Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I bought some Natural Calm magnesium citrate supplement about four or five days ago. I bought it because Robb Wolf recommended it, and I occasionally have trouble getting to sleep, but so far it seems to be more of a detriment than an aid. The first night I took it, I used half a teaspoon right before bedtime. I had a hard time getting to sleep because I felt a lot of gurgling and bloating in my stomach, and then I had to wake up early because I felt the urge to urinate. Since then I've taken a quarter teaspoon twice a day, but I feel like I've slept much worse since I tried it. I've been waking up a lot during the night, and I find myself unable to fall back asleep. Last night may be a bad example because of the winter storm battering against my window, but I went to bed around 12:30, woke up at least 4 times during the night, and then at 5:30 woke up and was unable to get back to sleep. I put on my headphones and some relaxing music in order to block the noise of the storm, and managed to sleep until around 7:30. I feel so sleepy that I dread going in to work today.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening? I know I should be going to bed earlier, and I usually do get to sleep between 10:30 and midnight; last night was just a late night trying to get some schoolwork done.

flag	asked Feb 1 2011 at 14:22 Sgroh87 842●5●17

Jay Bell · Answer 1 · 2011-02-01 18:02:52Z UTC

With Natural Calm, ignore the label. I usually suggest people start with a quarter teaspoon a day for a week, then increase by a quarter each week until you're up to two teaspoons a day. Otherwise, bowel tolerance is normally an issue. If you do hit bowel tolerance, back up a quarter teaspoon for another few days and give it a go again.

valkyrie · Answer 2 · 2011-02-01 15:05:13Z UTC

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You might have a paradoxical reaction to. Some people have the opposite reaction to different herbs and minerals than what's intended. I've been taking it on an off for years, mainly due to an injury where a bone needed to heal. I never really noticed that it helped my sleep, or detracted from it.

The stomach gurgling is probably it loosening your bowels. Also if there's a lot of crud in there from a previous SAD diet, it can be uncomfortable when that's happening. Not sure why it would make you pee though, unless you're just drinking it with way too much water right before bed.

answered Feb 1 2011 at 15:05

valkyrie
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So if it keeps you awake try using it in the morning (although then it would just be a magnesium supp. and won't be an aid for better sleepy time) – Tom Feb 1 2011 at 15:51

I have tried Natural Calm over three years - it has no effect on my sleep at all, none, zip, zero, nada. That is too bad, since I started to take it for relatively minor insomnia - which has now become chronic insomnia. I am seeing a Natureopath about my adrenals, which we both think are messed up and probably account for my insomnia (and other stuff, too). – terrence Feb 1 2011 at 19:21

This is mentioned in The Paleo Solution. Some people are kept awake by Magnesium. I'm one of those. I take mine in the morning. – Wozza Feb 2 2011 at 3:47

sunshinestarr · Answer 3 · 2011-02-01 17:54:19Z UTC

I can give you my experience - I started taking magnesium before bed and couldn't stay asleep. I didn't even realize the connection until I spoke to a friend who said she never took magnesium before bed because it kept her up. I stopped taking it before bed and the problem went away.

I think that I read somewhere that it also depends on what and when you eat before you take it - it can react with the nutrients in your food.

Shawn · Answer 4 · 2011-02-01 14:45:36Z UTC

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damn, I take about 2 teaspoons and I'm out like a light...it was a godsend during deployment. I love the stuff!

answered Feb 1 2011 at 14:45

Shawn
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I love it. I'm sure there is a huge placebo effect, but as soon as it starts fizzing, I get drowsy. I've been reading "Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Hacks," which talks quite a bit about the placebo effect (for example, how different colored pills work better, how a placebo injection is better than a pill, etc), and I'm sure that the ritual of the hot water, watching it fizz, then adding the cold water, only adds to whatever the effect of the actual magnesium is! I was hoping for some of the intestinal effects, but haven't had any gurgling, etc... – Suzanna Mar 21 2011 at 3:02

ThePaleoParent · Answer 5 · 2011-02-01 15:29:35Z UTC

Don't expect it to be a miracle right away. It took me a couple weeks of consistently drinking it (1/2 tsp.) and slowly increasing the dosage. At the point that I was doing the recommended 2 tsps. of it, I slept all night without waking once and have been for the last week. Give it time.

Gurgling is just a part of it you have to deal with until you adjust.

Riveted · Answer 6 · 2011-02-01 15:33:23Z UTC

2 teaspoons is my optimal dose too. Beyond that, I'm running for the bathroom the minute I wake up. I would also try and limit how much water you mix it with. I was having the same "urgent urination" issue until I dialled back the water intake. I now mix 2 tsp in about a half-cup of water. A little on the tart side, but still very soothing before bed.

Rob Palmer · Answer 7 · 2011-02-01 15:36:31Z UTC

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This question might high-jack the thread, but I have a question that's somewhat related to the original question:

Does anyone else wake up every night to urinate? I don't drink water after 5 or 6pm, but I literally wake up once a night to use the bathroom, which I figure is detrimental to my sleep quality.

