From sleep to muscle recovery, stress to mental clarity, magnesium influences more than 300 bodily processes. It’s not a stretch to say it’s the most important mineral for human health.
Unfortunately, though, so many people are constantly deficient in magnesium. It’s absorbed poorly through food, and to make matters worse, most supplements contain the wrong form of magnesium.
Whether you’re trying to find a solution to help you sleep better or want to speed up the recovery process, you need to know which form of magnesium works best. We’ll compare and contrast magnesium chloride vs glycinate, as these are two of the most common options.
If you just want the short answer as to which is better, though, look no further than magnesium chloride. There’s a reason we’ve chosen this form for our magnesium bath soak products - actually, there are three reasons:
- It has better bioavailability
- It has fewer side effects
- It has more therapeutic uses
More than 100,000 happy customers and counting have used our stress relief bath soak formulations to live healthier, happier lives. You can, too. Explore our products today and see for yourself why magnesium chloride is the better choice!
Not All Magnesium is Created Equal
Magnesium helps regulate muscle and nerve function, supports a steady heartbeat, plays a role in blood sugar control, and contributes to bone health. It also helps produce energy and manage stress through its influence on the nervous system and hormone regulation.
In other words, you need to get plenty of magnesium! Otherwise, you’re probably not operating at 100% - or close to it, for that matter. The problem is that it’s hard to keep your body’s magnesium stores stocked. Not many foods contain magnesium. Supplements are the answer.
But with so many different types of magneisum at your fingertips, how do you know which is best? Each is bonded to a different compound, which affects absorption and how it works in the body. Some forms are ideal for sleep or anxiety, others for digestion or muscle recovery.
Unfortunately, many of the most common forms offer limited absorption or come with unwanted side effects like bloating or diarrhea. We’ve talked about this in our comparison of magnesium sulfate vs magnesium chloride.
There, you learned that magnesium chloride is the far superior choice to magnesium sulfate, which is better known as epsom salt. Aside from being the best epsom salt substitute, is magnesium chloride better than magnesium glycinate as well?
Overview of Magnesium Chloride
Let’s start with an explanation of what this form of magnesium is in the first place. It’s typically harvested from saltwater sources like the Dead Sea and consists of magnesium and chlorine.
People use magnesium chloride for its high solubility in water. It’s great for transdermal use, or in other words, topical application on the skin. This allows you to bypass the digestive system entirely and get the mineral right into the bloodstream so it can start working its magic.
There’s another magnesium bath soak benefit, though. The transdermal application saves you from those notorious digestive side effects like bloating, diarrhea, etc. And let’s be honest - who doesn’t love unwinding in a nice warm bath?
Magnesium chloride’s high bioavailability makes it a perfect pick for supporting muscle function, nerve regulation, and stress response. It’s used to address muscle cramps, sleep issues, or chronic stress because it works quickly.
That’s not all, though. This versatile mineral can help support the body’s natural detoxification system by improving cellular function and hydration.
People say they feel more balanced, calm, and physically at ease after consistently using magnesium chloride for a period of time. It’s the best magnesium for stress and just about anything else you’d be drawn to a magnesium supplement for.
That said, let’s take a quick look at the other half of the magnesium chloride vs glycinate comparison so we can see where it has an edge - if anywhere.
Overview of Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium glycinate is made by combining magnesium with glycine, an amino acid known for its calming properties. Unlike magnesium chloride, though, it’s mostly found as an oral supplement in capsule or powder form.
Magnesium oxide may provide support for anxiety, sleep disturbances, and overall relaxation. Much of this comes from the glycinate in magnesium glycinate, though, which can act as a neurotransmitter to evoke a sense of calm.
Part of what makes magnesium glycinate better than, say, magnesium oxide comes down to how gentle it is on the stomach. Be clear, oral supplements almost always fall short in comparison to transdermal solutions. But if you’re going to use capsules or powder, you won’t experience quite as severe diarrhea or digestive upset compared to other forms.
