The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Most nights, I’m lucky enough to fall asleep and stay asleep. But every now and then, some kind of life shift keeps me up at night — or worse, wakes me up at 2 a.m., tricking my mind into trying to solve all the world’s problems. During these stretches, I reach for a supplement that’s been known to promote relaxation: Natural Vitality Calm.
Calm is an effervescent magnesium supplement that contains 325 milligrams of magnesium carbonate. Additional ingredients include citric acid, organic lemon flavor, organic raspberry flavor with other natural flavors and organic stevia extract.
When magnesium carbonate and citric acid mix with water, magnesium citrate is formed. Magnesium citrate is involved in energy production and more than 300 enzyme systems that work in conjunction with nerves and muscles to regulate signal transmission, blood pressure, protein function and more.
Though magnesium is generally known as a sleep supplement, its exact relationship to our sleep hasn’t been studied well, unfortunately. However, I have yet to ever feel disappointed the morning after taking it. I always wake up feeling refreshed.
MORE: How the Norwegian practice of friluftsliv could boost your wellbeing
$28.94 from Amazon $29.99 from Walmart
To use, place half a teaspoon (1 gram) and add 2-3 ounces of hot or cold water. Pour slowly, as it will bubble up and fizz for a few seconds before it dissolves. You probably won’t even need to stir it. The manufacturer suggests gradually increasing up to 2 teaspoons per serving.
It tastes great and I love how it doesn’t contain sugar or artificial colors or flavors. Even better, I sleep really well when I take it. So much so, that I now make a cup of Calm the night before a big day to help give me a leg up.
The other night, after coming home after a particularly frustrating evening thanks to a wonky navigation app, I was craving a glass of wine. However, since it was past my usual cocktail window, I was hesitant to pour any because I had to get up extra early the next morning and was worried I’d feel groggy if I did that.
MORE: This mattress has a lot of awards, but will it really help you sleep?
Instead, I drank a mug of Calm and I have to say, I was amazed when I felt the same relaxing result about 20 minutes in!
You can buy a 16-ounce container of Natural Vitality Calm at Amazon for $16.54. I also like how you can get it in gummy form, which is perfect for anyone whose bladder can’t handle liquids right before bed.
This supplement doesn’t have to be used at night. Some people swear by its daytime effects, but I haven’t tried it earlier in the day. I’d be worried I wouldn’t be able to keep my eyes open!
Emily is a freelance writer who loves connecting the dots among facts and finding obscure little details to weave in throughout her work. Whether she's interviewing Olympic athletes, small business owners, dessert cookbook writers, or world-renowned architects, she's passionate about shining the spotlight on good people doing remarkable work. More.
