Many people have trouble sleeping, and breaking the cycle of insomnia can be hard. You can try changing your sleep routine and curbing your caffeine intake, but sometimes these lifestyle interventions fall short.

Magnesium has wide-ranging effects in the body and may influence some of the processes that support sleep. In order to fall asleep and stay asleep, your body and brain need to relax. Magnesium aids this process by supporting the parasympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for getting your mind calm and relaxed, and ready for sleep.

Magnesium supports neurotransmitters, which send signals throughout the nervous system and brain, and also supports the natural sleep hormone, which guides sleep-wake cycles in your body.

Since magnesium supports blood flow to the muscles efficiently and helps to remove lactic acid, it supports muscle recovery. Magnesium is also essential to muscle relaxation and allows potassium to move back into your cells to keep your muscles from tensing.