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If you’re feeling stressed and anxious and you can’t pinpoint exactly why, you might be deficient in magnesium. Many mood disorders can be linked to the nutrients in our bodies, and magnesium is essential in helping to maintain nerve function. When you’re deficient in magnesium, your mood is sure to be affected, so find out more about why you need magnesium and how it works, and some good ways to get as much of it as you need to feel great.

How does it work?

Magnesium acts as a blocker in our nerves, and when there’s not enough of it present, nerve cells can become overactivated – and that’s when stress happens. Overactivated nerves can also send too many messages to the muscles, causing cramps and spasms.

Magnesium sources

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If you’re lacking in magnesium, the foods you should think about having more of are nuts and legumes, green leafy vegetables, and whole grains. Cashew nuts and almonds are especially good, and so is spinach. Find some interesting recipes that contain these helpful foods and get cooking – this relaxing activity will just help you to get closer to the relaxed state that magnesium promotes. Peanut butter is an easy way to get some more magnesium in your diet, and you might be surprised to hear that oatmeal is high in this important mineral, too.

What about a supplement?

If you’re very deficient in magnesium or just want a boost while you change your lifestyle to include a healthier diet, a supplement might be a good idea for you. To find out if your stress is a result of a magnesium deficiency, get your doctor to refer you to a specialist who can test your blood for this mineral – then make the changes that will have you on your way to a happier, calmer life.

Tags: cooking, Keeping Healthy, recipes