Mind Calm Powder with Magnesium Bisglycinate & L-Theanine

It’s 2 am and your mind’s running at lightning speed- ideas popping up, your next meal and trip is being planned; and you’re thinking to yourself while staring at your dark, dark ceiling… when’s this going to end? Am I ever going to fall asleep? Been there? Same. These are by far the most frustrating and stressful nights I’ve ever had – when my body is super sleepy but my mind feels like the road runner. After several weeks of going through this, it finally dawned on me that I should probably look into creating a peaceful night time routine a few hours before sleeping, to help my mind settle down and not be broken up with its connection to my body. Now, having finally tried a couple things; here’s my night time routine to prepare for a peaceful sleep: Night mode on phone One of the things I discovered was the night mode on my phone. 10:30 pm is when it goes on for me. While I don’t always stick to it, I do it as much as possible to help keep me on track with time. Although I don’t think I would rely on this a 100%, here’s how it helps me beyond its primary purpose. It acts as a reminder more than anything, to start to carry out lighter tasks, or some reading. Maybe some browsing too, if I want. For example, if I have to wash my hair, I make sure to carve out time for that. Make a relaxing drink You’ve probably seen me try out lots of mushroom drinks, teas and elixirs in the evening to calm down, support my immune system and so on. Honestly, I love switching up and trying different things to see how they work on my body and help… or not. But even though I switch it up, I’ve consistently stuck to magnesium powder the most, specifically magnesium citrate. One of the things during my research for better sleeps that had popped up was magnesium citrate powder. Having read about its benefits, I decided to try it out- because why not make food and supplements a go-to, over crazy pills and things you don’t really need in your body? Ever since then, I’ve found an amazing difference! I’ve had better quality and deeper sleeps, as well as better muscle recovery after having magnesium powder. I’ve known for it to also help with metabolism and even better digestion! So I either have it as is, because this watermelon lime flavour is so. delicious! But sometimes, I add in some herbs or flowers like holy basil, lavender or rosemary, that help induce sleep too! It’s such a staple supplement for me; I even make sure they travel with me. Hot showers Aah, hot showers. They’re incredibly relaxing. Picture this – you chill and drink some magnesium in your night drink. About 15 – 20 mins later, you head in for a shower and just let the hot water steam up and relax your body even more so. It is pure heaven to me. Magnesium is great for relaxing your muscles and helping them function properly, especially after a workout. And at this point, when the shower is involved (or a bath) it makes for the perfect combination. Pro tip: Get on that exfoliation routine in the shower. After your shower, massage body lotion on your body. You’re stacking up on relaxation after relaxation. It’s the best damn thing before bed. Try it! Meditation music/nature sounds Different music affects everyone differently. A lot of times at night, I really sway and chill out listening to artists like Sabrina Claudio, Siir, Alina Baraz, Tasha Angela, The Internet and so on. It gets my sensual, self-love and self-care vibe in motion. But when I hit the bed, its time for some rain sounds or meditation music for going deep into relax and dream land. I used to listen to an app full of nature sounds that was customisable down to how hard you wanted the rain to pour (this app isn’t available anymore). So now, I usually manage to find good ones for rain or meditation music on i-tunes or youtube instead! So that’s all for my night time routine in a nutshell! These few things are vital for me to mellow down and sleep well. And lastly, for the magnesium drink, here’s how you can make it. 1.5 tsp Soothe magnesium citrate powder 75 ml hot water Add in some more water, iced or hot is up to you Herbs like basil, rosemary or flowers like lavender or passionflower Mix in magnesium powder to hot water till fully incorporated. Add in rest of water and herbs/flowers. Mix well and enjoy a relaxing evening.

