Magnesium is element 12, a light, silvery metal that in the body is never a metal, always a mineral. An adult holds about 25 grams of it, more than half in the bones and most of the rest in muscle and soft tissue. It is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems: the reactions that turn food into energy, build proteins and let muscles and nerves work.
How much, and from where
The reference intake for adults is 375 mg a day. It comes from nuts and seeds, pulses, whole grains and leafy greens; a cup of plain coffee contains a few milligrams. Magnesium is counted per day, so it belongs in something that happens every day.
Why it is in our formulas
Three things explain it. Magnesium is part of the machinery that turns food into energy, so too little of it shows as tiredness. It is what lets a muscle relax after it has contracted, which is why cramps are the classic sign of a shortage. And it steadies the nervous system. Energy, muscle, nerves: that is why it is in OO1 The Daily, OO7 The Gym, OO8 The Social and OO9 The Chill.
The form matters
Magnesium is never added as the pure metal. It comes as a salt, a compound such as magnesium citrate or carbonate, and the salts differ in how much magnesium they carry and how they taste. Minerals tend to taste metallic or bitter, which is the second reason ours is microencapsulated: the first is to keep it stable, the second to keep it out of the taste of the cup. The exact compound is named in each formula’s list of ingredients.
Daily, not more
A formula is not a reason to take more of anything. Magnesium from food is not a concern for healthy adults; for magnesium added to foods and supplements the safe upper level is 250 mg a day, which is one more reason the amount per cup is stated on each formula’s page.