How Magnesium Relieves Anxiety & Stress (detailed guide)

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Last updated October 23, 2023.
Edited and medically reviewed by Patrick Alban, DC. Written by Deane Alban.

The benefits of magnesium for anxiety and stress are substantial, yet up to 75% of us are deficient. Learn how to boost your magnesium level naturally.

Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral that is so good for anxiety and stress that it’s been called “nature’s Valium.” 

The correlation between magnesium and anxiety is so strong that researchers can intentionally induce anxiety in lab animals by depriving them of magnesium. 

Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of metabolic functions, yet fewer than half of us get adequate magnesium from the food we eat. 

Over the past 70 years, magnesium intake has plummeted while rates of anxiety have skyrocketed

This may not be a coincidence.

The Many Ways Magnesium Alleviates Anxiety

Magnesium can be a near miracle for alleviating stress and anxiety.

This mineral works by a surprising number of mechanisms to induce a state of relaxation, calm anxiety, and keep the brain healthy.

1. Magnesium Increases Relaxing GABA

One way magnesium counters stress is by binding to and stimulating GABA receptors in the brain. 

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, one that slows brain activity.

When GABA is low, your brain gets stuck in the “on” position and it becomes very hard to relax.

If you are easily overwhelmed, disorganized, always finding something new to worry about, or lying awake at night with racing thoughts, you likely have low GABA levels.

A low GABA level is associated with numerous stress-related disorders, including anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and diseases characterized by involuntary movements such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, and Huntington’s chorea. 

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2. Magnesium Reduces Stress Hormones

Excess levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol contribute to anxiety, brain fog, depression, mood swings, memory loss, dementia, concentration problems, insomnia, and mental disorders of all kinds.

Magnesium restricts the release of stress hormones and acts as a filter to prevent them from entering the brain. 

Carolyn Dean, MD, ND, author of the perennial bestseller The Magnesium Miracle, has found magnesium deficiency to be a major contributor to anxiety and panic attacks.

Related on Be Brain Fit —
How to Reduce Cortisol, the Stress Hormone

She explains that, under stress, the body creates stress hormones that cause a cascade of physical effects, all of which consume magnesium.

After studying the effects of magnesium for decades, she has found the link between anxiety and magnesium to be so strong that she emphatically states that to put an end to anxiety, you must boost your magnesium level.

" One study found magnesium to be as effective as prescription antidepressants for treating depression. 

One of the most common signs of magnesium deficiency is muscle tightness and cramping.

Tight muscles don’t just make you feel tense, they actually trigger the flight-or-fight response which, in turn, releases the stress hormones epinephrine and cortisol. 

Taking magnesium can help your muscles relax and end this problematic cycle.

3. Magnesium Is Anti-Inflammatory

Another way magnesium addresses anxiety is via its anti-inflammatory properties

Chronic inflammation can take hold anywhere in the body, even in the brain.

Brain inflammation has been linked to numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s

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A low magnesium level is linked to high levels of pro-inflammatory markers. 

Inflammatory immune system messengers called cytokines activate inflammation in the brain, but, in excess, can destroy brain tissue and alter brain function. 

Cytokines play a role in anxiety, depression, memory loss, apathy, slowed responses, irritability, inability to focus, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and increased risk of suicide. 

4. Magnesium May Remove Heavy Metals

Neurotoxic metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum are linked to anxiety, as well as a long list of neurological disorders. 

Unfortunately, they can cross your brain’s filter, the blood-brain barrier, and accumulate in the brain

There’s some evidence that magnesium binds with and removes heavy metals from the body, particularly from the liver, blood, and muscles. 

This is a good start, but it’s yet to be discovered whether magnesium can remove toxic metals from the brain.

5. Magnesium Increases Brain Plasticity

The brain’s ability to heal itself, create new brain cells, and make new neural connections throughout life is known as neuroplasticity or brain plasticity.

Magnesium is one of the few nutrients known to increase brain plasticity

Interestingly, there’s evidence that increasing magnesium intake can enhance the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy when it’s used for treating anxiety disorders. 

This may be due to an increased level of brain plasticity, enabling the brain to rewire itself to become less anxious.

6. Magnesium Can Help Depression

If you experience anxiety, you may also experience depression since these two disorders often go hand in hand.

In fact, 90% of those with an anxiety disorder experience depression and 85% of those with major depressive disorder are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. 

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  • Helps increase resilience to stress to avoid mental burnout
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Magnesium can help with both

One study found magnesium to be as effective as prescription antidepressants for treating depression. 

Another study found that supplemental magnesium glycinate or magnesium taurinate provided significant relief from general depression and major depressive disorder quickly, often within a week

One of the ways magnesium helps depression is by raising levels of mood-boosting brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein that stimulates the formation of new brain cells.  

