Are you in need of a better night’s sleep
Magnesium and glycine - may just be the perfect bed fellows
How utterly satisfying is it to bank 7-8 hours uninterrupted sleep? However, it’s not that easy as you get into your forties and beyond, it’s something I get asked for help with on a weekly basis. Some of us find that we get off to sleep OK but then wake up in the early hours, with our brains whirring and little hope of getting back to sleep again.
So this month I wanted share my knowledge of this simple supplement magnesium glycinate, that just might help you achieve that deeply restorative sleep that makes you feel so much more alive.
Glycine is an amino acid and a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger in the brain) and is one of the body’s most important amino acids. We make glycine from other amino acids and we also consume it from high protein foods, like:
FISH, MEAT, EGGS, DAIRY AND OUR OLD FRIENDS, LEGUMES
It’s helpful for everything from helping us produce the body’s main antioxidant, glutathione (glutathione can help trap damaging free radicals which helps keep inflammation at bay and protects us from the ageing process) to supporting cardiovascular health, improving cognitive function and maintaining bones and joints. However, I’m shining a light on its ability to improve your sleep.
How it benefits sleep?
Glycine can reduce our core body temperature, which is a fundamental step in getting a good night’s sleep, this process can go awry in midlife with less oestrogen about. You’ll know this feeling if you’ve ever woken up feeling uncomfortably hot for no apparent reason.
Glycine also helps the body to produce serotonin, which in turn gets converted to melatonin, the sleep hormone. Plus, adequate levels of serotonin can also help restore a healthy sleeping pattern and improve your mood.
Glycine enhances our slow wave sleep, which is the deeper sleep that we tend to get at the beginning of our sleep cycle, and is associated with better quality sleep.
What about magnesium
Magnesium often dubbed ‘nature’s tranqulizer’ is well known for its ability to calm an over revved nervous system and support a better night’s sleep. It’s also helpful if you’re feeling anxious - you don’t need me to tell you that if you’ve been suffering with anxiety all day, you’re unlikely to get a good night’s sleep.
A lot of women have got the message about magnesium being useful for menopausal symptoms and sleep, but it’s also worth considering the form you take it in.
Magnesium glycinate is just the mineral, magnesium attached to two glycine molecules. In this form you not only take advantage of the benefits of magnesium but also the many advantages of the all important glycine.
Sleep issues in women over 40 are multifactorial, however it’s worth giving Magnesium Glycinate a try, in my experience it has helped a lot of women attain a better night’s sleep and personally I wouldn’t be without it
Supplements
Here are three supplements I’d recommend. As ever - do check you can take alongside any medications, however magnesium is well tolerated by most.
Terranova's Magnesium Glycinate also includes a small amount of B6 in it’s active form P5P which helps with the absorption of the magnesium.
Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate
Nutri Advanced Magnesium Glycinate
You can purchase these from The Natural Dispensary
For a 10% discount use this code ARN010
