Shhh… Menopause Wellness Health Benefits of Magnesium in Menopause Shhh… Menopause Wellness creates targeted, hand crafted, UK produced, sustainable, responsibly sourced, no plastic packaging products for Menopausal Wellness. In our research we have found that one of the ingredients which can help during menopause is magnesium. We have used magnesium sulphate (or Epsom Salts as it is also known) in both our Lavender and Detox Bath Salts, and magnesium chloride in our Bath Oils, Sleep Sprays and Allay Anxiety Sprays. During menopause magnesium levels may drop, so by using Shhh… products you can help support the overall health of both your body and your brain. Many people are magnesium deficient, and this can have a huge impact on your overall health and wellbeing. General Facts about Magnesium http://www.millenniumhealth.co.uk/magnesium-deficiency-stats-reveal/ “Magnesium content in vegetables has declined up to 80% since 1950 and modern processing of grains for flour and pasta removes 80-90% of total magnesium. No wonder we are now being told that we have to eat 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day to remain healthy! The World Health Organisation states that 75% of the population do not reach the RDA for Magnesium of 300mg. What factors affect our levels of cellular Magnesium? Stress and illness carbonated drinks – phosphates bind to Magnesium caffeine causes more Magnesium to be excreted through the kidneys refined sugar does as well taking Calcium supplements without Magnesium Magnesium is in your cells and the intercellular spaces so cannot be accurately measured with blood tests. Symptoms of Magnesium deficiency are muscular cramps, poor sleep, anxiety, times of hyperactivity, chronic pain, and heart problems but you can be deficient and not have identifiable or constant symptoms. Magnesium can be found in leafy green veg, wholegrain cereals, brown rice, nuts, pumpkin and other seeds, beans, fish and seafood, cocoa and dark chocolate”. When you add menopause symptoms into the equation with all the above happening in our daily lives, some of it within our control and some of it not, it is no wonder that menopausal women are suffering. It is time to take a deeper look and engage with the specialists. Shh… aims to help improve awareness of the problems facing menopausal women in our society and to provide information and resources to help as many women as possible on their way to going through the menopause with understanding, clarity, positivity and tools to help them on a physical and emotional level. A book called ‘The Magnesium Miracle’ by Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. is one such reference source to be included in improving our overall health to aid us along the menopause journey. On Page 152 she says “In one study, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were able to stop the progression of the disease with 250-750mg of magnesium daily for two years. Without any other added measures, 8 percent of these women experienced a net increase in bone density”. In the words of Carolyn DeMarco, M.D., author of ‘Take Charge of Your Body: Women’s Health Advisor’ - this book is “Clearly written and packed with information … a comprehensive and well-referenced guide to the myriad benefits of magnesium”. What is Magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element which occurs naturally in our world The Earth, in our bodies, in our plant life, in our oceans, in our animal life, in the rocks of the mountains and the sands of the deserts, in fact in all things related to The Earth. Magnesium is called a major mineral as we require higher amounts of this mineral to thrive than we do trace elements such as zinc or iron. Referencing Wikipedia, “magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny grey solid which bears a close physical resemblance to the other five elements in the second column (group 2, or ALKALINE EARTH METALS) of the periodic table. It is the 8th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, 4th most abundant element in the Earth – making up to 13% of the planet’s mass and a large fraction of the planet’s mantle. It is also the 3rd most abundant element dissolved in seawater, after sodium and chlorine. This element is the eleventh most abundant element by mass in the HUMAN BODY and is essential to all CELLS and some 300 enzymes. Plants require magnesium to synthesize chlorophyll, essential for photosynthesis”. Health Benefits of Magnesium Source https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-magnesium-benefits Involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in your body. 60% magnesium being found in the bone. Every cell in your body contains magnesium and requires it for optimal function. It is responsible for energy creation and helps convert food to energy. Protein creation, gene maintenance, muscle movements and nervous system regulation. It may help boost exercise performance. Helps fight depression. Magnesium plays a critical role in brain function and mood. Benefits against Type 2 Diabetes. Can help lower blood pressure. Has anti-inflammatory benefits. Can help prevent migraines. Can help reduce insulin resistance. Can help improve PMS symptoms. Magnesium is safe and widely available. Magnesium sulphate as used in Shhh… Menopausal Wellness bath salt products. Magnesium sulphate or Epsom Salts as it is commonly known as, is a chemical compound made up of oxygen, sulphur, and magnesium. It gets is name from the town of Epsom in Surrey, UK, where it was originally discovered. It must be remembered that magnesium sulphate or Epsom Salts, although they have similar characteristics to table salt, are a completely different compound to table salt which is sodium chloride. Magnesium sulphate used in bath salts may help promote sleep if a bath is taken before bedtime. Good magnesium levels are required for sleep and stress management. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and although not scientifically proven, the skin may absorb magnesium from the bath water thereby aiding sleep and stress relief. The addition of lavender to one of our bath salts will also help aid sleep and relaxation. According to the Sleep Doctor: https://thesleepdoctor.com/2018/08/07/the-relaxing-sleep-promoting-health-boosting-powers-of-lavender/ This gently scented flowering herb has been shown to have a pretty broad range of effects in the body, as an essential oil, an oral supplement, and a topical cream or salve: Lavender works as an anxiolytic (an anxiety reliever) and as a sedative, to increase relaxation and calm, and help bring about sleep Lavender interacts with the neurotransmitter GABA to help quiet the brain and nervous system activity, reducing agitation, anger, aggression, and restlessness Lavender functions as a pain reliever, or analgesic Lavender has anti-bacterial capabilities Lavender can reduce inflammation Magnesium Chloride as used in Shhh… Menopausal Wellness Allay Anxiety Magnesium Mist, Sleep Sound Magnesium H20 and bath oil range. Magnesium Chloride is extracted from the oceans and is sometimes referred to as the Master Magnesium Compound by many medical professionals for both dietary and topical use due it its high potency and efficient action. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_chloride “Hydrated magnesium chloride can be extracted from brine or sea water. In North America, magnesium chloride is produced primarily from Great Salt Lake brine. It is extracted in a similar process from the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley. Magnesium chloride as the natural mineral bischofite, is also extracted (by solution mining) out of ancient seabeds, for example, the Zechstein seabed in northwest Europe. Some magnesium chloride is made from solar evaporation of seawater”. Magnesium chloride may improve your health by increasing the amount of magnesium in your body, especially if your levels are low. It can help with regulation of blood sugars and blood pressure, and aid muscle and nerve function. In Conclusion. Magnesium in all its forms is beneficial to our health and wellbeing on many levels. Taken with an holistic approach it is a great tool to add to the toolbox in menopause care.