Have you been feeling fatigued and moody lately? How about anxious, with bouts of insomnia? You should consider whether you may have a magnesium deficiency. Being deficient in magnesium can have a dramatically negative impact on your mood and can also lead to feelings of nervousness and a general lack of energy. Increasing your daily intake of magnesium is an easy way to feel more energetic, with an improved outlook on life.

While it is well documented that those deficient in magnesium may suffer from joint and muscle pain, migraines, nervousness, and anxiety, it is easy to see why magnesium deficiency is often misdiagnosed. Further research has concluded that a magnesium deficiency may actually be an underlying cause for many other illnesses. For example, if you are suffering with fatigue, a magnesium deficiency could be the culprit. Magnesium plays a key role in the energy process within our cells. If energy production is limited due to low magnesium levels, you may experience a feeling of overall fatigue and weakness. Simply increasing your daily intake could have an immediate impact on your overall energy levels.

As magnesium is critical to muscle relaxation and the regulation of blood sugar, having sufficient levels can lead to a more calm, relaxed state of mind, which in turn can lead to a sound night of sleep. Nothing can improve your overall sense of well being like awakening from a good night of sleep refreshed and revived.

One of the most important research findings is the link between magnesium deficiency and mood-related disorders. Some studies have indicated that certain cases of major depression can be effectively treated with magnesium supplementation. In fact, many believe that an underlying cause of depression is a deficiency in certain vitamins or minerals, including sufferers who have realized rapid recovery as a result of increasing their magnesium intake.

So how much magnesium is enough? If you take a multi-vitamin, you may assume that you are receiving the necessary amount of magnesium. Unfortunately, the average multi-vitamin contains only 100 mg of magnesium, which is about 25% of the recommended daily allowance. Currently, the recommended daily allowance is 270 to 400 mg for men over age 18 and 300 mg for women over the age of 18. Recent studies have shown that the human body may need up to three times that amount, in order to function properly. This may be especially true for those suffering from the mood-related conditions noted above. Diuretics, antibiotics and some cancer treatments deplete the body’s stores of magnesium, making it extremely critical to replenish magnesium to adequate levels.