What is Melatonin & What does Melatonin do?
Melatonin is naturally produced in your body. It regulates our body's sleep patterns and works as a sleep aid, creating what is commonly known as the circadian rhythm.
The production of melatonin in the body is not always regular; it is impacted by environmental and physiological factors, such as ambient daylight levels and age. As we get older, the levels of melatonin for sleep naturally present in our body actually decline, which may lead to difficulties sleeping.
Sleep supplements made with melatonin help to allow the body to regulate the sleep-wake cycle so as to fall asleep naturally.
Benefits of Melatonin for Sleep and its Effects
Benefits of Melatonin for Sleep
If you struggle to fall asleep and are in search of ways to support your sleep, you may have just found your new best friend, melatonin! Let’s take a look at the main benefits and effects of melatonin for sleep:
- It reduces the time it takes for you to fall asleep. With the busy modern lifestyle, working long hours, waking up at the crack of dawn and constantly using blue light displays (the ultimate nemesis of sleep!), it’s no wonder we sometimes find ourselves struggling to fall asleep. Melatonin helps to prepare the body for sleep and rest by sending a signal to our body to slow down.
- It’s a helping hand when it comes to regulating your sleep patterns. As we get older, our body produces less melatonin for sleep, commonly causing adults and seniors to sleep less than we might expect. Even certain working shifts, stressful situations or temporary conditions like jet lag may alter our sleep and stop us from getting the hours of sleep we need to feel rested. Melatonin acts like a traffic light signal for our body, helping us to maintain a balanced sleep cycle.
- It regulates your sleep cycle. Melatonin regulates our sleep and helps us sleep for longer periods, making us less likely to wake up in the middle of the night, which affects our ability to make the most of the restful effect sleep should offer us and may cause health issues in the long run.
- It stabilizes your circadian rhythm. Regularly taking melatonin supplements for sleep helps our body to maintain a healthy sleep cycle, which allows us to always have the energy we need to take on the day and prepares us to wind down when nighttime approaches.
References:
- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). "Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of a health claim related to melatonin and reduction of sleep onset latency (ID 1698,
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- EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). "Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B6 and contribution to normal homocysteine metabolism (ID 73, 76, 199), maintenance of normal bone (ID 74), maintenance of normal teeth (ID 74), maintenance of normal hair (ID 74), maintenance of normal skin (ID 74), maintenance of normal nails (ID 74), contribution to normal energy‐yielding metabolism (ID 75, 214), contribution to normal psychological functions (ID 77), reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 78), and …." EFSA Journal 8.10 (2010): 1759.
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