And, as discussed previously, magnesium reduces inflammation, a suspected root cause of depression.  

7. Magnesium Keeps Blood Sugar Stable

Magnesium stabilizes blood sugar levels and that is good news for the brain. 

The brain’s main fuel source is glucose and it needs a steady supply.

When the brain doesn’t get the fuel it needs and blood sugar drops too low, the adrenal glands kick in to release epinephrine and cortisol.

This causes stored sugar to be released to increase the blood sugar level back to normal. 

If you’ve ever experienced a low blood sugar attack, you know how anxious it can make you feel.

The symptoms of a hypoglycemic attack — nervousness, shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness — feel almost exactly like an anxiety attack.

If you suspect that your anxiety is related to hypoglycemia, it’s important that you monitor your diet. 

Limit your intake of refined carbohydrates and focus on eating more protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates instead.

Additionally, take a magnesium supplement.

Research shows that taking 340 mg per day can prevent blood sugar from dipping too low in people with hypoglycemia. 

8. Magnesium Enhances Overall Mental Well-Being

Addressing a magnesium deficiency can have a profound impact on your life.

You can expect to experience better overall mental well-being — feeling happier, more relaxed, and more resilient to stress, and having improved focus and concentration, increased energy, and better sleep — once you’ve optimized your magnesium intake.

This one change could make you feel less anxious and more in control of your life.

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Dr. Pat

How Modern Life Robs You of Magnesium

You might wonder why magnesium deficiency has become so common, and whether you get enough magnesium.

The dietary intake of magnesium has plummeted over the past 100 years.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the average American consumed 500 mg daily.

Now the average daily intake is around 200 mg.

magnesium intake chart
The average American daily magnesium intake has dropped by 50% from 1900 to 2000.

The result is that upwards of 75% of Americans have subpar levels of magnesium

Deficiency is common in other countries around the world as well. 

Here are the main reasons magnesium deficiency has become so prevalent:

  • We’re eating more refined foods, which contain very little magnesium. Even the healthiest foods can be low in magnesium since most crops are grown in mineral-depleted soil
  • Chronic stress is a magnesium thief. It causes magnesium to be excreted during urination. 

In short, nearly everyone could benefit from more magnesium.

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The Top Food Sources of Magnesium

Magnesium can be found in many unprocessed foods. 

According to the US National Institutes of Health, these foods contain 10% or more of your magnesium DV (daily value) per average serving size: 

  • pumpkin seeds
  • chia seeds
  • almonds
  • spinach
  • cashews
  • peanuts
  • shredded wheat cereal
  • soy milk
  • black beans
  • edamame
  • peanut butter
  • baked potato
  • brown rice
  • plain yogurt

Note that chocolate, often touted as a top source of magnesium, did not make the list.

This is a big disappointment for us chocoholics who claim that we eat it “for the magnesium.”

Paradoxically, eating legumes, seeds, and grains won’t help as much as you’d expect since they also contain phytates.

These naturally occurring compounds inhibit the absorption of most minerals, including magnesium. 

Drink Magnesium-Rich Mineral Water

Another way to get more magnesium is to drink mineral water from natural springs.

Mineral waters have a long history of promoting health.

People around the world have been soaking in hot springs and drinking these waters for thousands of years.

Popular bottled brands include San Pellegrino, Perrier, and Evian.

Gerolsteiner sparkling water from Germany is particularly high in magnesium.

A one-liter bottle contains 108 mg, roughly 25% of the United States RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance).

You can compare the magnesium content of hundreds of brands of mineral water using this mineral water calculator.

Drinking these health-promoting waters might seem like an extravagance.

Still, they actually cost less per ounce than many drinks Americans already spend billions on, such as coffee lattes, soda, bottled teas, and energy drinks.

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The Best Magnesium Supplements for Anxiety

When looking for a magnesium supplement, the kind of magnesium you choose matters a lot.

Taking the wrong form of magnesium can actually make you sick.

Choosing a good magnesium supplement can be very confusing since there are so many forms.

Here are some guidelines for picking the best magnesium supplement for you.

The Two Worst Forms of Supplemental Magnesium: Magnesium Oxide and Magnesium Sulfate

First, let me steer you away from the worst forms of magnesium.

Inexpensive magnesium supplements often use magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate which are well known for their laxative effect.

Magnesium oxide is not good for increasing overall magnesium levels and won’t do a thing for your anxiety.

Only 4% of it is absorbed, the rest simply passes on through and may have you running to the bathroom. 

Magnesium sulfate, the kind found in Epsom salts, may ease your anxiety when you add it to a hot bath, but it’s too harsh to be taken internally.

