NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate Pure Powder 8 oz

What it is

NOW Foods Magnesium Citrate Pure Powder is a single-ingredient magnesium powder sold in an 8 oz (227 g) bottle, supplying 450 mg of elemental magnesium in each level teaspoon. The Supplement Facts panel carries exactly one nutrient row, and under Other Ingredients it prints a single word: "None." That is the entire ingredient statement. The front of the bottle is marked "A Dietary Supplement" and "Vegetarian/Vegan", and carries a Non-GMO mark and a kosher letter mark inside a triangle.

It sits alongside the rest of our mineral supplements, and it is the loose-powder format rather than a capsule or tablet, which is the main thing separating it from the other magnesium products on the shelf.

What's inside

The only substance in the bottle is magnesium citrate — magnesium bound to citric acid, the same acid that gives citrus fruit its sourness. The label describes it as "a fully reacted mineral supplement", meaning the magnesium and the citrate are chemically combined into one compound rather than two powders stirred together in a tub.

The panel prints two weights side by side, and reading them together is the most useful thing on this label. The serving size is one level teaspoon, "approx. 3 g". The magnesium row declares 450 mg of elemental magnesium, "from 3,062 mg Magnesium Citrate". Those two figures describe the same spoonful — 3,062 mg is a shade over 3 grams — so with Other Ingredients reading "None", very nearly the whole mass sitting in the spoon is the magnesium citrate itself. "Pure Powder" on the front is therefore something you can check against the panel rather than take on trust.

The word "elemental" is doing real work in that row. It counts only the magnesium atoms, weighed apart from the citrate that carries them, which is why the compound figure is several times the nutrient figure. Because NOW prints both numbers rather than only the flattering one, the ratio between them is visible on the panel itself. General background on magnesium as a dietary mineral is available in the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on magnesium, and labels for products in this category can be looked up in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

The panel puts that 450 mg at 107% of the Daily Value for magnesium.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The label's suggested usage is to mix one level teaspoon of powder into at least 8 oz of cold water or clear liquid until fully dissolved, adding the powder slowly while stirring, and to take it once daily with a meal. Once it is prepared, the label says the mixture may be added to smoothies or juices as desired.

One printed instruction on this bottle deserves to be read literally, because it describes a property of the powder rather than general advice: "Pure magnesium citrate powder can increase the temperature of liquids upon contact; therefore, the recommended serving MUST be mixed into at least 8 oz. of cold liquid to neutralize this reaction prior to ingestion." The label's stated remedy for that warming is volume and temperature — a full 8 oz, cold, with the powder going in gradually rather than all at once. The capital letters on MUST are the manufacturer's own.

The panel also states that the product is "sold by weight not volume", and it gives the serving count as "about 76" rather than a round number. Both lines point at the same practical property of any loose powder: how much fills a spoon or a bottle depends on how the powder has settled in transit, so the figure the pack commits to is the 8 oz (227 g) net weight printed on the front, not a fixed tally of spoonfuls.

Storage is straightforward — the label says to store in a cool, dry place after opening. It also notes that "Natural color variation may occur in this product."

Who it's for

This is a powder format for adults who would rather measure a mineral into a drink than swallow a capsule or a tablet. The label states "For adults only." Because nothing has been added to bulk it out, flavor it or press it into a shape, it suits someone who wants to read a one-line ingredient statement and be done, and someone who is already making a morning or evening drink that a teaspoon of unflavored powder can go into.

The 8 oz size is the large end of this format, at roughly 76 servings in a single bottle and one serving a day as the label directs. If you would rather have a pre-measured dose you can put in a pocket, a capsule or tablet from our supplements range will suit you better than a bottle and a teaspoon. Our health and wellness section carries other everyday formats.

Good to know

• Allergen statement, as printed: not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. The label adds that it is produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
• The label's own caution: the product must be dissolved into at least 8 oz of cold water or clear liquid before consuming. Do not breathe the powder, and avoid contact with skin and eyes. For adults only. Consult a physician if pregnant or nursing, taking medication, or managing a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.
• Marks on the bottle: a "GMP Quality Assured" seal, a Non-GMO mark, and a kosher letter mark set inside a triangle.
• Who packs it: the panel reads "Packaged by NOW FOODS, 395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd. Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA" and "Packaged and quality tested in the USA." NOW describes itself on the label as family owned since 1968.
• The bottle itself: printed on the panel as made from 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) resin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much magnesium is in one serving?

One level teaspoon supplies 450 mg of elemental magnesium, which the panel puts at 107% of the Daily Value. That teaspoon weighs approximately 3 g and the magnesium comes from 3,062 mg of magnesium citrate, both figures printed on the Supplement Facts panel of this 8 oz bottle.

Why does the label insist on cold liquid?

Because the label states that pure magnesium citrate powder can increase the temperature of liquids on contact, and that a serving must therefore be mixed into at least 8 oz of cold liquid to neutralize that reaction before drinking. Adding the powder slowly while stirring is part of the same printed instruction, and the mixture can go into a smoothie or juice once it is fully dissolved.

What else is in the powder besides magnesium citrate?

Nothing — the Other Ingredients line on this panel reads "None." No capsule shell, coating, binder, flow agent, flavoring or sweetener is declared anywhere on the label, which is what the words "Pure Powder" on the front refer to.

How many servings does the 8 oz bottle hold?

The panel states about 76 servings, at one level teaspoon each. It gives the figure as approximate because, as the same panel says, the product is sold by weight not volume — the 8 oz (227 g) net weight is the fixed quantity, and the number of spoonfuls follows from it.

Is this powder suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet?

Yes — the front of the bottle is marked "Vegetarian/Vegan", and with Other Ingredients printed as "None" there is no capsule shell or coating on the label to consider. The bottle also carries a Non-GMO mark and a kosher letter mark.

How will my order be packaged?

Your order ships in plain outer packaging with no product imagery and no branding describing the contents. It will not show the Gear Isle name.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.