Absorbing way to boost health
FEELING at a low ebb? Or just flat-out exhausted? Either way, welcome to the club. One-in-eight Britons say they’re tired all the time, with a quarter of us feeling drained most of the time, according to YouGov research. The reasons can be straightforward – too many late nights, ongoing stress or overwork – and this time of year it’s often at its worst with the shorter days and colder nights leaving us worn out.
But if you suffer from persistent low energy, there is light at the end of the tunnel.The fact is that a lack of magnesium could be the real culprit.
Magnesium is an essential mineral for all aspects of health, from muscles to mood and even just getting a good night’s sleep – and it’s vital for fighting fatigue.
We need magnesium to make ATP – that’s adenosine triphosphate in science speak – which gives our cells the energy they need to function and so drives our metabolism.
And yet more than half of us don’t get the daily recommended intake from our diet, according to a recent UK National Diet and Nutrition survey.
Kale, spinach, black beans, nuts, bananas and whole grains are among foods containing magnesium but with many us failing to meet our “5-a-day” target, it’s unsurprising that we frequently don’t get enough.
It also doesn’t help that levels of magnesium and other important minerals in British fruit and vegetables have significantly declined in the past 50 years.
Many are finding that a food supplement can help – although not all magnesium supplements are created equal. Many go for a high magnesium content by using magnesium oxide, but there’s a drawback.
“Magnesium is not easily released into the body,” says Dr Miriam Ferrer PhD, head of product development at FutureYou Cambridge, the innovative British supplements company. “Taking more magnesium oxide to try and make up for that can lead to an upset stomach and other gastrointestinal side effects.”
It gets even more complicated for older people. “Research shows that as we age, our stomachs produce less acid,” says Dr Ferrer. “This means that inorganic salts like magnesium oxide won’t dissolve as well, so affecting how much will be absorbed.”
Magnesium+ Advanced from FutureYou Cambridge uses magnesium bisglycinate, which mimics the way magnesium is stored in plants.
Studies show that it is more than four times easier to absorb than magnesium oxide. It also improves retention, so the magnesium stays in our bodies for longer.
Says Dr Ferrer: “When looking for a magnesium supplement, focus on bioavailability – the absorbability – not high amounts of magnesium. It’s important that whatever you choose has the opportunity to take effect rather than passing through unused.”
If you suffer from persistent low energy, there is light at the end of the tunnel