Which Magnesium Salt Should I Use In My Bath?
One of the most common questions we are asked by people who want to add something to their bath to help soothe sore muscles and ease physical and mental tension, or because they’ve heard it’s beneficial to supplement their magnesium levels is ‘Which salt is best to use in the bath?’
There is no definitive answer, as you’ll get slightly different benefits from each of our magnesium bath soaks. That’s because they each provide you with other elements that bind to the magnesium.
Epsom Salt
This is Magnesium Sulphate. So when your Epsom salts dissolve in your bath water, they provide you with magnesium and sulphates.
Sulphates help to remove toxins from your body, phenols in particular. The sulphates attach to the phenols and ready them for excretion. All foods contain phenols that need to be processed by our bodies. We have a sulfation pathway that does this, but it might not be able to process the phenols as fast as we consume them. When they start building up in our system, it can cause night sweats, sleep disturbance, irritability, and skin irritations.
Having low levels of sulphate may lead to retention of toxins which can affect the healthy balance of your body, in particular your gut health.
Your Epsom salt bath can provide sulphates in a readily available form to help process toxins more efficiently.
Magnesium Flakes
This is Magnesium Chloride. So when your magnesium chloride flakes dissolve in your bath water, they provide you with magnesium and chlorides.
Chlorides help regulate your body’s electrolytes. Among other activities, electrolytes generate electricity, contract muscles, move fluids within your body, and aid digestion by assisting in stomach acid secretion.
A bath with Magnesium Flakes is relaxing AND reviving.
Dead Sea Salt
When you add Dead Sea Salt to your bath, it provides you with mainly magnesium and potassium chlorides, as well as being rich in other trace elements that your body will love, such as calcium, iodine and zinc. It has a reputation for soothing and relieving troublesome skin conditions.
Dead Sea Salt is a popular choice for people with dry skin, as it can help skin feel less itchy and is hydrating, as well as helping to relax and de-stress your mind and body.
All of these options contain magnesium. Why is it so important to get sufficient amounts of this mineral?
We all need magnesium to maintain good health. Included in the hundreds of bodily functions it helps regulate are muscle control, energy production, and elimination of toxins. It’s also known as the mind mineral because it can lower feelings of anxiety and stress, help improve your mood, and supports healthy sleep patterns.
If you’re feeling tired, anxious, low in mood or energy, it could be worth trying a regular series of magnesium-based baths to see what differences you feel.
Magnesium deficiency is an issue in many cultures currently. The soils our food grows in have become depleted of magnesium due to intensive farming methods, so our food is lower in magnesium than it was historically. Modern diets containing more processed foods, sugary foods, carbonated drinks and caffeine also have a part to play in lowering our magnesium levels. As does stress – the more stressed you are, the more of your magnesium stores you use up!
How wonderful is it that a relaxing soak in the bath with added magnesium can be so beneficial as well as feel so great?!
And just to add to the mix, you might like to consider the further benefits you’ll get from adding a little something extra to your magnesium bath too.
We’d recommend 2 cups of your main salt, and a cup of Sodium Bicarb or Himalayan Pink Salt. Why treat yourself to these in your bath?
Our Natural Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) helps to correct pH balance by alkalising your body. It’s also really soothing when it comes to tired muscles that might be feeling the lactic acid burn after a workout. You probably know that bicarb is used as a deodoriser in places like fridges and microwaves. It also works on humans! It’s a natural deodorant that also helps to soften your skin.
Our Himalayan Pink Salt contains 84 trace elements and minerals that occur naturally in the earth. For example, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Its mineral ratio is thought to be very similar to that found in healthy humans. It’s a nourishing and skin-replenishing addition to your bath.
So, which magnesium soak sounds like it suits your needs?
If the answer is more than one of them (it often is!) it could be worth ordering one of each, alternating them in your bath, and noticing how your body responds.
PS – You may have noticed we offer two versions of Epsom salt – Food Grade and Gold Label. They are both high quality, premium grade salts that give you the same benefits. The only difference is the Food Grade ES is sourced naturally; unlike most Epsom salts that are man-made, it’s a pure, natural Epsom salt that we are excited to be able to offer in New Zealand.
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Best wishes
Dionne
