People who struggle to fall asleep could end up feeling worse during the day – but there’s one thing that could stop restless nights
If you find yourself lying awake at night, you’re not alone. Millions around the world struggle with bouts of insomnia – but there’s one simple thing a doctor thinks most people can take to help that.
Asif Ahmed, a British doctor, explained on his TikTok feed there’s one simple supplement that “most people” could benefit from taking. He said it’s often helped his patients who came in complaining they had “tried everything” and still couldn’t get to sleep easily.
The GP said: “This is one mineral that’s probably low – even if it comes back normal in your blood test – which you’ll benefit from if you try. That mineral is magnesium.”
He explained that a simple blood test might not show any problems at first glance, adding that’s because “only 1%” of your body’s magnesium is in your blood. Instead, most of it is already spread across your cells. The doctor explained that normal bloods could still mean you’re deficient – adding the only accurate test is a urine collection.
You probably have insomnia if you regularly:
- find it hard to go to sleep
- wake up several times during the night
- lie awake at night
- wake up early and cannot go back to sleep
- still feel tired after waking up
- find it hard to nap during the day even though you’re tired
- feel tired and irritable during the day
- find it difficult to concentrate during the day because you’re tired
There are different types of insomnia – based on how long you’ve struggled. You can either suffer from short-term (less than three months) or long-term (over three months) insomnia. Insomnia usually gets better by changing your sleeping habits but, in some cases, medication and supplements do help.
Magnesium may help with sleep by relaxing muscles, increasing levels of the sleep hormone melatonin and reducing anxiety. People can opt for a supplement or take a more natural approach and increase the amount of magnesium-rich foods in their diet. This includes things like leafy greens, lean protein, seeds and nuts.
If you are considering making these changes, it is a good idea to consult an expert first. An appointment with your GP will help tailor a plan to best suit your body and whether you need to up your magnesium intake. If you are feeling tired majority of the time, it is important to flag this to your doctor too as it may be caused by an underlying medical condition.
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