Ask Mr. Wizard

Adding Magnesium Salts in Beer

TroubleShooting

Anonymous professional brewer — via email asks,
Q

I recently was told by another brewer I should not be adding magnesium to my brew water because of its laxative effects. Is this true? I’ve never heard of this being an issue. Also, how much magnesium does a person need to consume for that effect to kick in?

A
According to the article “Can You Take Too Much Magnesium” published on the Medical News Today website, the National Institutes of Health recommends 310–320 mg as the daily magnesium allowance for adult
Response by Ashton Lewis.