From sleep to heart health: The exact magnesium types your body really needs

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Oxide Myth

You’ve seen it in countless supplements, but magnesium oxide barely absorbs and mostly just makes you poop. If you’re swallowing it for muscle cramps or sleep, you’re wasting time and money.

Glycinate Calm

Anxious? Irritable? Awake at 3 a.m.? Magnesium glycinate is your nervous system’s best friend. Unlike other forms, this one actually chills you out without messing with your gut.

Brain Barrier

Magnesium threonate crosses into the brain—literally. It’s the only form shown to enhance cognitive function, beat brain fog, and potentially sharpen memory over time. Think smarter, not just calmer.

Fatigue Fixer

Magnesium malate is the quiet powerhouse for chronic fatigue warriors. By supporting cellular energy production, it helps you feel less like a battery on 2%—without caffeine.

Laxative Lite

Struggling with sluggish digestion? Citrate does double duty: a gentle laxative and a decent magnesium source. It’s the bathroom-friendly version of mineral multitasking.

Heart Helper

Told to watch your blood pressure? Magnesium taurate is the cardiac MVP. This combo calms nerves while supporting heart muscle function—ideal for those on edge and on meds.

Chloride Boost

Low in magnesium? Magnesium chloride gets you back up fast. It’s highly bioavailable and even works topically. Sprays, baths, capsules—it doesn’t care how, it just absorbs.

Athlete’s Choice

Muscles sore? Magnesium orotate might be your new post-workout ritual. Used by endurance athletes for faster recovery and better performance, it’s more than a trend supplement.

Teamwork Required

Magnesium needs D3 and B6 to actually work inside your cells. Take it with coffee or calcium, though, and you’re sabotaging absorption. Timing and pairing matter more than you think.