Chances are, every massage you've ever gotten ends with "drink water and take an epsom salt bath"
BUT WHY?
Massage therapists know that most people are dehydrated, for one. Secondly, a massage is a workout for your body - it speeds up all the body's normal processes. This includes urine production and waste elimination - so your body needs WATER to replenish itself. Magnesium is also very important in regulating several of our bodily functions:
- Kidney function
- muscle and nerve function
- blood pressure regulation
- blood sugar levels
- making protein
So it's no secret that magnesium is on the VIM list - Very Important Minerals. But EPSOM SALTS are not very effective at increasing magnesium in the body. In order to get much help from epsom salts, you'd have to basically dump the whole bag of salts into your bath,
not just the 1-2 cups recommended on the bag. Instead, you can trade your epsom salts for MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE FLAKES. I know, epsom salt is so much easier to roll off the tongue!!
Magnesium flakes are naturally sourced from salt beds. Magnesium Chloride is absorbed easily by the body, so you need less of it to get the desired benefits.
We're a huge fan of Ancient Minerals Magnesium flakes
Magnesium is helpful in managing or preventing so many common issues. It can help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches, muscles cramps and spasms, and numbness/tingling in the body.
People with certain conditions are more vulnerable to magnesium deficiency. This includes long-term alcohol use, people with GI issues like Crohn's Disease or Celiac Disease. Older people and those with Type 2 Diabetes are also at risk for magnesium deficiency. You may notice you are low in magnesium if you experience nausea, lack of appetite, weakness, or muscle cramps.
Topical applications of magnesium such as bath flakes or magnesium oil spray
are easily absorbed through the skin. Magnesium spray is a convenient option for on-the-go or if taking a bath isn't an option. It can be itchy if you have sensitive skin, but we love this formulation with aloe from essentiallybased. It does leave your skin with the feeling of dried salt - similar to after a day at the beach! But this feeling fades over time.
So, do as the muscle whisperers say, and get some MAGNESIUM in your system after a massage, a tough workout, during hot summers, or anytime you're feeling dehydrated. Just do yourself a favor and get the good stuff - magnesium chloride flakes. Happy soaking :)