How magnesium can help your mental health

If you have ever had the opportunity to visit Bali, Indonesia you will notice how happy and appreciative the locals are. Part of this reason is their diet which includes foods high in magnesium. Compared with our Western diet, which is low in magnesium as it is often eliminated and highly processed. The recommended dietary requirement for magnesium is 310-320 mg for females and 410-420 mg for males. 

Anxiety is one of the more common mental health conditions that can affect your sleep, nerves, concentration, increased heart rate, feeling weak and so much more. With anxiety disorders now affecting 1 in 4 Australians at some point in their life, could our diet be responsible?

Magnesium has been shown to help manage cortisol levels and stress response system. It also helps the body with muscle tension by helping the muscle tissue to relax. This will give you a better night’s sleep by regulating the neurotransmitter GABA. It can help control the neurotransmitters in the brain, which can result in a calming effect in our bodies.

So how do I increase my magnesium intake?

You can start by changing your diet to include foods that have high magnesium such as:

• Soybeans
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Spinach
• Black Beans
• Sesame Seeds
• Quinoa
• Chia Seeds
• Almonds
• Soymilk
• Yogurt

By adding these foods to your diet, you could be helping your mental health.

So, what are you waiting for? Start the change for both you and your family by adding these high magnesium foods to your diet.

Bahagia “I feel happy today” (Balinese)