This Magnesium Drink Has Helped My Perimenopause Sleep Issues
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I’ve always been a night owl, and becoming amomonly made my late-night habits worse. If I’m not working on a writing deadline for after-hours — when the house is finally quiet — I’m dealing with revenge bedtime procrastination. I’ll stay up scrolling or reading until my eyes burn because it’s the only downtime I get. Still, my sleep habits didn’t affect me too much until my mid-40s, whenperimenopausestarted. Not only was I going to bed too late, I was often waking up between 3 and 4 a.m. The combination was a recipe for daytime exhaustion.
I’d heard magnesium was helpful for sleep and perimenopause. Lower estrogen levels can affect our mineral balance, including magnesium, which helps regulate the nervous system, relax muscles, and support healthy sleep. There are all sorts ofsprays, gummies, pills, and powders. I already take many supplements, and another pill seems hard to swallow, literally. So when Thorne sent me itsMagnesium Bisglycinate powderto try, I was game. The supplement has truly transformed my sleep over the past few months.
What is magnesium bisglycinate?
Magnesium bisglycinate is the same thing as the more common “magnesium glycinate” — it’s just the scientific name. The “bis” refers to the two glycine molecules attached to the magnesium. Glycine is an amino acid that also acts as a neurotransmitter and may have calming effects. Magnesium glycinate is gentle on the stomach and is less likely to have the laxative effect associated with other forms, like magnesium citrate. Because of its calming benefits, it’s recommended to take it before bedtime. So every night, I dissolve one scoop in at least eight ounces of water and drink it down. According toresearchon magnesium bisglycinate in adults with insomnia, it may take a couple of weeks of consistent use to see a difference.
My experience with the supplement
I started drinking it every night about an hour before I’d like to go to bed. It has a sweet, lemon-lime citrusy taste. It’s sweetened with monk fruit, so it’s sugar- and calorie-free. I didn’t notice much of a change in the first week, but drinking it became a calming ritual, signaling to my body that’s it’s time to relax.
After two weeks, I noticed I couldn’t keep my eyes open past 10:30. I’ve been drinking it for months now, and my bedtime is much earlier than it used to be. There are some nights Ifall asleepon the couch and drag myself upstairs in the middle of the night. That disruption typically leads to at least a half-hour (usually more) of being wide awake. Since starting the magnesium, though, I’m able to get back to sleep quickly.
On the nights fall asleep in my bed (not the couch), I usually sleep straight through until morning. There are some nights I wake up because I have to use the bathroom (a downside of drinking liquid an hour or so before bed), but I’m able to get back to sleep quickly afterward.
I’ve never been one forsleep aids. Medications like Benadryl leave me groggy. I took half an Ambien once during a red-eye flight. The next day, I didn’t remember getting off the plane and navigating the airport. Scary. With my magnesium bisglycinate, there is no morning-after grogginess or brain fog. In fact, magnesium may help with some of the brain fog associated with perimenopause by supporting normal stress response, reducing inflammation, and helping with cellular energy production. There’s also no dependence. So when I say I’m addicted to this nighttime ritual, I mean it in a non-habit-forming way. I just love the results, so I don’t like to miss a night — even on weekends.
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