We know it can be a bit of a minefield trying to work out which supplements you need in your life, but have you heard of ZMA? Here at Birch and Wilde, we like to keep things simple – and what better than a supplement that offers a multitude of benefits all in one go? 

ZMA is our latest obsession! It’s a beautiful combo of some of the most essential minerals that people are commonly deficient in! In this blog, we cover exactly what ZMA is, why it is useful, how it can help us, and some of its top benefits.

So, if you’re fed up of feeling fatigued, and science-backed minerals are your number one (just like they are ours!), then grab a herbal tea and settle down to read why we love this innovative mineral mix.

What Is ZMA?

ZMA is a combination of Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin B6 (the A stands for ‘aspartate’ - more on this later). Basically, it is a combination of some of the most critical minerals we require, which can sometimes be difficult to get through our diets. 

Historically, ZMA evolved for supporting sport and is very well known in the sports nutrition world. We think that the gym-goers, athletes and bodybuilders have been keeping this beautiful combo all to themselves for far too long! We love it because it is beneficial right across the board, for all of us, and particularly with aiding muscle recovery, strength and sleep issues.

Breaking It Down

Each individual component of ZMA provides great benefits in its own right, and here’s why:

• Zinc is a trace mineral that is crucial for over 300 enzymes involved in metabolism, immunity, hormones, digestion, and many other foundational aspects of your wellbeing (see one of our articles on Zinc).
• Magnesium as a mineral aids hundreds of the body’s chemical reactions, including energy formation and the correct functioning of our muscles and nerves.
• Vitamin B6 is a vitamin required for many processes, including creating neurotransmitters and nutrient metabolism.

As you can see, these three components are absolutely essential for your body to function as it should. This is why they are often supplemented in their own individual right. So it is easy to see why this ZMA supplement is really great. The only question is, why do they work even better together?

The A in ZMA stands for ‘Aspartate.’ The zinc in ZMA is chemically bound with aspartic acid to create zinc aspartate. This is known to aid the absorption of minerals. Likewise, Vitamin B6 is known to aid magnesium uptake. So, when combined in this way, a good quality ZMA supplement aids better absorption of all the minerals, meaning you experience the very best benefits and results. What a wonderful mix!

As usual with supplementing, you should monitor whether you are deficient in the minerals before you begin, and we wouldn’t recommend taking more than the recommended dose of ZMA, but with this being a beautiful combination of some of the most commonly deficient minerals, we think this is a great supplement!

So, What Are The Benefits?

Of course, you’re wondering ‘well this is all great, but what can it specifically help me with?’, so we want to share some of the benefits ZMA can have directly for your life.

We know (like us) you might not be out body-building every day of the week! But we’re really excited about the benefits of this new supplement for all of us. And the amount of on-going research means that science is in support of this!

We can see the science-backed logic behind the individual components and the increased possible benefits of taking them as one supplement in combination. They are an ideal support for many of the body’s day-to-day crucial functions (particularly as we move through our 30’s, 40’s and beyond). 

This lovely supplement combination can bring you more energy, better sleep, boosted immunity, improved strength, stamina and recovery (meaning that the benefits of even gentle exercise are maximised). So, you could experience improved yoga, pilates or swimming capabilities (among other things)! Who doesn’t want that?

It might even help to support you better through the symptoms of PMS and hormonal phases of your life such as the Menopause. And if you or your loved one needs a boost in testosterone, then this could be just the thing!    

Zinc and magnesium are involved with so much in the body and are absolutely crucial for some of the most important body processes. Making sure you have optimal levels can truly help you to optimise your health and overall wellbeing.

A ZMA supplement can really make the difference when it comes to improving strength and stamina, boosting you in times of fatigue, aiding recovery after exercise - and even leaving you with more energetic capacity for going to that extra yoga class because you’ve had that little bit more sleep! Overall, it can generally improve your wellbeing. How can we not love that? 

This leaves you able to relax and confidently enjoy your life and trust your body. You will be safe in the knowledge that you are empowering your physical self and keeping your wellness at the forefront. It’s definitely one worth knowing about, and we highly recommend giving it a go! 

Do you have a favourite supplement that helps to support you? Let us know about it in the comments.

As always, wishing you love, wellness and all the best,