Mind that magnesium

I just ‘discovered’ the link between magnesium deficiency and mental wellness, and it’s mindblowing (to me). Tl;dr – low magnesium means low moods, as this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial concludes:

“Daily consumption of 500 mg magnesium oxide tablets for ≥8 wk by depressed patients suffering from magnesium deficiency leads to improvements in depression status and magnesium levels. Therefore, assessment of the magnesium serum and resolving this deficiency positively influence the treatment of depressed patients.”

I think it all started when I realised when I switch my daily magnesium supplement from magnesium citrate to magnesium L-threonate. I stupidly forgot to check the dosage levels, and the threonate version is three times lesser than the citrate one. I switched in Jan, and started to feel low moods by March. Maybe the deficiency needed time to build up, within 1-2 months. And with stress/anxiety triggers due to work in March, that brought about the low period. The real clicher was when when I upped my magnesium dosage recently upon realising my mistake. And almost immediately, my low moods disappeared. Like it never happened. I even tried to bring back some of those sad thoughts that circled in my mind, but nothing. So it’s not emotional or psychological, not “something I need to work through”.

Coincidence? A tiny possibility, but the personal observations, experience and studies seem to triangulate towards what this article said:

…low magnesium levels have been linked with:

• Higher levels of stress
• Depression
• Insomnia or sleep disturbances
• Headaches or muscle pain/tightness
• Fatigue

Magnesium plays two important roles in the brain, which may contribute to these symptoms:

• It blocks the activity of more stimulating neurotransmitters and binds to calming receptors, resulting in a more peaceful, resting state.
• It helps to regulate the release of stress hormones like cortisol, acting like the brake on your body’s nervous system.

It really makes me wonder… is that why people love chocolate when they’re sad? (Chocolate has high levels of magnesium). I’ve known my carnivore friends to mention that they would crave chocolate when they are low on magnesium.

That also made me think if my previous mild to moderate depressive episodes were due to undetected magnesium deficiencies! OMG was it all just a chemical imbalance? Generally I hate that perspective on mental health issues, but this might just be an exception to the rule…

Mindblown.

Next time you feel low, maybe try taking some dark chocolate, spinach, beans, cashews, or almonds. Who knows, it might just be a magnesium deficiency acting out, not a broken mind.