Have you ever been in the middle of a race or tough workout when a sudden muscle cramp or charley horse stopped you in your tracks? Muscle cramps can be one of an athlete’s worst fears, if not a painful experience to avoid.
Did you know that topical magnesium can significantly help stop these cramps, allowing you to continue with your activity? Plus, magnesium can also help prevent cramps from happening in the first place, improve athletic performance, reduce soreness, and promote muscle recovery!
These are all reasons why a topical magnesium for athletes is a must-have.
In this blog, we will explore the various benefits of topical magnesium for athletes and fitness lovers. I’ll also recommend one of the best topical products I’ve discovered, which not only aids in pain relief, but also enhances blood flow and helps reduce inflammation to help with injury healing.
Benefits of Magnesium for Athletes and Fitness Lovers
Magnesium is a mineral that is fundamental for optimal health and plays a vital role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including:
- Energy Production: It’s essential for the metabolism of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of our cells.
- Muscle Function: Magnesium supports normal nerve and muscle function, playing a key role in muscle contraction and relaxation.
- Electrolyte Balance: It helps maintain proper hydration and muscle function during exercise by supporting electrolyte balance.
- Protein Synthesis: This mineral aids in normal protein synthesis, vital for muscle repair and growth.
- Reduction of Fatigue: Magnesium can enhance overall athletic performance by reducing muscular fatigue.
Despite its importance, many people don’t consume enough magnesium through their diet, which can lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular problems, disrupted calcium balance, and those pesky cramps.
How Does Magnesium Help with Muscle Cramps?
Muscle cramps are often caused by overactive nerves or muscle fatigue. This leads to an excess release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that signals your muscles to contract.
At the same time, calcium floods into muscle cells, causing the fibers to tighten.Without enough magnesium, calcium isn’t cleared efficiently, and the muscle can’t relax—resulting in a cramp. Magnesium helps to relax the muscles for cramp relief and reduced soreness after a workout.
The Advantage of Topical Magnesium for Athletes
While many people are aware of the importance of magnesium, the method of supplementation can significantly impact its effectiveness.
While oral magnesium supplements are widely available, they come with potential downsides, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, loose stools, and variable absorption rates. Plus, oral absorption can take hours.
This is where transdermal magnesium chloride shines.
Studies conducted at reputable institutions have highlighted the benefits of transdermal application:
- Fast Pain Relief: Magnesium can be effectively absorbed through the skin, bypassing digestion for quick delivery and relief directly to the muscle. This means faster absorption and cramp relief in seconds, not hours.
- Skin Application Ease: Topical magnesium oil can be easily sprayed or rubbed onto the skin, making it convenient for use before, during, or after workouts. It bypasses the digestive system, ensuring a greater percentage of the active ingredient reaches the bloodstream effectively.
- Efficient Absorption: One study indicated that 89% of subjects experienced increased cellular magnesium levels after just 12 weeks of transdermal treatment. The average increase was significant, matching that observed with oral supplementation over a longer period.
- Improved Calcium Balance: Participants also showed notable improvements in their calcium/magnesium balance, which is essential for overall metabolic health and the prevention of muscle cramps.
- Detoxification: Interestingly, 78% of those treated with transdermal magnesium showed significant signs of detoxifying heavy metals — a crucial factor for athletes looking to optimize their performance as well as overall health and longevity.
- Hormone Balance: Another pivotal study revealed that applying a 25% magnesium chloride solution to the skin over one month led to significant increases in both intracellular magnesium levels and serum DHEA-S levels, which are important for hormonal balance.
How Charley Magensium Gel is Different
My personal favorite topical magnesium for athletes is a gel from the company Charley because of the additional ingredients that make it a dream for sore muscles and injury recovery, as well as the texture, and the easy-to-carry packages.
- Magnesium Chloride for Quick Relief
Charley Sports Magnesium Gel contains magnesium chloride, which is highly effective in relaxing tight muscles and addressing the root causes of muscle cramps. By efficiently pushing out excess calcium that contributes to muscle tightness, Charley acts as a natural “off switch” for cramps and discomfort, helping to calm overactive nerves and reduce muscle fatigue.
- Smooth, No Residue Texture
One thing I dislike about other magnesium gels I’ve used is the weird, dry film feeling that it leaves on my hands, even after washing. Magnesium oils are too oily after application. But Charley Magnesium spreads easily and absorbs quickly with no dry, filmy or oily residue. I can rub it on my legs or back and it will feel dry within 1-2 minutes, and it doesn’t rub off on clothes.
- Added Essential Oils for Greater Muscle Recovery Benefits
Charley incorporates three organic, certified therapeutic-grade essential oils: Wintergreen, Cypress, and Helichrysum. These essential oils not only enhance the pain-relieving effects of the gel but also support increased circulation and help reduce inflammation to aid the body’s natural repair processes.
Unlike products such as Icy Hot or Biofreeze, which rely on synthetic menthol to create a sensory distraction from pain, Charley uses natural ingredients to address the source of the problem directly without introducing any synthetic substances.
Furthermore, the combination of magnesium and these essential oils promotes cellular regeneration and healing, making Charley an ideal choice for anyone looking to recover from injuries or manage chronic pain conditions such as sciatica.
For those who prioritize both effective relief and natural ingredients, Charley magnesium gel emerges as a superior and holistic solution for muscle relaxation and pain management.
Overall, its unique formulation offers a fast-acting, safe, and effective way to maintain muscle health and recover from exercise-related soreness or injuries.
Bonus: the small containers (available in spray or gel) are perfect for travel or tossing into your bag before a race or going to the gym. They even offer On-the-Go packs which are packets just tiny enough to slip into your pocket or race belt in case a cramp emergency strikes in the middle of a race, run, or hike.
I also like to pack the travel packs for traveling abroad in case sore or achy muscles act up, such as back aches when sitting on a plane for hours.
You can use code RENEWAL15 for 15% off your purchase for Charley Magnesium Sports Gel.
This is not a sponsored post, I became an ambassador and share this info because of how much I love and use the product.
Food Sources of Magnesium
While topical magnesium for athletes is a fantastic option, it’s still essential to use dietary sources to ensure adequate intake. Foods rich in magnesium include:
- Sunflower seeds
- Dark chocolate
- Almonds
- Spinach
- Yeast extract spread
- Sesame seeds
- Beans
Incorporating these foods alongside topical treatments can create a comprehensive strategy for optimizing magnesium levels.
If you need more dietary tips for how to improve performance and overall health, contact me for nutrition counseling.
Summary: Why Topical Magnesium for Athletes is a Great Choice
Topical magnesium has emerged as a promising alternative for athletes and fitness lovers. Not only does it offer efficient absorption, but it also addresses common gastrointestinal issues associated with oral supplementation. When paired with essential oils such as those in Charley, it can also help relax and restore sore and injured muscles.
If you’re looking for an innovative and effective approach to improve your magnesium levels, prevent cramps and reduce muscle soreness faster, consider giving Charley Sports Magnesium Gel a try!
You can use code RENEWAL15 for 15% off your purchase for Charley Magnesium Sports Gel.