When it comes to supporting your immune system, keeping your mental and physical stress levels as low as possible is one of your best defences. High stress and anxiety levels can suppress the function of our immune system and leave us more vulnerable. Thankfully, there are many ways in which you can reduce stress and anxiety, which include things such a yoga, meditation, deep breathing and more. However, another great way to help reduce stress and achieve a feeling of calm, is with Organika's Enhanced Collagen Relax. This unique product is made up of three natural and powerful ingredients, collagen, magnesium, and L-theanine, that will help reduce stress and support your immune system. How does Collagen help immunity? Collagen is a great source of protein, which is essential for our body and our immune systems. Because collagen powder is soluble, meaning it is easily absorbed, it will provide essential nutrients and building blocks to the billions of immune cells all around your body. When your immune cells are well nourished, they can function optimally to help protect you. Collagen can also help promote a feeling of relaxation and calmness, as it is a rich source of the amino acid glycine. Glycine has a calming effect on the nervous system, and is one of the most abundant amino acids found in collagen. When the nervous system is in constant overdrive during states of stress, it weakens our immune function capabilities. Glycine can support immunity by calming you down and helping you get through the day-to-day stressors with more ease. Magnesium and relaxation When it comes to stress and anxiety, magnesium is key. When we are overly stressed, our body burns through vitamins and minerals at a much faster rate. One of the minerals that gets used up quickly in this process is magnesium. Magnesium is important for hundreds of biological reactions around the body, including in the immune system. It is imperative to keep this mineral plentiful in our diets. Magnesium also works to relax both the nervous system and our muscles. When our body can effectively relax, our immune system can work optimally. L-theanine L-theanine is an amazing amino acid that is found in tea leaves. L-theanine offers many health benefits, and is well known for its therapeutic effect of calming the mind. One of the best things about L-theanine, is that although it is calming, it does not cause drowsiness. L-theanine is therapeutically used to help increase focus and concentration by providing relief to an overactive and/or scattered mind. When is the best time to take Collagen Relax? Anytime! Taking Collagen Relax during the day will help promote calmness, without drowsiness. Taking it in the evening before bed, will help your body and mind relax so you can get into a deeper sleep faster. Collagen, magnesium and L-theanine work well together to keep you calm, so your immune system can stay active and strong! When we think of collagen, we mostly think of hair, skin, and nails, but it is worth noting that the benefits go beyond just the external results we see. This powerhouse food aids in immune function, joint health and may even help curb your anxiety. Be happy, be healthy! XO Amy

As a holistic nutritionist and fitness coach, one of the most common questions I get from my clients is "Which supplements should I be taking?". Depending on your diet, health concerns, and symptoms, that answer always varies except for one, magnesium. Looking to get a night of restful sleep? Magnesium. Need help with post-workout recovery? Magnesium. Ate a big meal and looking for digestive support? Yup, you guessed it, magnesium. I discovered magnesium when searching for something to ease sore muscles and support deep uninterrupted sleep. As someone who works out daily and often goes to bed with a busy mind, my muscles and mind were becoming tired on all fronts! If I could find a supplement that did that and some...I’d be one happy (and rested), woman! I had been familiar with what magnesium offered and a few of the benefits it offered, but the more research I did, the more amazed I became with this mineral. Magnesium is a mineral but different from others, it's the 4th most needed and used mineral in our bodies. In fact, did you know every cell in our body contains magnesium and needs it to function? It is an essential mineral needed to perform hundreds of reactions that occur in our beautiful vessel. It is especially important when it comes to muscle function and recovery. Here’s why: Helps regulate muscle contractions, especially the heart! Helps with post-workout recovery by preventing a buildup of lactic acid, known to cause pain, tightness and muscle cramping after exercising Essential for the production of serotonin Helps to balance and control stress hormones. This is important for those who not only live a high stress lifestyle, but who work out a lot, causing additional stress on the body Is one of the essential electrolytes needed for efficient hydration Plays a huge role in our sleep, which is crucial for muscle repair, improving mood and keeping our energy high and stable! Taking it for a test run As divine timing would have it, my friends over at Organika were just about to release their newest Magnesium Citrate product, Soothe. I opted to try the watermelon & lime flavour first. A little bubbly, which took me by surprise at first, but having eaten dinner shortly before, was actually quite nice. I also learned after my second try with the unflavoured Soothe, if you let it sit for a minute, the effervescence settles down quite a bit. This made a lovely addition to my chamomile tea. The next morning I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to my alarm A) not groggy, which happens with many sleep aids, and B) not nearly as sore as expected after having had an intense ‘leg day’ the day prior. After several weeks of supplementing with Soothe I began to notice benefits in other areas. As someone who runs on all cylinders, I found myself in the ‘chill’ zone more often and content to be there. My post-workout recovery went very smoothly, with muscles not nearly as sore after big workouts and my mood and energy became much more consistent thanks to a good night’s sleep! Another benefit I wasn’t expecting was using the Watermelon Lime Soothe to curb my post dinner sweet tooth. Because it’s slightly carbonated and naturally sweetened, it stopped my craving dead in its tracks. The following week, I took the product with me on a work trip. I appreciated how well I was able to sleep, which can often be a bit rocky when out of routine. The bottom line I’m very excited about this new product from Organika and cannot recommend it enough. With an improvement in my sleep, muscle recovery and a noticeable difference in my stress levels and nervous system, safe to say, it has become a part of my nightly routine. Pairing Soothe with foods high in magnesium such as leafy greens, bananas, oats, and nuts and seeds are just a few delicious ways we can support our incredible bodies that give so much to us. Have you tried Soothe yet? Drop me a line and let me know what you think!