Magnesium is a tricky nutrient. Too little AND too much magnesium can both impact your health. The right amount of magnesium, however, may be beneficial.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to supporting the normal regulation body functions. The majority of magnesium is found in bone and the rest inside the cells of tissues and organs. Only one percent of magnesium is found in blood – and the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant.

So, if you eat right, and most of us don’t, it’s unlikely that you need a magnesium supplement. For those that need to fill in nutritional gaps, magnesium supplements are readily available in many different forms.

Nutritionists say that boosting your intake of magnesium over time may help support a healthy sleep-wake cycle and healthy energy levels. Before supplementing, however, make sure to consult with your doctor.