I have to admit, magnesium glycinate has helped with my insomnia—but not every product worked for me...

Ever since I started a new job, I’ve been under a ton of stress and have had trouble sleeping pretty regularly. That’s what led me to try magnesium glycinate.After trying several popular products, I noticed that they didn’t all feel the same, even though the labels looked very similar. I eventually stopped using “Did I sleep well last night?” as my only measure. Stress, caffeine, and bedtime can all affect sleep. When trying a product, I keep the timing, caffeine intake, and bedtime as consistent as possible and track the results over time. I mainly look at four things: how long it takes me to fall asleep, how often I wake up, how I feel the next morning, and whether I experience any digestive discomfort. I only consider something helpful if the difference appears repeatedly, not just once or twice. I also compare the actual elemental magnesium per serving rather than the capsule count or the large “magnesium glycinate” wording on the front. Added sleep ingredients can make comparisons difficult too. I used to assume “magnesium bisglycinate” was automatically better than “magnesium glycinate.” This explanation of magnesium glycinate vs. magnesium bisglycinate helped me understand that the name alone doesn’t prove quality. I now check whether magnesium oxide is also included and whether the company explains if its glycinate is fully reacted and unbuffered.