Magnesium and Mental Health

Magnesium is very important for mood and keeping stress levels under control because Serotonin depends on magnesium for its production and function. Even a mild deficiency of this mineral can cause increased sensitivity to noise, nervousness, irritability, depression, paranoia, anxious behavior, hyperemotionality, apprehension, confusion, anger and insomnia.

Magnesium regulates the stress response and that’s why magnesium deficiency is a brilliant bio-marker for chronic stress. Magnesium can suppress the release of stress hormones, it can reduce the release of ACTH (the hormone that regulates the cortisol and adrenaline release) and it can reduce the responsiveness of the adrenal glands to ACTH. Furthermore Magnesium can act at the blood brain barrier to prevent the entrance of stress hormones into the brain.

Hypoglycemia is another factor, which affects mental health. The brain becomes extremely vulnerable during episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Low blood sugar occurs when your body/brain is malnourished (e.g. when the blood flow of the CNS is compromised by CCSVI). It also occurs in individuals whose adrenal glands are depleted.

Magnesium is responsible for balancing blood sugar. With sufficient amounts of magnesium and balanced nutrition the body is able to protect us from hypocylycaemic episodes naturally and therefore against depression, anxiety and mood disorders as well.

References:
Rapid recovery from major depression using magnesium treatment. http://george-eby-research.com/html/depression-anxiety.html
Magnesium and the Brain: The Original Chill Pill http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201106/magnesium-and-the-brain-the-original-chill-pill
Magnesium Nutrition Improves Mental Health http://www.nutritionalmagnesium.org/magnesium-nutrition-improves-mental-health/