The more active you are, the more magnesium you will need. Magnesium plays an important role in both athletic performance and recovery. Magnesium plays a critical role in every element of human metabolism athletes needs to perform and recover to their best capacity. It plays a crucial role in energy production, muscle function, heart health, protein synthesis and insulin metabolism.
Magnesium supports performance because it is vital for the conversion of glycogen to glucose, the body’s main fuel source during exercise. Without sufficient levels, the body switches to anaerobic metabolism resulting in an increase of lactic acid and associated muscle soreness.
Magnesium is essential for recovery. Together with calcium, magnesium is essential for optimal muscle function. A deficiency can result in muscle and nerve twitches, spasms and cramping. Magnesium is lost through perspiration and can deplete levels, resulting in reduced recovery duration. Having sufficient levels speeds recovery reduces fatigue and helps to avoid injuries.
Magnesium and Energy
Magnesium is involved in the pathway for energy production. If you often feel tired, worn out and lethargic, despite exercising and getting lots of rest, one possible cause could be a deficiency in magnesium. The metabolism of carbohydrates and fats to produce energy requires numerous magnesium dependant chemical reactions. ATP is the body’s fundamental energy molecule. Magnesium in the body creates energy by activating ATP. Without sufficient levels of magnesium, the nutrients that are consumed through food and supplementation cannot be metabolised into energy.