Magnesium glycinate also offers a steady. gradual effect when taken regularly to support mood balance, ease mild insomnia, and aid in muscle recovery over time.
But, the fact that it has to be processed through the digestive system can be a dealbreaker. You may not fully benefit from the dose you take, especially if you have gut absorption issues or chronic inflammation. Onset tends to be slower, too.
So while it’s a popular choice for those looking for a calm, baseline level of support and it’s widely available, is it the best option in comparing magnesium glycinate vs chloride side-by-side? Not by a long shot. You’ll see why below.
Magnesium Chloride vs Glycinate: Which Form is Best For Your Needs?
You may be wondering, which magnesium is best for muscle recovery? Or, which magnesium is best for sleep? What about stress support?
We’re here to get to the bottom of magnesium chloride vs glycinate by seeing which has an edge below. But with magnesium, it really all comes down to absorption and bioavailability, regardless of the goal. Let’s start there.
Absorption and Bioavailability
Magnesium, in general, has notoriously low bioavailability. Some forms absorb at a rate of just 4% relative to the total dose taken - that means a lot of it ends up being wasted. All the benefits of magnesium chloride can be traced back to its high bioavailability.
It’s water-soluble nature allows for fast, effective absorption through the skin. Transdermal supplementation bypasses the digestive system entirely, which is why this route is preferred by those with sensitive stomachs, or anyone looking for rapid results for that matter.
Magnesium chloride works its way into the bloodstream almost immediately. It becomes available for use by muscles and nerves fast, and you can also be more targeted in where you use it on the body.
Magnesium glycinate is relatively well tolerated when taken orally, but it still relies on the digestive process. Its bioavailability is decent - far better than some other oral forms like oxide - but it’s limited by gut health, enzyme function, and timing nonetheless.
Stress and Mood Regulation
Both forms of magnesium help regulate the nervous system, but they work differently in the body. Magnesium chloride is a systematic way to manage stress because it regulates cortisol, the stress hormone.
It’s the better form between magnesium chloride vs glycinate when fast relief is needed, like after a long, stressful day or as preparation for high-tension moments.
Magnesium glycinate, on the other hand, supports mood through a more gradual mechanism. The glycine component has a calming effect on the brain and may promote the production of inhibitory neurotransmitters.
It’s a gentle way to get ongoing support against the harmful consequences of stress, but is it best? Not by a long shot. It won’t act as quickly or broadly across stress-related systems as magnesium chloride does.
Muscle Recovery and Physical Tension
One of our favorite ways to harness the power of magnesium is in a muscle bath soak. Magnesium chloride is great for jumpstarting the post-workout recovery process or simply finding relief from sore, aching muscles.
Soaking in magnesium chloride gets the mineral evenly distributed throughout the entire body, letting it work its way into the tight or sore areas more directly than you ever could with an oral supplement.
This helps relax muscles and reduce cramping. The combination of warmth, hydration, and direct mineral delivery can be a saving grace for athletes or anyone with frequent muscle tightness or physical stress.
In contrast, magnesium glycinate really only helps with minor cramps, and it probably won’t move the needle for muscle recovery. It falls short of providing the immediate, targeted relief that magnesium chloride has to offer.
Sleep Support and Relaxation
Quality sleep is the foundation of physical and mental health. It can feel so elusive sometimes, though. Magnesium chloride can help with this. It calms the nervous system, lowers cortisol, and reduces physical restlessness fast.
An evening soak with magnesium chloride eases both your body and mind into a deep, restful state so you can effortlessly drift away to dreamland after you get out of the tub.
Magnesium glycinate can also support a better night’s sleep, though. Much of this is traced back to how glycine signals the body to slow down. It could help reduce sleep latency and support longer, more restful sleep, especially if you make it a regular part of your nighttime routine.
