If you’re looking for the best melatonin supplements to buy this year, then you’ve come to the right place. You can also get more info by jumping to our Melatonin Supplements Guide.
Top 10 Melatonin Supplements
#1 | Puritan’s Pride Premium Super Strength Melatonin | More Info | |
#2 | Nature Made Melatonin | More Info | |
#3 | NOW Foods High Potency Melatonin | More Info | |
#4 | Just Potent Melatonin | More Info | |
#5 | Optimum Nutrition Melatonin | More Info | |
#6 | Natrol Melatonin Time Release 5mg | More Info | |
#7 | Advanta Supplements Melatonin | More Info | |
#8 | Best Naturals Melatonin | More Info | |
#9 | Nature’s Bounty Super Strength Melatonin | More Info | |
#10 | Amazing Nutrition Melatonin | More Info |
Melatonin Supplements Guide
Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone in the human body that is used to help people fall and stay asleep. Supplement forms of melatonin are designed to give individuals more control over their body’s sleep and wake cycles.
People suffering from jet lag, insomnia, irregular work schedules, or even after surgery can all benefit from melatonin supplementation. Melatonin comes in a variety of forms from liquids to tablets and various dosage levels. With minimal side effects, this naturally produced hormone is one of the safest and most effective sleep aids.
What is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally created by the human body, specifically from a small gland in the brain called the pineal gland. Melatonin is important as it helps control the body’s natural sleep and wake cycles. Various foods contain melatonin such as meats, grains, vegetables, and fruits. Melatonin is also available as a supplement in both powder and capsule forms.
The human body has a natural sleep and wake cycle, also known as the Circadian Rhythm, a kind of internal clock that regulates when a person feels tired or sleepy over the course of a day. The body controls when and how tired a person feels by increasing or reducing melatonin production. Typically, melatonin levels rise in the evening and will stay high overnight before lowering in the morning hours. This explains why most people will become tired in the mid to late evening, sleep overnight, and awaken in the morning.
Light is also a factor in melatonin production. Shorter days that are experienced during winter can cause the human body to produce melatonin earlier or later than normal. Different light cycles are also linked with things like seasonal depression or winter depression as the amount of light throws off the body’s natural Circadian Rhythm.
Benefits of Melatonin
Melatonin has a number of benefits as it greatly helps control sleep cycles. It is effective for those suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders and can help return them to normal sleep schedules. Seasonal depression, or winter depression, which is also related to erratic sleep patterns can also be treated with melatonin. Individuals who work late at night or night shifts can also utilize melatonin to help maintain a regular sleep cycle.
Immediately following surgery it is common for patients to experience confusion or have trouble sleeping. Cluster headaches are also linked to irregular or lack of sleep, which melatonin can help treat. As the body becomes accustomed to different sleep schedules, people may have difficulty falling or staying asleep. This is due to their bodies not producing melatonin in sufficient quantities or at the times they want to sleep. Supplementing melatonin will help boost levels in the blood and produce a drowsy or tired effect so that individuals will fall asleep and stay asleep when they need to. This is perfect after a long flight, or for those suffering from jet lag, as it could take weeks to adjust the body’s sleep schedule naturally.
Melatonin is a natural, effective, and non-habit forming supplement that can help give anyone more control over their sleep schedule. As always, individuals should always consult their doctor before taking any supplement. Melatonin has been proven to be safe when taken in low doses for short periods of time and effective at helping people sleep.
Are There any Side Effects?
Melatonin is a safe and natural supplement that the body already produces. Regardless, individuals should always speak with their doctors before adding a melatonin supplement, or any supplement for that matter. Children and pregnant women can take melatonin but should consult a doctor regarding their individual condition. Melatonin has been known to produce slight side effects such as sleepiness, a lower body temperature, vivid dreams, slight morning grogginess, and slight changes in blood pressure. These side effects are minor and will stop as soon as the individual stops supplementing with melatonin.
People with other medical conditions such as diabetes, or those on medications such as anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, or birth control pills should speak with a doctor before taking melatonin. Melatonin may cause slight anxiety, irritability, confusion, or headaches when combined with other prescription medications.
