Always Have Disrupted Sleep? You Could Be Deficient In This Mineral

Sleep can be a fraught topic. Even when we can find the time to sleep the recommended seven to nine hours, staying asleep through the night can be a challenge in itself.

A study published out of Australia1 observed that magnesium levels were much lower in people who reported getting less than seven hours of sleep.

The study looked specifically at something called lymphocyte telomere length2 to determine magnesium levels in 72 healthy elderly people from South Australia.

This study could bring us one step closer to learning about how mineral deficiencies can get in the way of one of the most important parts of our day. It also opens the door for further studies on how taking a magnesium supplement can help with sleep quality. The research also underscores the need for more inquiry into the relationship between sleep and other micronutrients like B and D vitamins, which have also been linked to sleep quality.

Magnesium can be found in many healthy foods like spinach, almonds, avocado, nuts, and seeds. However, almost half (44%) of Americans don't get enough magnesium3 from their diet alone, so supplementation may be necessary. Thankfully, there are plenty of expert-recommended magnesium supplements you can add to your routine—including ones specifically designed to enhance sleep.

In addition to making sure you're getting enough magnesium, you can improve your sleep quality by checking in on your sleep hygiene.