However, it’s lower bioavailability means it’ll take time to notice its impact. You need to give it a few weeks to build-up in your body. Even then, it’s effects will be far more subtle in comparing magnesium glycinate vs chloride.
Digestive Sensitivity and Side Effects
Aside from which works better, which is gentler between magnesium chloride vs glycinate? We’ve covered this a bit already, but topical magnesium chloride supplements are the best way to avoid any uncomfortable side effects.
You can bypass the digestive system altogether, so there is no risk of bloating, loose stools, or discomfort. It’s a great choice for those with irritable digestion or supplement fatigue.
It’s worth noting that magnesium gylcinate does bring fewer side effects (and with lower severity) compared to magnesium citrate or oxide. However, it will produce some mild digestive symptoms, especially in higher doses or when taken on an empty stomach.
The choice between magnesium glycinate vs chloride becomes pretty clear when you weigh all these different factors. It’s gentler, more versatile, and works faster. What more could you ask for? It’s time to get the support you need at Flewd Stresscare.
Feel the Difference Firsthand With Flewd Stresscare’s Magnesium Soaks!
We believe stress needs to be addressed through a direct, no-nonsense approach. Our magnesium soaks go beyond symptom-masking to fight stress at the source and help your body become more resilient in the face of stress.
Our key ingredient is bioavailable magnesium chloride, absorbed through the skin for fast, effective relief. It’s the form your body actually recognizes and puts to use right away. But we’ve formulated a variety of products with complementary ingredients so you can tailor your self-care routine with unparalleled precision:
- Ache Erasing: Magnesium, vitamins C & D, and omega-3s ease muscle tension and inflammation. Scented with juicy citrus (mandarin, clementine, and blood orange) with a touch of sparkle.
- Anxiety Destroying: Magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc team up to regulate mood and ease mental overload, helping you find your calm amidst the chaos. The scent blends lime rind with soft sea salt and a clean white floral finish.
- Insomnia Ending: Put sleepless nights behind you and wake up refreshed by harnessing magnesium, vitamins A & E, and L-carnitine. Bright yuzu with hints of grapefruit and a delicate floral base creates a calm, balanced atmosphere, perfect for bedtime.
- Sads Smashing: Magnesium, B3, B6, and mood-boosting lithium support emotional balance. The scent is fresh and green, like desert air after rain - soft mint with a woody, floral dry down.
- Rage Squashing: Manage cortisol spikes and reactive adrenaline surges with this blend of magnesium, chromium, and B12. Scented with jasmine and pine, plus subtle leather, spice, and earthiness.
- Panic Crushing: Magnesium, boron, and omega-3s help regulate hormone spikes and ease physical panic symptoms. Rich, grounding scent with warm spice, woods, and a soft floral base.
Each soak is 100% natural, non-toxic, and vegan. We leave out parabens, synthetic fragrances, and anything that doesn’t serve a purpose. The packaging is recyclable, too, so you can feel good about spoiling yourself.
Putting our soaks to work is straightforward. Rip open the pouch, pour it into a full tub of warm water, and soak for at least 15 minutes (or longer if you’d like). Rinsing off afterward is optional. You can use them up to three times per week to support your stress response consistently.
With over 100,000 customers and a 4.9/5 star rating, our soaks speak for themselves. From our anxiety bath soak to our sleep support formulation, find your new favorite self-care savior today!
Bringing Our Comparison of Magnesium Glycinate vs Chloride to a Close
You need magnesium to live life to the fullest, but not just any magnesium will do. We hope this comparison of magnesium chloride vs glycinate has made it clear which is the superior form.
In summary, magnesium glycinate offers steady, gentle benefits when taken orally, but magnesium chloride provides faster, more direct relief - especially when absorbed through the skin. It’s the more efficient choice for stress, tension, sleep, recovery, or anything else.
Why not feel the effects firsthand, though? Pick your soak, fill your tub, and let your body do the rest. Put stress and its harmful effects on notice with our magnesium chloride soaks!
