The Mineral Gateways to Relaxation

Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body; including energy production, muscle and nerve function, protein synthesis and finally it plays a key role in regulating sleep. One major problem in todays society is an overwhelming amount of people are deficient in Magnesium.

The reason Magnesium is so effective for promoting restful sleep is due to the fact that it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows down our heart rate, relaxes the muscles, and in turn calms the mind. It regulates the production of Melatonin, and the activity of GABA and Glutamate in the brain (both of which are essential for learning and memory - this also helps us remember our dreams).

In addition to its effects on sleep quality, magnesium has also been shown to improve other aspects of sleep, such as sleep latency (the amount of time it takes to fall asleep) and sleep efficiency (the amount of time spent asleep versus the time spent awake).

Glycine is an amino acid that is involved in many functions in the body, including the production of collagen, DNA synthesis, and the regulation of our nervous system. Glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain meaning it helps to regulate the sleep-wake cycle by reducing the activity of the neurons that keep us awake.

Another way that glycine improves our sleep quality is by increasing levels of serotonin which is a precursor to our sleepy friend Melatonin. Glycine has also been shown to improve sleep quality by reducing core body temperature making us feel sleepy and reduce the frequency of sleep disruptions, which helps us stay asleep.

Sometimes complex and highly sophisticated compounds hidden within miraculous plants and mushrooms are the key to unlocking more restful sleep but other times it may just be the simplest of allies that are missing. The humble minerals and amino acids.