muscle Cramps🦵

Ever experienced those annoying muscle cramps or uncontrollable urge to move your legs during the night? What a pain! SHEHealth also shares that ‘restless legs and muscle cramps can be worsened by magnesium deficiency.’

Magnesium supports nerve function, relaxes the muscles, improves muscle function and prevents excessive contraction, which means fewer cramps and less twitching. It's like a gentle massage from the inside out, calming those restless legs.

How to Add More Magnesium to your Daily Routine - Skin & Gut Connection 

I’m no different and struggle with poor sleep, muscle cramps, and restless legs. Frustrated and exhausted, I tried everything from magnesium supplements, magnesium sprays to melatonin. But magnesium supplements gave me belly cramps and more digestive issues and magnesium sprays burned and irritated my skin, so I took matters into my own hands.

• Eat your Way to More Magnesium - Foods like avocados, black beans, chickpeas, bananas, and dark leafy greens will not only support your body with antioxidant rich skin food but magnesium also promotes less anxiety, restful sleep and better muscle recovery.
• Try a Magnesium Lotion Every Night - it's the perfect night time routine. 

But do magnesium lotions actually work?

Slathering on a magnesium lotion, like Melt Magnesium and Oat Body Cream as a part of your night time ritual not only promotes better sleep, relaxes muscles, calms your mind, the repairing moisturizing oils and butters with soothing oat gifts softer intensely hydrated restored skin.

Our ultra luxurious body cream is next level. Less thick than a body butter, richer than a lotion, but sinks in like a dream. The Best Part? 200 mg of Magnesium, a superhero mineral in each tablespoon of Melt Magnesium Body Cream encourages improved restful sleep and calms muscles WITHOUT all the crappy (pun intended) side effects Yes please! And That’s how Melt was born.

Pro Tip: Slathering a heaping tablespoon of all over your feet and entire body (neck down). 

Remember, above all, getting good sleep is a key part of a holistic and healthy lifestyle. 😴So, here's to a more relaxed, rejuvenated you, with magnesium by your side! Sweet dreams and less stressful days ahead! ✨🌙