In general, it is wise for individuals to evaluate their overall sleep process and hygiene before using any supplements. Good sleep hygiene includes going to bed at the same time every day, avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the evening, and turning off all light before going to sleep. Distractions such as TV, computers, and phones all work to excite individuals and can lead to insomnia or other difficulty falling asleep. Exercise before bed is also a known exciter and can cause individuals to have trouble sleeping. It is best if people can learn to associate their beds with sleep, so working or reading in bed is best avoided. This will help them naturally fall asleep whenever they lay in bed.
Those who feel drowsy after taking melatonin should not operate heavy machinery and may need to avoid driving immediately after taking the supplement. Individuals that suffer from insomnia, and are supplementing with melatonin, should inform their doctors as insomnia may be the result of other medical problems. Typically melatonin is supplemented in doses from 0.2 mg to 20 mg, and the dosage for one individual may have different effects on another person. Higher dosages will have stronger effects, so always consult your doctor to find the right amount based on the desired effects.
How to Take Melatonin
Melatonin is often taken in pill or capsule form. These are convenient to use as well as come in various strengths so dosage is easy to control. Generally, melatonin is best taken about 30 minutes to one hour before bedtime if the individual is interested in help falling asleep. Liquid forms of melatonin tend to have slightly faster digestion rates. Melatonin has passed numerous clinical trials and proven itself to be effective, but it is always wise to start with small dosages to see how each individual’s body reacts to the supplement before increasing dosage levels.
Time release capsules or tablets are a new and popular form of melatonin. These pills dissolve more slowly so they release a constant and steady stream of melatonin to the body over the course of the night, instead of being more quickly dissolved in the first few hours after consumption. Individuals supplementing with melatonin who are able to fall asleep, but find themselves waking up in the middle of the night, may want to try a time released formula before increasing dosages.
Sublingual, or quick dissolve, tablets that are placed directly under the tongue and rapidly melt away are perfect for fast absorption. In this form, melatonin is immediately delivered to the blood stream without having to first be digested and follow the gastrointestinal tract. Similar to a liquid form, sublingual forms are fast acting and can help produce effects almost immediately. Gummies, soft gels, and cream forms of melatonin are also available. These can be useful for children who may have difficulty swallowing the pill form or dislike the flavor of liquids.
Individuals with severe insomnia may require higher dosage levels of melatonin. There are a variety of other natural sleep aids that can be combined with melatonin to work together to provide safe and effective sleep. Melatonin is unique in that it does not typically require stronger doses over time as other sleep aids tend to do. Melatonin maintains its effectiveness as it is a naturally produced hormone, so tolerance issues are rarer.
What to Look for in a Good Melatonin Supplement
Melatonin supplements are widely available from pharmacies, health food stores, grocery stores, and online. When buying a melatonin supplement it is important to note that there are different types of melatonin and that the strength and effectiveness of the supplement will vary based on how it was produced. Typical types of melatonin include natural, bovine or other animals, and pharmacy grade.
Pharmacy grade melatonin is one of the best forms of melatonin individuals can buy. It is pure and not mixed with other active ingredients, including vitamins, so as to minimize the possibility of complications or interactions with other drugs. Melatonin with a purity level of 99% or higher is also best and a result of pharmaceutical grade. Brands will have different production methods and purity levels, so it is best to research multiple brands and even test them before committing to any one supplement.
It is important to read each supplement label carefully and thoroughly. Different brands will often use different fillers and chemicals in each product. Even different products within the same brand or from the same company can have different formulas, so it is important to understand the strength, purity level, and safety of each product as effects may vary.
Simple cost per milligram is not the best way to find a supplement. Having to cut large pills can be difficult and can result in irregular dosage levels. It’s often best to buy melatonin at the exact dosage level required.
The post 10 Best Melatonin Supplements – Reviewed & Ranked for 2017 appeared first on Supplement Hound - Supplement Reviews for 2016.
from Supplement Hound – Supplement Reviews for 2016 http://supplementhound.com/best-melatonin-supplements/
No comments:
Post a Comment