Whether or not you are a fan there is no denying singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is a global phenomenon. The announcement of her Eras Tour, which included several dates around the UK, led to a huge rush for tickets, with many superfans paying vast sums to see her perform live.
And the cinematic release of concert footage last year quickly became the highest-grossing concert film of all time. Each Eras Tour performance, which boasts songs from 10 of her studio albums, runs over the three-hour mark – an impressive feat when singing and dancing live for that length of time.
So how does Taylor do it? Aside from her diet and exercise routine, the songstress previously admitted she relies on a specific supplement to keep her energy levels up. In a 2019 interview with Elle magazine, she revealed that she takes magnesium supplements for this reason.
As part of an article titled “30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30”, Taylor, now 34, said: “Vitamins make me feel so much better! I take L-theanine, which is a natural supplement to help with stress and anxiety. I also take magnesium for muscle health and energy.”
Magnesium is a mineral that is vital for normal bone structure in the body. It is also thought to help improve your mood, sleep, exercise performance and blood sugar regulation.
According to experts at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, “every organ in the body” needs magnesium.
They explain: “This mineral also contributes to the makeup of teeth and bones. Magnesium activates enzymes, contributes to energy production, and helps regulate levels of calcium, copper, zinc, potassium, vitamin D, and other important nutrients in the body.”
The National Institutes of Health also states that magnesium is “required” for energy production in the body.
For this reason, running low on magnesium can be serious.
The Cleveland Clinic lists symptoms of a magnesium deficiency as:
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea
- Stiffness
- Weakness.
If left untreated a magnesium deficiency can have serious consequences including abnormal heart rhythms, numbness and tingling, personality changes and seizures. The NHS states that men need about 300mg of magnesium a day while women need 270mg a day.
We should be able to get all the magnesium we need from a healthy balanced diet. Foods rich in the mineral include green leafy vegetables, whole grains, fish and nuts.
However, if this is not enough you might choose to add a supplement to your daily routine. If you choose to take supplements the NHS warns not to take more than 400mg a day as this can cause diarrhoea.