Does taking melatonin really help you sleep?
Sleep deficiency is linked to many health problems, and according to the CDC, 1 in 3 adults report not getting enough sleep each day. A number of drugs and natural remedies claim to aid in sleep, the most common of which is melatonin. In this blog we will answer the question: Does melatonin really help you with sleep?
What is Melatonin, and how does it work?
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally secreted by your body through the pineal gland. As it starts to get dark each night, less light comes through your retina, and this sends a signal to the pineal gland to send lots of melatonin to your brain, which is what causes you to get tired each night.
Melatonin can also be taken as an over-the-counter dietary supplement, where once taken, has the same effect as the naturally occurring hormone.
Does taking melatonin really help you sleep?
Taking additional melatonin won't improve sleep for people who have a great routine/sleep-wake cycle, and could actually cause their bodies to produce less natural melatonin. However, most people don't have a great sleep/wake cycle.
Why do we have trouble sleeping?
In today's world, more and more people are exposed to light before they go to sleep. This can come in the form of tv, phones, games, late-night jobs, etc., and as discussed earlier natural melatonin is only produced when you are in darkness. This lack of natural melatonin production can cause people not to feel tired when they are trying to go to bed, as their bodies have not produced their critical sleep hormones.
How does melatonin help?
This is where taking melatonin as a supplement becomes very useful. People who have a hard time falling asleep can find many benefits to taking melatonin each night. It supplements the melatonin they should have produced naturally and allows them to become tired and fall asleep more easily.
So the answer to the question is yes, taking melatonin really does help you sleep, but it is very important to find out if melatonin is right for you, and if so find out how much to take. For people who need it, taking a proper amount each night gives them great sleep benefits to help them feel well-rested each morning.
Additionally, you can learn more about the connection between allergies and your sleep quality in our blog post: "The Surprising Connection Between Allergies and Sleep Quality" or "Why Do I Bruise So Easily: The Vitamin Deficiency Connection"
Lori Atkins
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