Natural Vitality Calm, Magnesium Citrate Supplement, Anti-Stress Drink Mix Powder, Gluten Free, Vegan, & Non-GMO, Orange, 16 oz

I have a lot of trouble sleeping but hate taking sleeping pills -- great combination, right? When someone recommended magnesium, I assumed it was some homeopathic thing that 'totally worked' for believers and left the rest of us yet again staring at the ceiling at 4 am. But after some research and reading reviews, I decided to give this a shot since the benefits of magnesium are actually backed up with scientific research. In general, it does help with my sleeping trouble and it doesn't leave me drowsy the next day, so that's a pretty big win. Plus it's not so extreme that I worry about being unable to wake up in the middle of the night if I have to, which has been a problem with other sleeping aids I've tried. [Effectiveness] This stuff definitely works. I generally start to feel relaxed about 15 minutes after taking it and feel able to fall asleep in another 15 minutes or so (so 30 minutes after drinking it total). Some nights it seems to work better than others, but I don't mind that it doesn't put me in a coma every time. I like that it's easy to wake up from and that I can fight off the effects if I have to (like if I get a late work email that needs an answer). [Taste] I get the sweet lemon flavor, and it's fine. I wouldn't sit down and savor a glass of the stuff, but it's not too bad. I just mix it with cold water and stir for a moment, and it dissolves very easily. As long as I drink the glass quickly I don't need a chaser or anything. [Side effects] Sometimes I wake from unexplained extreme 'discomfort' -- both overall feelings of physical unease and specific and intense pain in my limbs -- and this sorts that right out. I've spoken with my GP about these pains but because they're not frequent enough to merit an extended sleep study, they're basically a mystery. Pain killers, stretching, and massage don't work to alleviate the discomfort, but drinking this does. In terms of the laxative properties, occasionally this does 'help things along' so to speak, but I've never experienced cramping or discomfort. It's something to be aware of the first few times you take it and when adjusting dosage levels, but I haven't had any issues. As I mentioned before, this doesn't leave my drowsy or hungover feeling the next morning. I tend to experience a lot of brain fog from other sleep aids (probably because I'm always some degree of sleep deprived) and I don't have any issues with that after taking this the night before. On the contrary, I feel as though I wake up more easily when my alarm goes off, and need less caffeine to start feeling human. [Daytime use] Some people are able to use this to help manage anxiety, which is awesome for them. Personally, taking it during the day makes me feel spacey and unmotivated. I'd recommend trying daytime use when you don't have anything super important coming up, because I decided to give it a spin when I had a huge deadline looming and that was not a great idea. I'll be sticking with night time use, but I do see how this could be really useful for general, non situation-specific anxiety management. [Cost] A few reviewers have mentioned that the liquid magnesium citrate you find in the laxative sections of drug stores is a cheaper alternative to this product. I haven't tried that so I can't speak to the effectiveness, but I do appreciate that this container is a pretty normal thing to just have out on the counter, whereas a bottle of liquid magnesium citrate isn't really, particularly when they tend to say "GENTLE LAXATIVE" on the label. Plus, Natural Calm is really convenient for me -- there's a scoop included, and I don't have to worry about being too precise with measurements. Is that worth paying a lot more? Personally, yeah. One container lasts me over 6 months with regular use, so it's actually a very small expense over time. I'm an incredibly forgetful person (adult ADD doesn't help) and I entertain at home a lot, so having this out where I'll remember it and not having to worry about stashing it when there are guests over is pretty nice. When I kept this in my cabinet, I forgot to take it all the time. Now I keep it right out where I can see it, and as silly as it sounds, it really helps me remember. Also, I feel like I can recommend it to people without having an awkward "It's a laxative, yeah, but not like that" conversation. Overall, for the effectiveness, lack of negative side effects, and convenience, I think Natural Calm is more than worth the price.

I absolutely love CALM Magnesium Powder! This has been a game-changer for me when it comes to relaxation and better sleep. I started using it to help with stress and occasional muscle tension, and I can truly feel the difference. Within about 30 minutes of drinking it, I feel noticeably more relaxed, and it also helps me unwind before bed for a deeper, more restful sleep. The taste is light and pleasant, dissolves easily in water, and doesn’t leave a chalky texture like some other magnesium supplements. I also love that it’s made with high-quality, natural ingredients and free from artificial additives. Another huge plus is that it helps with digestion! I’ve noticed it keeps things regular without any harsh effects, which is a great bonus. If you’re looking for a natural way to relax, improve sleep, and support digestion, I highly recommend this magnesium powder! It’s now a staple in my nighttime routine, and I’ll definitely keep repurchasing.

I love this stuff. I have tried damn near every herb, vitamin, supplement, drug on the planet at one time or another and this will stay 100 percent in my "arsenal" until the day I die. I have generalized anxiety and ADD/ADHD, insomonia + extreme difficulty waking when I DO finally get to sleep. I have noticed MUCH improvement since starting this supplement. Specifically, with my repetitive, ruminating thoughts/worry/fatigue associated with the anxiety... and my ADD has improved noticeably (perhaps the 2 have always been related). I seem to be able to focus and remain on task at work and have more energy. Also, my muscles stay really relaxed. I want to just stretch all the time because it just feels good. My dose before bed DOESN'T make me sleepy, per se, but IT DOES definitely improve the quality of my sleep when I get there. There is scientific information out there regarding the brain waves during sleep following Mg supplementation in subjects that indicate the brains being able to get into the more refreshing stages of sleep for longer periods of time in many of the people that were studied. Melatonin but only one kind, DOES make me sleepy when combined with CALM. The brand is "Drug free" Natrol Melatonin Liquid 2.5mg w/ Ethyl Alcohol "as a preservative" lol...but, hey, it works just use the measuring cup and don't chug out of the bottle). The Calm + this brand of melatonin at bedtime is a winning combination for me. I have worked myself up to 3 doses a day. At night, and afternoon/evening, I just take the regular version...why, is explained next. In the morning I take the version with the Mg/Ca/Vit D combination.....Vitamin D + Calcium should always be taken when you get up, not before bed. Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin" in addition to promoting Ca absorbtion, sort of tells the body to wake up (makes sense). You might say, hey, but, Vitamin D milk makes me sleepy! Well, that is probably because of the Tryptophan in milk counteracting the effects, plus there is probably less D/Ca in milk than what is in many supplements. So, anyway...I'll just say I've taken probably 15 or so different formulations of Mg and none work as well as this one. If they could only fix that inital laxative effect LOL, it would be 100 percent perfect.

I think the raspberry lemonade flavor is probably the best as it makes the most sense. The CALM formula is naturally sour tasting so that flavor disguises the taste the best. The watermelon flavor, to me, tastes like the watermelon sour patch candies. I don't mind it, but it is not my favorite. Better than no flavor. For the love of all that is holy. If you are not mixing this drink in anything and consuming it plain please save yourself and do not buy the plain flavor. See separate review for that.

Calm Magnesium powder has good taste. Helps with leg cramps