Magnesium has long been considered as a vital nutrient to ensure good mental health, brain functioning, and overall well being as it promotes a more relaxed and calm state of being through the production and function of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), a neurotransmitter known for its calming effect on the brain.I’m excited to kick off this series as I am joined by one of my personal health experts who is also a dear friend of mine – Dr. RitaMarie Loscalzo. Since she is the founder of the Institute of Nutritional Endocrinology who played a significant role in developing our Neurotastic formulations, she’s the perfect guest to join us as we discuss the remarkable advantages of magnesium for mental health.Stress and its impact on society.Statistical results in 2022 show that 37% of Americans rated their mental health as fair or poor whereas stress levels were at an all-time high, with 59% feeling extreme stress in the past year. Moreover, it has been emphasized that college students were those significantly impacted by high stress levels, with 34% experiencing depression and anxiety.Mental health issues are a significant and pervasive concern among college students, often resulting in academic challenges and hindering their overall ability to thrive in an academic environment. Dr. RitaMarie explains that stress is triggered by various factors, including media-induced fear, activating the sympathetic nervous system's fight-flight response. Chronic stress affects our well-being, underscoring the need to activate the calming parasympathetic nervous system. The media's emphasis on negative news contributes to perpetual stress, highlighting the need to focus on positive news for a more balanced perspective.Magnesium’s role in stress, nutrient deficiencies, and mental health. There are still many people who are unaware of the fact that stress shouldn’t be downplayed. In fact, even with a healthy diet, stress can impair digestion and nutrient absorption, emphasizing the need for strategic supplementation. Thus, Dr. RitaMarie, an expert in functional endocrinology, highlights the importance of magnesium supplementation, particularly for those under chronic stress. Magnesium deficiency is often overlooked. Many people are deficient in magnesium due to processed food consumption, making supplementation essential. We have to take note that genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors can exacerbate deficiencies, affecting vital nutrients like magnesium, vitamin D, and B12. In our culture, stress has become the norm, and it's crucial to actively counter its effects on our body and brain. Dr. RitaMarie and I often discuss ways to maintain a calm, parasympathetic state despite the daily stressors. In my training sessions for practitioners, I stress the importance of magnesium for various bodily functions, including brain support, blood sugar balance, and stress levels. For individuals with ADHD or anxiety, magnesium supplementation can be transformative, often resulting in improved behavior and sleep. Personally, I rely on magnesium for better sleep and muscle relaxation. Magnesium supplements with L-theanine and magnesium glycinate are particularly beneficial for brain health and sleep. Women going through menstrual changes or menopause also benefit greatly from increased magnesium intake. It's essential to recognize the diverse benefits of magnesium and incorporate it strategically into our lives for improved well-being.Magnesium plays a crucial role in excreting oxalates found in certain foods like spinach and kale. While some advocate for a low oxalate diet, magnesium deficiency can hinder the excretion of oxalates even when consuming normal amounts. Oxalates can crystallize and cause joint problems, gout, vulvodynia, and brain fog when they enter the bloodstream. Magnesium, along with vitamin B6, can bind to...