Admit it. Whether you need relationship advice, a healthy recipe, or the latest scoop on fashion trends, one of your first stops is TikTok. (Duh). It’s the all-knowing app whose algorithm knows exactly the type of content we want and need, allowing millions of its users to share their personal experiences across every category. The short-length and digestible videos are jam-packed with guidance (and addicting content, we might add), and today’s Americans are leaning on one area of advice more heavily, the effects of magnesium and zinc on gut health. In fact, it’s become so huge that it has turned the heads of medical professionals as a force to be reckoned with: WellnessTok.
Wellness Influencers talk on Magnesium and Zinc
With more and more consumers being frustrated with traditional healthcare, WellnessTok is ablaze with advice in all wellness categories, including weight loss, digestive issues, mood disorders, and so many other frustrating health issues many Americans deal with daily.
Today’s TikTok trends are yesterday’s old wives’ tales, and wellness influencers are ready to spread their own advice on immune system support to curious consumers across the internet. But is it actually safe to take it all to heart? In so many cases, consumers watch influencers and feel that these moonlighting germ-fighters are revealing potential solutions to health issues that have been flat-out ignored or mistakenly overlooked in the past. But is that cause to take matters into our own hands? Armed with our smart phones and plenty of probiotic soda (hello to another TikTok trend), we decided to take a deep dive into the world of two essential minerals that are taking WellnessTok by storm: magnesium and zinc.
Wellness influencers like Claire Sorlie, NTP and BFA (@ClairTheNutritionist) have thousands of followers taking her advice on a daily basis, so when supplements or diets start trending, it’s common for her to weigh in on the conversation and share her personal take. But before you take these pieces of advice to heart, consider that TikTok influencers have not generally spoken with you, taken bloodwork or considered your family history and past while diagnosing you with any issues.
Also consider that anyone with internet access (and no credentials) can start a TikTok account and claim that they know the fix-all to your health problems, when what can actually wind up happening is you landing in the ER. (Scary!) Before you click “Save to Favorites,” on the latest magnesium and zinc trends, we recommend you get the opinion of a medical professional so that you can be carefully watched.
Professional Advice over Wellness Tok
We chatted with our own in-house Nurse Practitioner, Danielle Diaz, about these viral minerals, and she thinks magnesium and zinc are great when they are needed, but recommends to her patients that any supplement taken should be monitored by a licensed medical professional so they can do proper testing for your specific body. Here are some pros and cons of both minerals that some patients have seen while taking these supplements under medical supervision:
Magnesium Pros:
- Helps with igniting your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you calm down, relax, and sleep longer.
- Can help PCOS symptoms and insulin resistance
- Promotes gut health in individuals who are naturally low in Mg
- Can help with an achy body due to an inflammatory disorder
- Can help with anxiety and depression in neurodivergent people
- Can help regulate your digestive system and allow for constipation relief
Magnesium Cons:
- It’s not easy to get from food, so you usually have to take it in supplement form, which can cause a disruption in your body’s levels of all nutrients.
- If you take too much magnesium, you can get an upset stomach.
- Some report nightmares because of REM sleep being cycles being enhanced
- There are different types of magnesium (and dosage), so taking the “wrong” one can lead to sickness and imbalance
If you’re not great at taking oral supplements, you can find magnesium naturally in dark chocolate, avocados, nuts, legumes, tofu, seeds, whole grains, fish, bananas, and leafy greens. If you do choose to take an oral supplement, be sure to ask your medical provider which magnesium would work best for your specific case as they can help/hurt different situations depending on what your body needs.
Zinc Pros:
- Can be good for the immune system, helping it to fight off seasonal germs
- Can help all ages with acne issues and wound healing (due to collagen production)
- Helpful with inflammation
Zinc Cons:
- Zinc is not a good long term supplement, as it can affect other minerals in your body like iron and copper, which can drive estrogen
- Can reduce “good” HDL cholesterol levels
- Sometimes causes headaches and reduces immune function
- If you take too much zinc, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Zinc can be found in certain foods, such as oysters, red meat, poultry, nuts, beans, crab, lobster, whole grains, some breakfast cereals, and dairy products. You can also get zinc in cough drop or lozenge form, but be ready for your mouth to feel dry and potentially have an unpleasant taste.
“I think the bottom line is that a medical professional should be involved in one’s care to first rule out other medical problems and to recommend appropriate supplements in an appropriate dose,” Diaz says. “For example, if someone has insulin resistance simply taking a supplement doesn’t typically work without also modifying the lifestyle with diet and exercise as well as getting an appropriate amount of sleep.”
Fair enough. Follow along with us as we explore other current health and wellness trends, and consider having your own visit with Danielle Diaz, NP through one of our wellness programs and enjoy monthly access to discounts, services, and more.
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