As for the best time of day to consume the mineral, it largely depends on the type of magnesium you’re taking. There are a handful of forms, or complexes, of magnesium supplements that pair the mineral with different compounds to assist with its delivery. Today, we’re talking through the timing of four of the most popular forms. While you should always follow the timing instructions provided on your particular supplement (or by your doctor), these are good general best practices to keep in mind. However, magnesium citrate does have a natural laxative effect in higher doses, so it can also help get things moving down there. Unlike glycinate, you probably won’t want to take this one right before settling in for the night as it could wake you up to use the restroom. Instead, taking magnesium citrate earlier in the day with some food, around breakfast or lunchtime, will help ensure it’s properly and pleasantly absorbed. Whatever way you time your magnesium supplement, taking a daily supplement at roughly the same time will help you get into a rhythm and ensure you don’t skip a day. Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
