In one small (but double-blind and placebo-controlled) trial4, magnesium helped older people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer compared to a placebo.* Preliminary research has also found that the mineral might be helpful in easing the everyday stress5 that keeps many of us up at night.* Integrative medicine doctor Amy Shah, M.D., says that it’s her go-to whenever she needs a deep, restful night of sleep while nutritionist Dana James, M.S. CNS, CDN, says it’s the best supplement she’s ever used for sleep.* mbg’s sleep formula comes in vegetarian capsules that can be easily taken at any time, which raises the question, what time should you be taking them? According to Robert Rountree, M.D., a physician who specializes in nutritional and herbal pharmacology and helped formulate the blend, the answer depends on your sleep patterns and what you’re hoping to get out of the supplement. If staying asleep is a problem for you, you’ll want to take magnesium later in the evening. “For those who fall asleep OK but awaken during the night, I recommend taking the magnesium immediately before getting into bed,” Rountree says. This will help it promote a steadier state of relaxation7 after you’ve already fallen asleep and cut down on tossing and turning.* Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
