I Started Drinking Magnesium Water Every Day. Here’s What Happened.
I was skeptical, but I gave it a try — and this drink totally calms my anxiety-prone mind.
I feel naked whenever I’m without a beverage. I always keep a water bottle in my car, carry around my Stanley cup whether shopping or heading into choir rehearsal, and my desk sometimes looks like a graveyard where empty cups find their resting place. (Bless my husband who passes by every once in a while to do a nice clean sweep.)
Coffee, tea, and water are my go to’s for obvious reasons, but I recently discovered magnesium water after my doctor handed me a can of Recess Magnesium Water following a routine appointment. (Side note: Can we make post-doctor treats more of a thing for adults?)
I know — magnesium water sounds completely froofy, and I was skeptical about all the claims surrounding it myself. But, I swear to you, it’s a game changer. Not only does it zhuzh up my midday monotony and keep me from downing another caffeine-loaded drink, but it has the inverse effect of making me jittery.
Magnesium water helps calm my anxiety-prone mind and it even relaxes my body. And, as a bonus, I’ve found that it helps keep me focused during the workday, which comes in especially handy when that afternoon slump starts creeping in.
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The Benefits of Magnesium Water
The benefits of magnesium water aren’t isolated to my own experiences. Science has a lot to say about its perks, and there’s a reason it’s used in beverages, supplements, and IV drops. That said, if you’ve noticed magnesium water making the rounds, you’re not imagining things.
“Magnesium is a micronutrient that is used for many body functions. It’s involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in your body,” explains Dr. Amy Myers, a two-time New York Times bestselling author and internationally acclaimed medical and functional medicine physician.
She adds, “It supports a healthy bowel pattern, helps maintain normal neurological and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, regulates heart rate and blood pressure, and is needed for bone development. Magnesium also helps regulate blood glucose levels and promotes the production of energy and protein.”
As for those mood boosting benefits, I wasn’t imagining things! Dr. Myers explains that magnesium plays a crucial role in not just our cognitive abilities, but our mood. It can help reduce anxiety symptoms, supports good sleep hygiene, and impacts learning and memory.
Why Magnesium Supplements Are Important
Our bodies do a lot, but one thing they fail to do is produce magnesium on their own. Eating magnesium-rich foods — such as dark leafy greens, seeds, nuts, and legumes — but we’re not always getting as much as we need. To that end, Dr. Myers notes that it’s practically impossible to get enough magnesium from diet alone.
“Modern industrial farming practices, water quality, and poor diet have depleted the amount of magnesium found in our food,” Dr. Myers notes. “In fact, one of the most common nutritional deficiencies I saw in my clinic was magnesium.”
This, friends, is why magnesium supplementation is so important.
How Much Magnesium Do You Need?
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of magnesium for adult men is 420 mg per day, and for adult women the RDI is 320 mg every day. People who are pregnant should get about 350 mg per day.
“For various reasons, including the lack of bioavailability of the forms of magnesium in many supplements, many of us only absorb 40% to 60% of the magnesium we consume, so your optimal daily intake may be higher than the RDI,” Dr. Myers adds.
On that note, a new study released in March 2023 found that taking a higher dose of magnesium per day can help with brain health as we get older. The study, which was conducted by the Neuroimaging and Brain Lab at The Australian National University, looked at over 6,000 cognitively healthy participants in the United Kingdom ages 40 to 73.
Those who consumed more than 550 mg of magnesium per day had a younger brain age (by one year) by the time they reached age 55, compared to those who had a normal intake of 350 milligrams a day. What’s really compelling about this new data is that it’s associated with improved brain function and a reduced risk of delayed onset dementia later in life.
Obviously, you should talk to your doctor before going ham on the mag. However, making sure you’re getting the baseline amount everyday is a smart move.
My Favorite Magnesium Water Options
I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to get my daily magnesium is via a beverage. It’s a treat I look forward to every day, and it makes me feel good. Here are some options for you to consider if you want to try it yourself:
- Recess Strawberry Rose Magnesium & Adaptogen Sparkling Water: It’s made with real strawberries and rose petals and contains 53 mg of magnesium. These come in cans, which are easy when you’re on-the-go.
- Recess Gradient Berry Powder Magnesium Superblend: I’ve found it’s more cost effective to buy a powder and add it to my water. This one packs more magnesium (210 mg) and also contains vitamins C and B6. I personally love the berry taste.
- NeuroCalm Mag: Dr. Myers actually formulated this one with a cutting edge form of bioavailable magnesium. It contains 200 mg of magnesium and is a powder as well.
- Moon Juice Magnesi-Om: This is another powder form you can add to water or another beverage. (I’ve actually added it to my nighttime tea before!) It contains the most magnesium out of the other options (310 mg) and features three forms of magnesium, plus L-Theanine.
