MAGNESIUM plays a role in hundreds of bodily processes. The mineral helps regulate heart rate, glucose and blood pressure, and is essential for the synthesis of DNA and proteins. Magnesium also helps make serotonin, a brain chemical that modulates sleep, appetite and mood. Most of the body’s magnesium comes from food—leafy greens, beans, nuts, bananas, milk and whole grains are rich in it. But sales of supplements, which are formulated with additional substances to create magnesium salts, are surging. Boosters claim they can aid sleep, lessen stress and depression, and even have cardiovascular benefits. What, though, does the research say about their usefulness?
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Can magnesium help you relax?”
From the March 7th 2026 edition
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