Whether you’re competing as a professional athlete or going on your daily dog walk, having enough magnesium is important for keeping your body moving. This little-discussed mineral helps keep muscles from cramping, supports energy levels, and promotes relaxation.

Getting enough of this essential nutrient helps people feel stronger, more relaxed, and more rested as a result of its sleep-promoting qualities. These universally important conditions are often at the forefront of Human Powered Health pro cyclists’ priorities during training and racing. Thorne’s Magnesium Bisglycinate supplement ensures that our Human Powered Health squad has ample stores of this powerhouse mineral, so they never miss a pedal stroke or a night’s rest.

 

“It’s really a product for muscle relaxation,” says Laura Kunces, Thorne’s Vice President of Medical Strategy. Thorne’s formula of chelated minerals is easy on the stomach and allows any athlete to wake up each day feeling rested, recovered, and ready to go. Human Powered Health climbing expert Keegan Swirbul has noticed that since starting on this magnesium supplement, “It helps me relax at night and achieve better sleep, which surely translates to my energy levels in a positive way.”

“In the United States, about 70 percent of adults are not getting adequate magnesium in their diet,” says Joel Totoro, Director of Sports Science for Thorne. The depth of this problem makes it a must-solve for our athletes who are putting in hard miles day in and day out.

Why are so many of us deficient in one of the most useful nutrients?

Despite being ever-present on our nutrition labels, magnesium is a rarely talked about part of our diet. We don’t typically test for magnesium in regular blood panels, so deficiencies aren’t diagnosed without additional testing. Looking at those nutrition labels, you’ll see that nuts, seeds, and whole grains are a good source of magnesium in your diet. Given that, it makes sense to see athletes eating a lot of granola, trail mixes, and bars high in these ingredients, but oftentimes those hold-overs aren’t enough to keep everything moving.

 

Kunces says, “You lose a lot of magnesium through the contraction and relaxation processes of moving your muscles, so athletes usually need about 20 percent or more than the average person.”

Besides moving your muscles, Totoro tells us that, “Magnesium is also involved in more than six hundred of the body’s enzymatic reactions, so it’s kind of needed everywhere.”

Our athletes use Thorne’s unique Magnesium Bisglycinate supplement to ensure they get their daily dose without having to overload on almonds every day. With enough magnesium they can go out and enjoy their ride and ensure an efficient recovery. Swirbul has discovered that, “It’s become clear that for endurance athletes it is absolutely essential.”

So how does it affect the athletes?

Staying on top of their magnesium level is a great way for the Human Powered Health team to combat the feelings of exhaustion and stress that come with the tough job of a professional cyclist. Thorne’s Magnesium Bisglycinate also has a good track record of helping athletes get the good night’s rest they need so much.

Other magnesium supplements can be harsh on the stomach and cause gastrointestinal distress. These other forms are also less readily absorbed into the body, making them not only less pleasant to use but less efficient too. Magnesium Bisglycinate is a special version of the mineral that uses the amino acid glycine to help absorption and buffer upsetting side effects.

The result is a product that helps our riders keep their muscles moving, recover strong, and relax at night. Getting adequate magnesium in your body can be a great way to take your training to the next level or to get you out of the cycle of fatigue.