Many studies have been conducted to determine if magnesium does in fact boost brain function. These studies have been done for many years and some have had results that are quite conclusive. The best way to understand how your brain works are to understand how the rest of your body functions. Magnesium plays many vital roles in the body, but most importantly it helps regulate muscle contractions and nerve impulses. Studies have shown that there are major effects that can be had from increasing the amount of magnesium in your diet.
A major effect was found when comparing children to adults. In the study, adults who had a low amount of magnesium had poorer cognitive ability than those with a high amount of magnesium. Those that had more than the recommended amount had better brain function. This is one of the most supportive studies showing that magnesium has positive effects on the brain. The same results were found in children as well.
When taking supplements to increase your magnesium levels, you may find that you experience some side effects. One of these side effects is a decrease in memory. Another side effect of magnesium is an increase in the risk of developing osteoporosis. These findings are quite alarming. If you take magnesium as a supplement, it is very important to make sure you are keeping your magnesium levels where they should be.
Most people do not suffer the same levels of magnesium deficiencies that people with diseases like Alzheimer's or arthritis have. Most healthy people have a normal level of magnesium and do not see negative effects from taking magnesium supplements. There are a few exceptions to this general rule. If you have kidney problems, have high blood pressure, are pregnant, or suffer from kidney stones you should consult with your doctor before starting any type of magnesium supplement.
For many years people thought that memory was something that was fixed naturally. Studies have shown that there is an effect of magnesium on memory that is relatively strong. In one study participants had better recall of information after being given a magnesium supplement. This positive effect is probably not enough to sway most people, but the results do suggest that it at least exists. There are other studies showing that magnesium does have an effect on brain function and learning ability.
The effects of magnesium on memory and brain function seem to work best when the supplement is taken at the end of a study rather than the beginning. For this reason, some researchers prefer to have their participants take magnesium throughout the day rather than just at the end of a study. There are probably other reasons why you prefer to take your supplements at other times as well, but these are the main ones.
There is good news, however. Magnesium supplements seem to help with other aspects of health as well. People who regularly consume a healthy amount of magnesium seem to have fewer incidents of depression and hypertension. When magnesium is taken in conjunction with antioxidants, it may even help prevent degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. If you find that your mood is gloomy or your memory is foggy, give yourself a healthy dose of magnesium supplements.
Learning and memory seem to go hand in hand for most people. Children with parents that consistently praise them and teach them to learn good habits usually do better in school and this trend continues into adulthood. Adults are also affected by how they feel about themselves. If you are constantly thinking about your mistakes, your lack of concentration, or your lack of motivation, you will find that your grades suffer and you are more likely to have difficulties with keeping up with the Joneses. So, taking magnesium might not be the only thing you need to boost your memory, but it is certainly something worth looking into.
