Magnesium is a natural way to fight stress, and researchers have taken an in-depth look at magnesium and stress in people all around the world. When you have a lot of stress, your body releases specific hormones like catecholamines and corticoids. However, magnesium combats this by blocking NMDA receptors, and this encourages your body to stop producing stress hormones.
Legumes are a large family of plants that come packed with nutrients, and they include peas, lentils, chickpeas, beans and soybeans. A single 128-gram serving of cooked legumes gives you 120 milligrams of magnesium, and this is 30% of your recommended daily intake.
A single medium-sized avocado gives you 58 milligrams of magnesium, and this is 15% of your recommended daily intake. Along with improving your magnesium levels, avocados also improve your cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation.
Whole grains are foods like barley, oats, wheat, quinoa and buckwheat. A 28-gram serving of any of these whole grains gives you up to 65 milligrams of magnesium, and this is 16% of your recommended daily intake.
Brazil nuts, cashews and almonds are all high in magnesium with a 28-gram serving giving you 82 milligrams of magnesium i.e. 20% of your recommended daily intake. They’re also an excellent source of fibre and good fat.
Dark chocolate gives you 64 milligrams of magnesium in a 28-gram serving. This is roughly 16% of your recommended daily intake. It’s high in copper, iron and manganese, and it’s loaded with beneficial antioxidants.