May indeed features the first big holiday of the summer but May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, which is designed to bring awareness to mental health issues. If you are experiencing some mental health issues, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in five Americans experience mental health issues.1
When worry gets the best of you, it’s time to find proactive ways to relax and enjoy little moments of joy. Fortunately, there are many relaxation techniques to choose from including:2
- Aromatherapy
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
- Massage
- Tai chi, yoga, or other forms of exercise
- Music or art therapy
- Hydrotherapy
In addition, eating a healthy diet that focuses on omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and fermented foods can also help you relax and cope better with stress.3 Avoiding excess alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and caffeine will also help.3 Dietary supplements like magnesium citrate can help as well.
Relaxation Support with Magnesium Citrate
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for human health as it is an essential co-factor in more than 300 biochemical reactions that include the heart, bones, nerves, and muscles.4 It’s not surprising then that a review of 18 different studies found that magnesium can also help with relaxation in people who are feeling occasional stress.5
Research shows that not getting enough magnesium can make the body more susceptible to the negative effects of stress.6 Seeds, nuts, legumes, and green leafy vegetables are great food sources of magnesium and magnesium is also available as a dietary supplement to help ensure you get enough each day.4
Keep in mind that when it comes to supplements, there are several different forms of magnesium to choose from. If you are looking for the form that is easiest for your body to digest and better absorbed, consider magnesium citrate.7 Magnesium Citrate Gummies are an ideal way to get your magnesium because they taste great, and four gummies daily provide 320 mg of magnesium.
Whether you look forward to a relaxing weekend or celebrating Mental Health Awareness this month, consider getting a little extra relaxation support from sunshine, relaxing activities, and magnesium citrate.
For more tips on nutrition, mindful wellness practices, and helping your family feel their best, follow us on Facebook @kalvits and Instagram at @kalvitamins!
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About mental health. 2023;Apr 25. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
- May Clinic. Relaxation techniques: try these steps to lower stress. 2024;Jan 24. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368
- Naidoo U. Eat to beat stress. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2021;15(1):39-42. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7781050/
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium fact sheet for health professionals. 2022;June 2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
- Boyle NB, Lawton C, Dye L. The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress—a systematic review. Nutrients. 2017;9(5):429. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452159/
- Pickering G, Mazur A, Trousselard M, et al. Magnesium status and stress: the vicious circle concept revisited. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):3672. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761127/
- Kappeler D, Heimbeck I, Herpich C, et al. Higher bioavailability of magnesium citrate as compared to magnesium oxide shown by evaluation of urinary excretion and serum levels after single-dose administration in a randomized cross-over study. BMC Nutrition. 2017;3. https://bmcnutr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40795-016-0121-3
