Natural Calm Magnesium

This is an update to an earlier post.

Consumers Lab is not a lab but a media company and has no lab facilities of their own. The manufacturer does check each batch to ensure quality control. The ConsumerLabs report and the way they conducted and handle it has caused me to lose respect for them. In my opinion, they are more interested in sensationalizing information in the interest of selling me a report than actually trying to help me with factual information.

The manufacturer of Natural Calm decided to have an independent report done by a third party, specializing in Prop 65 compliance. The purpose of this report was to have an outside company review and give findings for what the company already knew: their products are Prop 65 compliant. An independent company, “Environ” created a report using 3 different labs. The conclusion of the report was that, “At suggested use, a person would not be exposed to lead levels requiring a warning as stated by California proposition 65.” This is a professional way of saying the product is compliant with the most stringent heavy metal standards in the world. It is also worth noting that this report was over 50 pages, and included all information, testing methodology and test results. Had ConsumerLabs requested such information from the company, they would have happily provided such, rather than embarrassing their own credibility by launching an unfounded email accusing the company of having ‘holes’ in their report.

Two of the three labs could not detect any lead. I.e. if there is lead in the product, it is below what their equipment was able to test. The first lab’s lowest detection level is 0.5ppm (parts per million). The second lab’s lowest detection level is 0.05 ppm; 10 times more accurate. All of their tests could not detect lead in the samples, i.e. the reported level was <0.05 ppm. I am not sure what the detection level of the third lab was, but it did detected lead at 0.02 and 0.03 ppm. All three labs used Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Mass Spectroscopy (MS) to test the samples submitted.

Six different products were tested; Natural Calm Plain, each of the three flavors, Calm plus Calcium Plain and its Raspberry-Lemon flavored formulation.

So in conclusion, we believe there is no lead issue in Natural Calm. Heavy metals should be a concern to all of us, from cooking with aluminium pans, to mercury in fish but because today’s lab equipment is able to show infinitesimal results, we will always be able to find minute amounts of heavy metals in almost everything we test.

Question
I have recently purchased Natural Calm to help treat constipation. Would you please respond with information about how this product should be taken, long term effects of your product - if any and what other supplements would work well with your product.

Answer
Many people purchase Natural Calm to help treat constipation. Most laxatives are made from magnesium oxide which is a low cost source of magnesium. Natural Calm is a high quality, highly absorbable form of magnesium called magnesium citrate.

Most people are magnesium deficient and the main purpose of taking Natural Calm is to supplement your body with magnesium. Magnesium is necessary for good bone development (your bones are 2:1 Calcium:Magnesium), nerve function (allows you to relax and reduce anxiety) and muscle function (low magnesium is responsible for muscle aches). Low magnesium levels can contribute to constipation.

After your body gets the optimal level of magnesium it needs, it will put the excess into your colon. When it enters your colon, the net effect is that it hydrates your colon; i.e. makes your stools watery.

By taking a high quality magnesium, like Natural Calm Magnesium Citrate, you have the added benefit that your magnesium deficient body can get a nutrient it really needs and then put the excess to the colon. A low cost form like magnesium oxide will mostly go straight to the colon as the body will not be able to use it much as a nutrient.
We believe that you should increase your magnesium intake until your stools become comfortably loose. Then you are at your optimal level. You may need to increase or decrease your levels as your stress levels, brain usage and physical activity change. Often you need to start at a lower lever until your body gets used to it and then slowly increase.
We believe that it is important to make sure that you are consuming enough water, as water is necessary for all bodily functions including elimination. Having magnesium hydrating your colon and not having enough water to hydrate it will find your efforts counterproductive.

Fiber is also a big factor in keeping you naturally regular. Vegetables are an excellent source of food fiber, as well as flax seed.

We do not believe that Natural Calm should be used as a laxative substitute for a poor diet.

Natural Calm works well with the Liquid Organic Life Vitamins

There are no negative long term effects of using Natural Calm if used as directed.