08/29/2023
Melatonin is not the answer.
In fact, melatonin supplements can cause a wide array of side effects including:
Daytime sleepiness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Irritability, and
Melatonin โhangover.โ
Plus, melatonin can worsen depression, bleeding disorders, change blood pressure, and increase risk of seizures.
To make it even worse, while melatonin is touted as a safe daily supplement, there is no data to actually show that that is true. The research is particularly lacking in children, teens and pregnant and nursing women.
Over the past few years, we have seen melatonin doses skyrocket from 1-5 mg to 10, 15, 20, to even 100 mg. Itโs insane how high the doses have gotten.
What if instead of supplementing, you focused on increasing melatonin naturally?
Since melatonin is produced in response to falling light, stay off your phone for a few hours before bed. Grab a pair of blue light blocking glasses.
You can also supplement with adaptogenic herbs like corn grass which contains 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone that will help produce melatonin only when melatonin is lacking.
Vitamin B6 is converted to tryptophan which is naturally sedating. 5-HTP is a precursor to both serotonin and melatonin, and again the body will only produce melatonin when it is lacking.
Vitamin D3 can help regulate the conversion or 5HTP, and magnesium ensures a deep, restorative sleep.
Also, can we please just stop pretending that we donโt need sleep? Set a bedtime and stick to it. Hire a sleep coach, and look for the root causes of insomnia.
Insomnia is not normal. Itโs a sign of something else. Hormonal imbalances especially thyroid, estrogen/testosterone, and cortisol problems all may be at the root. So too may medication side effects and vitamin deficiencies. Nutrient excesses like sugar, caffeine, and heavy meals right before bed can also cause trouble.
Now is your moment. Craft an excellent sleep routine and watch your whole life change for the positive.
Check my Friends episode of the with for more details on getting great sleep.
How do you work on your sleep routine?
DM me for details on the new sleep gummy.