Magnesium deficiency is a huge problem affecting 75% of Americans today.
Risk factors including obesity, diabetes, certain medications, a diet high in refined sugar, high intake of caffeine or alcohol, or physical and emotional stress are all things that can deplete our body’s stored magnesium even further.
Compounding this is the fact that we are often unable to get the 320-420mg of magnesium per day that is required from our diet alone due to the reduction of magnesium that used to be in the soil, and we have a real problem.
Have a look at the list of magnesium rich foods found here and add up your estimated magnesium intake to see if you are getting enough.
If you have already checked out the symptoms of magnesium deficiency and think that you may be at risk of deficiency despite having a healthy balanced diet, then the next step is choosing the right supplement for you. Some of the best magnesium supplements have already been listed here.
The best rated magnesium supplements on this list are my top 3 most convenient.
When choosing a supplement, there are so many different forms and modes available that it may be difficult to pick the right one first time. Some factors to consider include:
-
Convenience
-
Cost
-
Mode of delivery (tablet/powder/liquid vs oil/lotion/bath soak)
-
Bioavailability – how much of the dose you take is actually used by your body
-
Type of magnesium used and the source (chloride/citrate/gluconate/oxide are some common ones)
-
Organic or additives (such as magnesium stearate)
-
Severity of symptoms of deficiency
These top 3 best rated magnesium supplements are at the top of their game for the easiest administration with the highest bioavailability. For further information on these supplements please click on the links below to be taken to their place of purchase.
Please consult a doctor or pharmacist prior to starting any kind of magnesium therapy if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have kidney, liver or gut disease, or are on any type of medication as these factors may influence your magnesium absorption.
Best Rated Magnesium Supplements for Convenience
# 1 – Natural Vitality Natural Calm Magnesium Anti Stress, Organic, Raspberry Lemon
This convenient magnesium supplement is magnesium citrate in the form of an easily absorbable powder. The powder is pleasant tasting with a nice raspberry and lemon flavour so is very easily palatable, and it dissolves into water which is then immediately assimilated into the body and into the cells where it is needed.
Dosage
The dosage instructions state to start off slowly and consume up to 2 teaspoons per day for 325mg of elemental magnesium.
Pros
- The powder form makes it very easy to take once or twice per day.
- It tastes nice and is available in a variety of flavours
- High bioavailability
- Organic, vegan and verified non-GMO
For added convenience, this best rated magnesium supplement is also available in a 30 Pack Individual Serve box as well as the 16 oz bottle.
Cons
- Diarrhoea is known to be a common side effect of magnesium citrate use so it is recommended to start off slowly with your dose and spread it out throughout the day i.e. 1 teaspoon in the morning, and 1 at night. If your bowels are getting looser, then you know you are getting enough magnesium.
For more information on magnesium citrate, click here.
Reviews
79% of Amazon customers have given this product an overall 5 star rating which makes it one of the top selling magnesium supplements available.
Price
Natural Vitality Natural Calm Magnesium Anti-Stress 16oz – $24.57
Natural Vitality Natural Calm Anti Stress Drink 30 Individual Sachets – $14.99
Best Rated Magnesium Supplements for Convenience
#2 – Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil 8 oz.
Learn more about magnesium oils here.
Ancient Minerals Ultra Pure magnesium Oil 8 oz. is an all natural, unscented topical magnesium supplement made from nothing but pure magnesium sourced from the ancient Zechstein Seabed. The convenience of simply rubbing or spraying magnesium directly onto your skin is hard to beat.
This is not actually an oil, but a highly saturated water so it doesn’t leave any oily or sticky residue after application.
Regular use of this oil allows the magnesium chloride to absorb directly into your skin and it is not metabolised which means more of the magnesium is available for your use.
Topical application of magnesium is especially good for improvement of a variety of symptoms including muscle aches and tension, cramps, stress and anxiety. Studies have proven that getting your magnesium by this convenient spray bottle mode of delivery allows the body to have much more control over what it actually uses.
Dosage
Spray the Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil directly onto the skin, especially targeting sore muscles as well as softer skin areas such as the inner arm and behind the knee in order to facilitate greater absorption. 8 sprays gives you a dose of 100mg of magnesium chloride. Then wash it off after 20 minutes.
