Have you ever found yourself rolling around in bed, unable to fall asleep? It’s a frustrating experience that many of us have had at some point in our lives. In recent years, Melatonin supplements have gained popularity as a natural sleep aid. But does Melatonin really work? In this article, we’ll dive into the benefits of Melatonin for sleep and examine the evidence supporting its use. So whether you’re a chronic insomniac or just looking for a little extra help falling asleep, read on to learn more about this hormone and how it can help you get the restful sleep you need.
What is Melatonin?
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland. During the day, the pineal gland remains dormant, and as it begins to get dark and the light entering our retina diminishes, the gland activates to flood the brain with Melatonin a few hours before our natural sleep time.
Melatonin regulates the body’s sleep-wake cycle and other biological rhythms. Melatonin levels naturally rise in the night in response to darkness and fall in the morning in response to light. This aids in regulating the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, which governs when we are awake and when we are asleep.
In addition to helping you sleep, Melatonin contains antioxidant properties that may prevent cellular damage and anti-inflammatory properties that aid in immune system stimulation.
While Melatonin is generally considered safe, it is vital to understand how it works and whether it is effective before using it as a sleep aid.
How does Melatonin help you sleep?
Taking a Melatonin supplement is similar to a sunset dose, deceiving your body into thinking it’s dark. It doesn’t so much put you to sleep as it does signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. As a result, Melatonin may make you feel drowsier when you take it.
Still, it has a more significant impact on regulating your overall sleep-wake cycle and assisting in setting the circadian clock, the approximately 24-hour internal timekeeper that tells your body what time it is.
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When should you take Melatonin?
Melatonin is usually taken at night, 30 minutes to an hour before going to sleep. Because this hormone is naturally produced by the body in response to darkness, taking it at night aids in promoting drowsiness and regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
Melatonin can also help reduce the symptoms of jet lag. When traveling across multiple time zones, the body’s internal clock gets disrupted, resulting in jet lag. This can cause weariness, daytime drowsiness, and difficulties sleeping at night.
As previously stated, consuming Melatonin at the appropriate time can help reset the body’s internal clock and regulate the sleep-wake cycle. For example, if you’re going east and need to advance your body clock, taking it in the evening at your destination can encourage earlier sleep onset and lessen jet lag symptoms. Conversely, if you’re heading west and need to adjust your body clock, taking it in the morning at your destination may be more beneficial.
Other health benefits of Melatonin
Melatonin may have several other health benefits besides regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Here are some of the potential advantages:
Anti-inflammatory properties
Melatonin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may make it useful for a number of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Antioxidant properties
Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant, which means it can help protect the body from free radical damage. As a result, it may be effective in reducing age-related disorders, improving eye health, and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
Immune system support
Sleep is essential for good health, and not obtaining enough of it can harm the immune system. Apart from improving sleep patterns, Melatonin also helps the immune system by coordinating immune responses to defend against a wide range of threats, including viruses.
Enhanced mood
Many people report that Melatonin causes them to be happier during the day; after all, getting a good night’s sleep can make an enormous difference in your mood during the day. In addition, giving your brain a chance to relax can sweep out old and useless thoughts and make room for new, happier, healthier ones.
Does Melatonin affect your dreams?
If you have unusually vivid or disturbing dreams after taking this supplement, it could be your body’s normal response to falling deeper and more restfully asleep. It has been shown in studies to increase REM sleep, the sleep cycle known for producing vivid dreams. Spending more time in this sleep period where vivid dreams are most likely to occur may increase bad/vivid dreams. Melatonin releases vasotocin, a protein that governs REM sleep, while you sleep.
Conclusion
Melatonin is a natural hormone that can help you balance your sleep-wake cycle and sleep better. Besides that, it may also have various other possible health benefits. These include lowering inflammation, strengthening the immune system, and even improving mood. Melatonin may be worth exploring if you’re having trouble sleeping or seeking a natural method to boost your health. Always you should seek professional advice when taking other medications.