Pain doesn’t get nearly enough attention, so it’s great to see chronic pain in midlife as this year’s World Menopause Day theme. So many of us are dealing with aching joints, tight muscles, headaches and night-time cramps, and we often assume it’s just part of getting older.

Pain is complicated and there’s no single fix, so get all the help you can from your doctor or physio. But what you eat might also make a difference. Magnesium isn’t a magic cure, but I think it could be a useful part of the jigsaw, because it’s nature’s calmer.

I’m always asked about it at my workshops, so I’ve dipped back into the archive to share my chat with Andrew Thomas, founder of Better You, one of my favourite supplement companies. He’s an absolute expert on magnesium, and we talk about the role it plays in muscle relaxation, stress-related headaches, night-time cramps, calming the nervous system and sleep, which is so often the first casualty when we’re hurting. We also discuss why so many of us may be running low, and how to choose between the different forms.

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a five-star rating and a quick review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. It really helps more women find the show. After all, every woman deserves to have a happy menopause.

Check out the full Show Notes for this episode on my website www.well-well-well.co.uk/podcast, where you'll find all the relevant links and references for each guest.

Learn how to build your own menopause diet to manage your symptoms with my book The Happy Menopause: Smart Nutrition to Help You Flourish. And if you're tired of feeling tired and grappling with brain fog, check out my new book: The Happy Menopause Guide to Energy; Nutrition to Rejuvenate Your Brain & Body. It's available in all the usual places.