Pros
- Convenient spray on method
- No GI disturbance from swallowing tablets or powder
- Pure organically sourced
- Only absorb what you need
Cons
- Some people experience itchiness
Reviews
Of the 761 reviews on Amazon, it has been given an overall 4 star rating. People usually love the ease and effectiveness of the Ancient Minerals Oils. The negative reviews are mainly due to skin complaints as some customers experienced an itch or tingling sensation after application. It is recommended that if you have sensitive skin, you gradually introduce your skin to this product to reduce the tingling. Some people even dilute it 50:50 with water and then double the dose used.
Price
Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil 8 oz. – $18.80
Ancient Minerals Magnesium Oil 64oz. refill – $84.00
Best Rated Magnesium Supplements for Convenience
#3 – Doctor’s Best High Absorption Magnesium (200 Mg Elemental)
This super supplement is in a tablet form of magnesium glycinate which is chelated (joined) with the amino acids glycine and lysine which helps to achieve greater bioavailability. The chelation creates protection for the magnesium molecules by attaching them to amino acid molecules which means they reach to small intestine before metabolisation and absorption
Dosage
2 tablets twice a day. This may sound like a lot, however due to the fact that this supplement is not mixed with other cheaper magnesium compounds, the mass required for higher dosage is larger.
Pros
- High dose of 200mg elemental magnesium
- Chelation means high level of bioavailability
- Vegan, non- GMO, gluten free
- Not buffered which means it is not mixed with less suitable forms of magnesium
Cons
- The large tablets may be hard to swallow for some. Customers who bought these tablets frequently cut them in half. For further convenience, this product is also available in a Powder Form.
- Nausea can be a side-effect
Reviews
Amazon customers are generally very happy with this product. Some customers who bought this product did not like the big pill size, and also complained of an odd taste. Others report nil improvement in their health. As with all the supplements recommended here and on linked websites, please consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have chronic liver, kidney, or gut disease, suffer from diabetes, or are on any medication prior to commencing therapy.
Price
Doctor’s Best High Absorption Magnesium (200 Mg Elemental) 240 tablets – $15.38
Permalink //
Great information! Thank you so much for sharing this because I think it’s so important for people, like me, to know the symptoms and outcomes of being magnesium deficient.
I know it’s a big problem and why supplements are vital. Your product review is so helpful. Would you suggest the Natural Vitality product yourself? Have you tried any of the three?
Thank you again,
Liz
Permalink //
Hi Liz,
Yep I use the Natural Calm daily and have one teaspoon in the morning and one at night. This seems to give me great benefit and has greatly improved my sleep and mood, as well as reduced the muscle cramps I was always getting, without giving me any negative side effects (eg.diarrhoea)
If ever I have tired or achy muscles, I use the Ancient Minerals spray instead for example after an exercise class.
Another of my favourite ways to take magnesium is by having an Epsom Salt soak. This is especially great for drawing out toxins through the skin so I love to do this after a big weekend.
The Doctor’s Best tablets I have tried in the past but did not like the big pill size.
So, #1 comes the most highly recommended.
Best of health to you!
Permalink //
I find from all the different places I have read up about the foods we eat that even when we think we are eating correctly where not.
There is such a problem with how our foods are grown and raised that the best alternative is to take supplements to balance out the problems with our food source.
I like the fact you use organic and take into consideration about gluten. The three different options for absorption is spot on, and I’ll try each method to see what works best for me.
Permalink //
Hi Travis,
Please let me know how you go with your trials. I would be interested to discover which type of supplement will suit you and why.
Regards, Kristine
Permalink //
Hi Kristine,
Great article. I am currently trying to improve my levels of Magnesium.
I have a question in regards to ZMA. I take ZMA as a part of my fitness supplement. I take it at night. my question is, What is the recommended dosage of ZMA that will mostly benefit me in improving my Magnesium levels?
also what is the best time to take this supplement? I take it before bed. lastly what ZMA supplements do you recommend?
Cheers
Permalink //
HI Nigel,
That is a great question, I am glad you asked!
ZMA supplements have gained a lot of popularity in recent years as a natural way to boost natural testosterone levels and increase muscle strength. ZMA contains zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 and the daily dose gives you more than enough magnesium to meet your requirements here.