It “works” as a laxative by causing watery diarrhea. 

There’s a long list of other magnesium sulfate side effects, many of which can be quite serious, including vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and seizures. 

Pick a Magnesium Supplement That’s Best Suited to Your Symptoms

Here are a handful of safe magnesium supplements and their typical best uses: 

  • magnesium carbonate — used in antacids; strong laxative effect
  • magnesium citrate — most popular all-around magnesium supplement; moderate laxative effects
  • magnesium gluconate — excellent bioavailability; used to treat magnesium deficiency
  • magnesium glycinate — considered ideal for correcting deficiency; calming, good for sleep
  • magnesium hydroxide — found in milk of magnesia; laxative, antacid
  • magnesium malate — fatigue, fibromyalgia, insomnia
  • magnesium taurate — high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, calming

According to a study that compared the bioavailability of various magnesium types, magnesium taurate, citrate, and malate were the most bioavailable forms, while magnesium sulfate and oxide were the least. 

There’s a lot of hype surrounding topical magnesium applied as either a cream or spray, but so far there’s no scientific evidence to support that it raises magnesium levels. 

Magnesium L-Threonate: The Best Form for the Brain

A little-known form of magnesium that is particularly helpful for the brain is magnesium l-threonate.

Unlike other forms of magnesium, it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain. 

Magnesium l-threonate’s unique ability to permeate brain cell membranes and elevate magnesium concentrations in the brain makes it particularly useful for treating anxiety and depression and for cognitive enhancement. 

Look for supplements that contain Magtein®, a patented brand of magnesium l-threonate that is a proven cognitive enhancer.

While magnesium l-threonate may be tops for the brain, it’s not the best for addressing an overall magnesium deficiency since it contains relatively little elemental magnesium per dose.

Take a “Grade A” Magnesium Supplement

LabDoor.com buys supplements off the shelf and then has them analyzed at independent research facilities for purity, safety, label accuracy, nutritional value, and projected efficacy.

Before you buy a magnesium supplement, you can check out their complete magnesium ratings here.

I was dismayed to see that one of the most popular magnesium supplements on Amazon contained lead, cadmium, and arsenic. 

These findings are a disturbing reminder not to be complacent when buying any supplement.

You really do need to do your homework if you want to get the results you’re hoping for.

Related on Be Brain Fit —
See our 10-point evaluation checklist for how to choose a good supplement.

It will keep you from wasting money and time on supplements that don’t work.

Magnesium Dosages

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for magnesium depends somewhat on age but is generally 420 mg for men and 320 mg for women. 

However, some people benefit from more, especially initially when their magnesium stores are low.

There is no recognized upper limit on how much magnesium can be safely taken, but one analysis of human studies found the maximum intake to be 1,400 mg per day. 

This amount was safely taken by study participants with no ill effects.

We suggest that you start with the RDA and work your way up gradually if you are not getting the results you desire.

You’ll know it’s time to cut back if you experience digestive upset.

Magnesium Side Effects and Interactions

We’ve already covered the most common side effect of magnesium — loose stools.

This is most likely to occur when taking poorly absorbed forms like magnesium oxide and magnesium sulfate.

The only reported side effects of magnesium l-threonate are headaches and drowsiness the first week or so.

However, magnesium can alter the effectiveness of certain medications by affecting how much of the drug is absorbed

According to Drugs.com, magnesium supplements have hundreds of known interactions with medications. 

If you take antibiotics, high blood pressure medications, osteoporosis medications, or muscle relaxants, discuss taking magnesium supplements with your healthcare provider.

In the meantime, you can check for interactions using one of these reputable online interaction checkers

Should You Test Your Magnesium Level?

Unfortunately, standard blood tests for magnesium aren’t of much help since only 1% of the body’s magnesium stores reside in the blood. 

According to the US National Institutes of Health’s Magnesium Fact Sheet for Professionals, blood levels have little correlation with total body magnesium levels or concentrations in specific tissues like the brain.

They recommend having a clinical assessment based on symptoms, along with laboratory tests.

Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms

Typical signs of low-grade magnesium deficiency include: 

  • anxiety or panic attacks
  • brain fog
  • caffeine dependence
  • constipation
  • dark circles under the eyes
  • easily startled
  • feeling “tired but wired”
  • feeling weak and tired after exercise
  • frequent headaches, including migraines
  • heart palpitations
  • inability to handle stress
  • insomnia
  • lack of focus and concentration
  • low blood pressure
  • low blood sugar
  • muscle cramps
  • muscle tightness
  • never feeling rested even after a good night’s sleep
  • restless leg syndrome
  • salt cravings

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