"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Magnesium seems to be everywhere right now. Scroll social media for a few minutes, and you'll likely see someone swearing by it for better sleep, less stress, or improved recovery after a workout. But does it actually work? While the research is still evolving, magnesium helps power hundreds of processes throughout the body, including muscle and nerve function, energy production, and bone health.