The mineral is present in foods such as leafy greens, avocado, and dark chocolate. However, a National Health and Nutrition Examination1 survey found that 48% of Americans weren’t getting enough of it in their diets between 2013 and 2016. Enter: magnesium supplements, of which there are many forms. On its own, magnesium has very low bioavailability. To be turned into a supplement, the mineral is paired with another organic compound that makes it easier for the body to absorb. The resulting combination is either organic, in this case meaning it dissolves well in liquid, or inorganic, meaning it doesn’t. Organic forms of magnesium tend to be more easily absorbed2 and therefore more bioavailable. Inorganic and less absorbable magnesium combinations, such as magnesium carbonate, magnesium chloride, magnesium gluconate, and magnesium oxide, tend to come with certain side effects. “It forms these clusters of water,” functional medicine doctor Robert Rountree, M.D., explains in an episode of the mindbodygreen podcast, “and that basically hurries things along in the gut, shall we say.” Yep, loose stools, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping can occur when you take certain kinds of magnesium or when you consume the mineral in high doses. (The recommended cap on magnesium supplementation is 350 milligrams daily for adults.) This is the form of magnesium that mindbodygreen chose to make its first sleep supplement, sleep support+.* The mineral is paired with PharmaGABA, a natural sleep enhancer, and jujube, a fruit used in traditional Chinese medicine for calming and sedation, for a formula that can help people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling restored.* And the glycinate’s bioavailability means that these benefits won’t be lost on you.* Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
