What is the Link between Magnesium and Restless Legs Syndrome?

Magnesium is a vital mineral for normal body functioning. Your kidneys, heart, teeth, and bones rely on magnesium to function properly. It influences enzyme and energy production. It also regulates calcium absorption in the body.

Where to get magnesium

You can get calcium from the following sources:

• Whole grains
• Nuts
• Green veggies

Conditions that lead to magnesium deficiency

Certain conditions can upset your body’s magnesium balance. They include gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes, and pancreatitis. Other conditions such as restless legs syndrome, along with insomnia, may also point to a magnesium deficiency in your body.

The link between magnesium deficiency and restless legs syndrome

Both anecdotal evidence, as well as scientific studies, link magnesium deficiency with restless legs syndrome. In fact, research indicates that magnesium plays a vital role in the human body chemistry, which regulates sleep.

People who suffer from insomnia and abnormal brain waves are often deficient in key minerals like magnesium. Doctors also believe that boosting the magnesium level in the body is one of the holistic treatments you can use to alleviate the symptoms of restless legs syndrome. Magnesium relaxes body muscles and nerves. If calcium leads to the contraction of skeletal muscle fibers, magnesium, on the other hand, causes muscle relaxation.

If your body is having excess calcium and lacks magnesium inside the body cells, you are likely to develop sustained muscle contractions such as twitches, muscle spasms, and convulsions.

Magnesium plays a key role in allowing a little, but enough calcium to the nerve cells. This will allow electrical transmission from the nerves to the brain.

The effects of too much calcium

Too much calcium can irritate vital but delicate brain nerve cells. Therefore, the balancing effect of magnesium plays an important role in regulating calcium to minimize this nerve irritation. Remember, if the cells are irritated by calcium, they will fire repeated electrical impulses. Consequently, they will deplete their energy stores, which can cause cell death. 

How to take magnesium

Eating a lot of whole grains can help your body get more magnesium. You can also eat oatmeal as well as bran cereals. Moreover, you can go for other sources of magnesium like baked potatoes and green vegetables. Other sources include tofu and soybean flour products.

Research also indicates that nuts and seeds are rich in many vitamins and minerals like magnesium. Therefore, consider taking the following nuts into your diet:

• Almonds 
• Cashews 
• Pumpkin seed
• Black walnuts 
• Pistachios
• Peanuts

Other foods that contain magnesium are chocolates and bananas.

Magnesium in herbs

There are a number of herbs that are rich in magnesium. Herbs are so versatile, making them easier to incorporate into meals. Increase your magnesium level by enjoying the different herbs below:

• Coriander 
• Dill 
• Celery seed
• Sage
• Basil 
• Fennel 
• Tarragon 
• Marjoram 

It is also advisable to take vitamin B complex and multivitamins containing magnesium since they influence the absorption of magnesium into the body. You can also take magnesium citrate powder, Epsom salts baths, as well as pills since they are rich in magnesium.