Wolf mentioned in The Paleo Solution that this issue may be due to high levels of cortisol, but I was wondering if anyone else had similar experiences and/or had some solutions.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

answered Feb 1 2011 at 15:36

Rob Palmer
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Frequent urination can mean prostate problems. I have had to urinate several times a night for many years. MY PSA was rising slowly, then jumped. Turned out I had prostate cancer. A biopsy is the only way to really tell. My urologist could not detect it with digital exam, then could not see it with ultrasound. Biopsy showed it was cancerous in 9 out of 10 test spots. Had it removed and am doing well, but still have to urinate 2-3 times per night. – AlanBeall Feb 1 2011 at 16:24

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I am up three times a night! Definitely not a prostate problem for me - LOL. I have been told that it is a blood sugar crash that wakes you up and then you think "oh, I have to use the bathroom." – Deidre Feb 1 2011 at 16:47

The doctor who came up with the PSA test said he considers it useless for determining anything, and is embarrassed to see how it is now misused! I would get a second and even third opinion before getting a biopsy. Check out Dr Briffa’s web site (drbriffa.com/blog - you can search for prostrate). PSA levels can and do vary a LOT - ejaculations increase the PSA levels up to three days prior to the test. Did your doctor tell you this? – terrence Feb 1 2011 at 19:14

A number of supplements can and do reduce PSA levels (they massively lowered my PSA level). Try New Roots Prostate Perform. My PSA level was increasing over two years, I used the Prostrate Perform and a couple of other supplements. I did NOT ejaculate for four days prior to a PSA test – it had dropped a LOT and was FINE. You might also check out Bell’s Prostate Ezee Flow tea for the frequent urination. – terrence Feb 1 2011 at 19:15

Thanks for all the advice, although I should have clarified this before: I'm 18 years old and have been waking up to use the bathroom consistently for at least a few years, so I doubt it's a prostate issue. – Rob Palmer Feb 3 2011 at 0:35

Coach Huey · Answer 8 · 2013-02-10 14:10:03Z UTC

I have learned that if you need magnesium then the the level of ionized calcium is usually high. It's hard to know with regular calcium test. Listen to body and not serum blood test. Too much vitamin D supplements will raise calcium. High level of calcium will lower the magnesium. So, for us that start magnesium...Stop vitamin D and make sure no calcium is being consumed (Milk & Dairy esp.). The magnesium will naturally take care of calcium in the body. When FREQUENT URINATION comes due to magnesium intake.....the body is getting rid o EXCESS calcium. This is a great thing. Once the EXCESS calcium is removed urination will slow down. Slowly bring back vitamin D if your vitamin D levels rise.

rob · Answer 9 · 2011-02-01 15:35:32Z UTC

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I get the exact same reaction. Stomach gurgling and frequent urination at night.

answered Feb 1 2011 at 15:35

rob
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JRM · Answer 10 · 2011-02-01 18:23:42Z UTC

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Try mixing it in water a couple hours before you use it. You don't want to drink the bubbles.

answered Feb 1 2011 at 18:23

JRM
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Donna · Answer 11 · 2012-09-21 08:44:16Z UTC

I just bought it today to try and help with tight hip/bum muscles causing pain. Tonight I went to bed at 11:30 and woke up with bad dream about venomous snake wrapped around under the kitchen sink. As I tried to sleep, the dream just grew. I felt achy and my stomach did not feel good. Got up to use the bathroom, and could not even make it there because of incontinence I did not have yesterday. Still awake, have vomited, incontinent for that, too. Besides my first try with the Magnesium Fizz (1 of the little serving spoons included in the can) at noon. Besides that, I bought Arnica Gel and applied that twice today, to the same areas mentioned above. I'm thinking one (or both) of these new things are the cause of my troubles tonight.

Joie · Answer 12 · 2012-12-18 15:38:27Z UTC

I have tried taking Natural Calm many of times at night and had the same terrible results. I am not able to fall asleep and when I finally do I am waking up throughout the night. So I am trying to take it in the morning to see if that helps!

Coach Huey · Answer 13 · 2013-02-10 14:34:23Z UTC

I have learned that if you need magnesium then the the level of ionized calcium is usually high. It's hard to know with regular calcium test. Listen to body and not serum blood test. Too much vitamin D supplements will raise calcium. High level of calcium will lower the magnesium. So, for us that start magnesium...Stop vitamin D and make sure no calcium is being consumed (Milk & Dairy esp.). The magnesium will naturally take care of calcium in the body. When FREQUENT URINATION comes due to magnesium intake.....the body is getting rid o EXCESS calcium. This is a great thing. Once the EXCESS calcium is removed urination will slow down. Slowly bring back vitamin D if your vitamin D levels rise.

Lin Stevs · Answer 14 · 2013-05-19 13:53:06Z UTC

Many people have a bad reaction to "citric acid"....which can give people and MSG like reaction!!!!!!I took CALM MAG for a while then it really backfired on me.....do a search on CITRIC ACID....bad stuff and it's in a lot of supplements????!!!!!

Natural Calm magnesium wrecking my sleep?

14 Answers