The information in this blog is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.

Too many of us are deficient in magnesium, a vital nutrient. According to the National Library of Medicine, magnesium is involved in over 600 cellular reactions, from making DNA to helping your muscles contract to keeping a regular heartbeat. Vital indeed, and because of this, conventional medicine uses it for everything from constipation to seizures.

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium deficiency can be hard to diagnose without testing. Still, since it supports so many functions that keep your body running smoothly, there are a few telltale signs that often point to a lack of magnesium. Some common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Stress
• Headaches
• Mood swings
• Blood sugar spikes
• Leg cramps
• Chronic inflammation

While these symptoms can result from many factors, it may be a clue for you to investigate what's attributing to yours, especially if you experience these regularly. For example, chronic inflammation is a generalized term that can show up as aches and pains, feeling tired and uncomfortable overall, or localized pain. Without sufficient magnesium, the body has trouble managing normal inflammatory responses so, if aches and pains along with mood swings and headaches have become common, it's worth a look.

There are also many triggers for things like stress and fatigue. If you experience these regularly, it's likely a combination of lifestyle factors and a potential lack of magnesium; this means that simply amping up your magnesium level won't be a cure-all. However, it can have an immediate impact on nerve and muscle function, both of which are crucial for adequate rest and recovery and help you heal from too much stress and lack of sleep.

How do you get enough magnesium?

If you've ever had a muscle cramp, then someone has probably suggested you eat a banana. Most celebrated for their potassium content, bananas are also a magnesium-rich food, making them an excellent pre or post-workout energy source. It's also one of the most popular and well-liked fruits on the planet.

Other foods with high magnesium content are dark leafy greens like spinach and collard greens, nuts and legumes, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, and avocados, to name a few. In the U.S., it's no secret that many people aren't filling their plates with leafy greens and whole grains, yet it's critical for maintaining optimal health. If you're not getting enough magnesium nutritionally, you could consider a supplement.

Magnesium sulfate, or Epsom salt, is on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines that help normalize nerve impulses and assists in preventing or treating seizure disorders, nerve pain, and bipolar disorder. During flotation therapy, your body absorbs magnesium through the skin (called transdermal absorption), giving the nervous system a healthy boost and help to control the production of the stress hormone cortisol.

Transdermal absorption combined with the additional benefits of floating is especially effective at taming muscle cramps, reducing stress, and contributing to better sleep. You've likely heard about the benefits of taking an Epsom salt bath and perhaps poured a cup or two into your bath at home, but have you ever floated in a thousand pounds of Epsom salt? It's the ultimate Epsom salt bath, allowing you to take pressure off of every joint, break away from the stimulus of the day-to-day, and get a hefty dose of magnesium that you'll feel right away.

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