How Can Magnesium Bath Salts Help You?
Magnesium is an essential mineral which is responsible for over 300 processes in the body, including those relating to sleep, skin and muscle health.
Yet, it’s estimated that over 50% of the UKs population is deficient, as we do not get enough of it these days. Modern lifestyles strip the body due to external factors such as stress, alcohol and exercise. Plus, we are no longer getting as much nutritional Magnesium in our diets[1].
Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency
- Muscular Aches
- Fatigue
- Dry, Itchy Skin
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Low Mood
- Anxiety
- Cramps
- Headaches
The main challenge is that our body doesn't make or store Magneisum, so we need constant replenishment.
It’s difficult for the body to achieve its recommended daily dose of Magnesium via oral supplements, as they are not always readily absorbed and can cause laxative side effects.
Therefore we recommend a 360 approach for supplementation:
- Magnesium baths
- Diet
- Supplements
Magnesium Baths
Research indicates that an effective way to absorb Magnesium is through the skin (transdermally), and that the most likely way it is absorbed is via hair follicles and sweat glands[2] which is why a Magnesium bath can be such an asset to help give your body an extra mineral boost. Full body immersion in a bath containing Magnesium Flakes or Magnesium bath salts is the optimum way to achieve this, but if taking a bath isn’t an option then a foot soak can be a great alternative due to the amount of sweat glands present.
Magnesium flakes – for general health & wellbeing
Our bath flakes consist of 100% pure Magnesium Chloride in Heptahydrate form, which is the most efficiently absorbed and readily retained form. Using it in a bath can be a more comfortable experience than using sprays, as oils can sting when applied directly to the skin.
Just add 2-4 cups to a warm bath and relax for around 30 minutes to allow time for optimum absorption.
Ideally do this 2-3 times a week, but at times of stress or intense exercise you may want to increase it as your body will be more depleted.
Dead Sea Salts – for healthy skin
Dead Sea Salts are around 33% Magnesium Chloride, which is significantly higher than in any other sea salts. If you’re suffering with dry, itchy, inflamed or irritated skin then these are the right salts for you. Soothing and nourishing. They hydrate the skin and help protect the skin’s natural barrier.
Just add 2-4 cups of Dead Sea Salts to a warm bath and relax for at least 20 minutes. You can also add them alongside our flakes if you want the ultimate boost for skin and body.
Epsom Salts – for muscle health
If you take a lot of exercise, you may want to incorporate Epsom Salts into your recovery routine. The difference between Epsom salt VS Magnesium Flakes is that Epsom Salts are made from Magnesium Sulfate, rather than Magnesium Chloride flakes.
Epsom Salts help replenish what's been lost during exercise, to relax and soothe tired muscles, but the addition of Sulfate also helps flush the body from lactic acid, helping to reduce DOMS and cramping. This is why Epsom Salts are the perfect Magnesium bath salts to use for exercise recovery.
Just add 2-4 cups to a warm bath after exercising and relax for around 20 minutes.
Ideally do this 2-3 times a week if you exercise regularly.
Diet
Increasing the amount of Magnesium-rich foods in your diet is a quick and easy way to help increase your daily intake. Luckily dark chocolate is one of those foods, so it doesn’t even need to feel like a hardship 😊
Magnesium-rich foods:
- Spinach
- Kale,
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Quinoa
- Black beans
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dark chocolate
- Avocados
- Bananas
Supplements
Supplements are constantly improving and evolving as we are gaining more of an understanding into the importance of magnesium. It has become an increasingly popular topic for research and development over the last decade, and this only seems to be gathering momentum.
Many vitamin brands are now understanding the importance of blending different forms within one supplement for optimum absorption, such as this one from our friends over at JS health, which contains Magnesium glycinate, Magnesium citrate and Magnesium amino acid chelate.
You’ll also find that bone supplements are starting to focus on magnesium with equal importance as the calcium, as a result of the recent research regarding the calcium / magnesium balance. This one from trusted brand Viridian highlights it’s ratio of 1:1 for Calcium and Magnesium
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7649274/
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27624531/
