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Alright, so I learned something new yesterday.
How Natural Vitality Calm magnesium (Mg) citrate powder works.
If you look on the label, the Mg is tied up in a compound called Mg carbonate.
So, how does this get to be magnesium citrate?
A short thread.
How Natural Vitality Calm magnesium (Mg) citrate powder works.
If you look on the label, the Mg is tied up in a compound called Mg carbonate.
So, how does this get to be magnesium citrate?
A short thread.
When you mix the powder with warm water, you will notice that it fizzes. Why?
When you mix Mg carbonate with water, you get the following reaction:
MgCO3 → MgO + CO2 (dH>0)
When you mix Mg carbonate with water, you get the following reaction:
MgCO3 → MgO + CO2 (dH>0)
It's the escaping CO2 that makes it fizz.
Also, it's an endothermic reaction, so it requires heat input to make it react.
If you look at the instructions, you will notice that it asks you to dissolve the powder into warm water. This is why.
Also, it's an endothermic reaction, so it requires heat input to make it react.
If you look at the instructions, you will notice that it asks you to dissolve the powder into warm water. This is why.
You need the heat from the warm water to do the reaction.
An important point.
This reaction goes to near completion at a very high temperature. Even if you used boiling water (100C), you are nowhere near that. So, I'm assuming that this reaction does not go to completion.
An important point.
This reaction goes to near completion at a very high temperature. Even if you used boiling water (100C), you are nowhere near that. So, I'm assuming that this reaction does not go to completion.
Meaning, you are left with some unreacted magnesium carbonate.
Let's focus on the right-hand side. The CO2 has escaped and other than Mg carbonate, you also have Mg oxide which has very poor bioavailability.
This is where another ingredient, citric acid, comes into play.
Let's focus on the right-hand side. The CO2 has escaped and other than Mg carbonate, you also have Mg oxide which has very poor bioavailability.
This is where another ingredient, citric acid, comes into play.
The citric acid reacts with the magnesium oxide and forms magnesium citrate, C6H6MgO7 (not sure what the reactions are for this).
The magnesium citrate is then what your body absorbs.
So, an important point that I recently discovered, due to worsening health and decreased
The magnesium citrate is then what your body absorbs.
So, an important point that I recently discovered, due to worsening health and decreased
Mg levels?
The, uh, temperature of the water is actually critical.
I recently started heating the water in the microwave to near boiling and then dissolving the powder. Mix until completely reacted, then add in some room temperature water. When I drink it, I can now
The, uh, temperature of the water is actually critical.
I recently started heating the water in the microwave to near boiling and then dissolving the powder. Mix until completely reacted, then add in some room temperature water. When I drink it, I can now
feel its calming effects again, and the flavor is exactly what is stated on the container.
If you try and mix the powder into room temperature water and skip the very hot water step, you will notice there is no fizzing, and the beverage is very tangy almost sour.
If you try and mix the powder into room temperature water and skip the very hot water step, you will notice there is no fizzing, and the beverage is very tangy almost sour.
Yea, that's unreacted citric acid, and you likely aren't absorbing much magnesium from your beverage. 
And now that I think about it, the 325 mg of magnesium on the label. I would think the amount you absorb would be temperature dependent? If I mix in near boiling water
And now that I think about it, the 325 mg of magnesium on the label. I would think the amount you absorb would be temperature dependent? If I mix in near boiling water
vs warm water, how much more magnesium am I getting?
Anywho, just thought I'd pass this along. I know a lot of people drink this stuff.
Anywho, just thought I'd pass this along. I know a lot of people drink this stuff.
