Mood swings after menopause? Magnesium is the new miracle supplement for women

Magnesium is the new cool supplement for women, with devotees claiming that taking it in a daily pill improves everything from sleep to anxiety to migraines and postmenopausal mood swings.

Increasingly, you’ll find it in beauty products, too. Magnesium sulfate flakes – better known as Epsom salts – have been used to create relaxing baths that soothe aches and pains for years. Now, in addition to bath salts, you can buy everything from massage bars to body sprays packed with the stuff.

So what’s so great about it? “Magnesium is involved in more than 300 biochemical processes in the body,” says registered dietitian and certified health coach Natalie Burroughs (Integralwellness.co.uk).

Most of us don’t get enough in our diet (it’s found in leafy greens, dark chocolate, and avocado) so getting it some other way makes sense.

Many of my clients and I feel the benefit—better sleep and relief from muscle aches and menstrual pain—from using topical products that contain magnesium.

Just one word of caution, if you have low blood pressure, or are taking blood pressure medications, you may want to check with your doctor before taking magnesium because it is known to affect blood pressure.

But if you’re eager to give it a try, we’ve tested a few products that promise to give you the magic of magnesium…

Softening scrub

Ren Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium Salt Anti-Fatigue Body Scrub, £34, renskincare.com

While not as strongly scented as some of the other products, this blend of salt, epsom salts, and various oils is designed to be used on dry skin and in the shower.

I’m not sure how much magnesium i got from it during the whole wash, but the harsh scrub did a pretty good job of exfoliating, while the oils that did remain on my skin left it feeling soft and supple. 4/5

Stress relief spray

The Nue Co Magnesium Ease, £20, thenueco.com

With lavender and arnica oil plus 15mg of magnesium in each spray, this body spray promises to help me relax and relieve stress.

I loved the delivery of the spray, although it is quite watery, which means it does not have the same sensory feel as a cream and is not as easy to apply, but there is no denying that the night i used it before bed, an excellent night’s sleep! 4/5

Enhanced Body Butter

Neom Great Day Magnesium Body Butter, £36, neomorganics.com

With catnip and tangerine, this zingy scented body butter keeps me feeling energized in the morning.

I followed the directions for using the equivalent of one tablespoonful and accompanying it with some mindful breathing – for a seven, out for an eleven.

The rich cream absorbed quickly, leaving my skin feeling soft, and the combination of scent and breath started my day in a much more civilized way than usual. My picks from the bunch. 5/5

The relief gel instantly

BetterYou Magnesium Body Gel, £12.95, betteryou.com

This no-frills, odorless gel is designed to be applied directly to joints and muscles to help support relaxation. (The company also offers a range of scented products, including magnesium bath flakes, lotions, and sprays with various essential oils to help you relax, refresh, or fall asleep.)

The gel definitely felt more medicinal than some of the other products I’ve tried, and people with restless legs swear by it. However, I found — as did others — that it left my skin too itchy or dull to feel comfortable, which the manufacturer says is a sign of a magnesium deficiency. In the future, I might try the spray specifically designed for sensitive skin. 2/5

Pre-workout massage bar

Lush Before Magnesium Massage Bar, £10, lush.com

Lush contains three magnesium massage bars designed for use before and after exercise, and to aid sleep. I tried the device which is meant to be used as part of a pre-activity warm-up before doing a spin session.

I like the idea of ​​a bar instead of an oil, and it melted really well on my skin, even if the jagged parts of the bar that gave a good massage quickly melted away.

But i didn’t like the greasy feeling before a workout and wanted it to have a warming effect on my leg muscles. I don’t think it made the workout any easier either, but that might have been too much! 3/5