This post may contain affiliate links. I want to deliver value to you. If you choose to make a purchase through one of the links I’ve provided, I will receive a very small commission at no additional cost. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Are you magnesium deficient?  Most likely you are.

Bananas, avocados, almonds, and pumpkin seeds are all foods that are great sources of magnesium.  Even dark chocolate. Yum!

However, it is extremely easy to be deficient in magnesium in our modern day world.  This is because our diets are found to be increasingly lacking in magnesium for many reasons.  We should be concerned because magnesium is a very important part of maintaining balance for our hormones.  

Did you know that magnesium is needed for over 300 enzyme reactions in your body?  Many of these enzyme reactions directly and indirectly impact your hormones.

Magnesium is critical when treating issues of hormonal imbalance.  This includes PMS, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), PCOS, thyroid conditions, perimenopause, anxiety, and adrenal fatigue.  In fact, magnesium can even be helpful for weight management.

It is so easy for me to tell when my hormones are out of wack!  Hormones are powerful elements in our bodies.  Finding a balance in our hormones is necessary for maintaining our health.

YOUR HORMONES AND MAGNESIUM

Having an adequate amount of magnesium helps to balance your hormones naturally.  This benefits several areas in your body.

• This study concludes that premenstrual symptoms can affect women who are deficient in magnesium or have an imbalanced ratio of calcium to magnesium.  Our production of estrogen, progesterone (this!), and testosterone rely on sufficient magnesium levels.

• Magnesium is needed for your thyroid hormone conversion.  It necessary for converting the storage hormone T4 into the active hormone of T3.  This provides your body with energy.

• Estrogen is detoxified in your liver using magnesium so that it can be removed from your body.  If this process degrades it can lead to estrogen dominance.

• Magnesium can reduce levels of cortisol and adrenaline which allows for lower levels of stress and better sleep.  This study shows that supplementation of magnesium resulted in improved sleep onset and sleep quality.

• Magnesium can stabilize blood sugar for people with Type 2 diabetes.  High magnesium intake may reduce Type 2 diabetes incident as reflected in this meta-analysis.

HOW MAGNESIUM HELPS YOU

While fighting to heal Hashimoto’s disease I found myself addressing estrogen dominance.  How Estrogen Affects Your Thyroid discusses the link between thyroid conditions and high levels of estrogen.  

My estrogen dominance led me to having a heavy cycle and uncomfortable PMS.  When I use this topical magnesium spray before going to bed (yay for help with sleep!), I noticed my cycle lightened up quite a bit and my PMS disappeared.  It was like magic!

Topical magnesium is the best way to increase magnesium in your system since it is generally poorly absorbed in your digestive tract.  I like to spray it on my lower back or even the tops of my feet.  Sometimes people find they are sensitive to the oil or that it is itchy.  

In these cases, magnesium glycinate is the best form of magnesium absorbed in the digestive tract if you find that you cannot tolerate the topical spray or if you prefer a capsule form.  

Also, epsom salt baths are another great option to up your magnesium.

Along with magnesium, I also began taking this DIM supplement to help address my estrogen dominance.  This supports the natural process of metabolizing estrogen down the correct pathway in your body.  Otherwise, excess estrogen burdens your body and can put you at risk for several chronic issues.

Many things in our world contribute to deficiency in magnesium.  These include farming practices, aging, alcohol consumption, medications, gut issues, stress, and food processing.

What have benefits have you noticed from increasing magnesium?