There are over 700 enzyme systems in the human body that require magnesium to function. For those who are prone to anxiety, it is especially important that they have sufficient magnesium in reserve. It has been shown that a higher magnesium intake can ease anxiety and panic attacks by relaxing the nervous system and reducing muscle tension.

How Magnesium Helps Anxiety

What makes us shift from being calm and in control of our nervous system to being anxious and fearful? The reason may be a gradual, but chronic, deficiency in magnesium reserves. During times of stress, our bodies release magnesium into the bloodstream, allowing us to feel calm and alert, and cope better with stressful situations.

The Effects of Magnesium Deficiency on Anxiety

The magnesium stores in our bodies will become depleted if we do not replenish them between periods of stress. In the event that magnesium reserves are completely depleted, adrenaline is released in its place. This increases heart rate, elevates blood pressure, and tenses the muscles in a fight or flight response. This is the reason why magnesium deficiency contributes to many cases of anxiety, and why nearly all of the common causes and triggers of anxiety may be exacerbated by magnesium deficiency.