The results seen with ZMA are remarkable in people who are using it as a way to increase muscle mass. One of the awesome benefits is the way it helps you sleep which gives you more energy during the daytime, as well as better opportunity for muscle repair.
The combined effects of the zinc, magnesium and B6 induces a deeper REM sleep cycle which is why you would take it at night before bed for the best results. Many customers report lucid dreams and this is due to the deep level of sleep. I take a magnesium only supplement before bed and can attest to the fact that I get a deeper sleep and incredible dreams and now wake up feeling rested and refreshed.
The best ZMA and the top rated one on Amazon with heaps of positive reviews and over 450mg of magnesium per dose is Optimum Nutrition ZMA. (Review coming soon) This would be a great additive to any health and fitness regime and more than satisfies your magnesium needs.
The dose for this is 3 tablets before bed. As with any nutritional supplement, please consult your doctor if your are under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding, are on medication, or have chronic disease prior to starting.
What brand do you currently use?
Thanks for your comments. Drop me a line at info@whatismagnesiumdeficiency.com if I can be of further assistance.
Regards, Kristine G
Permalink //
You gave the reader the desire to learn more about the deficiency of magnesium and how it hurts our bodies. You made that clear at the beginning of this Website. Letting us know that the problems we could have really. draws us to your subject and solutions with the lack of magnesium in our diets. That was necessary to do so, since most people would have viewed the problem as minor, I enjoyed the way you made the statement about these supplement for convenience. You could have said, “—the 3 best rated convenient supplements for magnesium”.but I liked your wording the best.
My best to you KGads.
Permalink //
Thank you so much Judy!
The idea being that there will be a forthcoming series of articles rating the best supplements for other factors including convenience, cost, and mode of delivery.
Best wishes, Kristine
Permalink //
Thanks for a well written article of magnesium. Did not knew that a high intake of caffeine can be a risk factor..
What is the physical signs I might have a magnesium deficiency?
I drink approximately 2-4 cup of coffees per day. Do you think that’s too much to drink?
//HÃ¥kan
Permalink //
HI Hakan, thanks for stopping by.
Caffeine actually binds to the magnesium and takes it out of the body which will reduce your magnesium stores unfortunately. When you are consuming up to 4 cups of coffee, the magnesium will begin to be sorely depleted. Especially if you have other risk factors as well such as alcohol intake, or refined sugars.
Have a look at this article to see if you may notice any of the symptoms of deficiency.
Please don’t hesitate to comment further if you have any further questions!
Regards, Kristine G
Permalink //
I’ve been learning online to run a website and I have to say you really narrowed down your niche. Good Job!
That’s off topic though, I had a friend that was lacking a healthy amount of Magnesium in her body.
I was researching into it and found this article. I might let her know about your article to look for ways to balance her deficiency.
Do you recommend that people should consult a general practitioner prior to buying magnesium products?
Permalink //
HI Benjamin, How are you doing?
Your friend should definitely consult a doctor before commencing on any supplement therapy if she is under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding, has any kind of chronic health problem, or is on any medication.
If all of these factors are ruled out, then it is a matter of choosing the right supplement and following the dosage directions on the bottle.
Have a look here and here for some of my favourite supplements.
Best wishes, Kristine.
Permalink //
Okay this is a pretty informative post, However I would like to know what is the safe dosage for each one of them and are they as good as the natural sources that we have for magnesium??
I really find natural sources much better, however which one of these equals to that found from the natural sources?
Permalink //
Magnesium chloride is the most natural form of magnesium supplement. It is pure and organic and naturally mined using solar evaporation so it really is organic and free from additives and contamination.
If you are consuming adequate amounts of magnesium from the magnesium rich food chart and have no symptoms or risk factors, than you may be getting enough. The recommended daily intake for magnesium is 320mg for women.
Thanks for stopping by!
Kristine G
Permalink //
A very good and underrated topic these days. You mentioned ways you can become magnesium deficient you mentioned prescription drugs aand that may be the biggest one.Here’s one you may have missed Imagine taking prescription drugs while consuming water from a reverse osmosis water filter. Do you know that reverse osmosis strips magnesium from the water which causes a net loss when you consume it ? Its a big one .I also like how you show how to increase magnesium by foods.Thanks for this important website.
Permalink