Melatonin: What it is and How it Works

Let’s be honest. 2020 has been a tough year for all of us. Perhaps you have been experiencing a series of sleepless nights, tossing and turning as you worry about the state of the world. Don’t worry…you’re not alone! The trouble is that sleep disorders can lead you to feeling tired and anxious during the day. If you are having a difficult time getting quality sleep at night, you might be interested in incorporating melatonin into your daily supplement routine. But what is melatonin? How does it promote rest and relaxation in our bodies? Here’s all you need to know about Superior Labs 100% Pure Melatonin and how it works.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin has the main function of helping to regulate our sleep cycles. It tells our body when it’s time to go to bed and when it is an appropriate time to get up. This hormone is made by a part of the brain called the pineal gland. Most people take melatonin to help them get quality sleep at night. More often than not, it is used to help with insomnia, something that affects many Americans on a regular basis. Believe it or not, our bodies can experience a lack of melatonin. There are many factors that caused this including stress, smoking, and exposure to too much light at night. This is especially true when we are looking at our phones, our computers or any device with a blue light, right before bed. Melatonin levels have also been reported to occur in relation to various diseases and disorders. Levels can be tested so it’s important that you speak with your local healthcare practitioner if you believe you have a melatonin deficiency. Melatonin can be found in various foods including tart cherries, asparagus, tomatoes, walnuts and oats. That being said, many people who are experiencing issues with their sleep choose to take melatonin in supplement form.

How does Melatonin work?

We all have a circadian rhythm, which is essentially our bodies “internal clock.” This internal clock lets us know when it is time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin works with our body’s circadian rhythm, assisting to regulate body temperature, blood pressure and hormone levels. When it is dark outside, our melatonin levels start to rise, signaling our bodies that it’s time to go to sleep. It also binds receptors in our body that allow us to relax. On the flipside, light suppresses melatonin production because it essentially tells our body that it is time to wake up. People who don’t make enough melatonin at night struggle to fall and stay asleep. Taking a melatonin supplement can help to counter these low levels and balance your internal clock.

What are the Benefits of Melatonin?

Promotes Healthy Sleep - As we’ve mentioned throughout this article, the most common reason why people take melatonin is to help them get a good night’s sleep. In fact, studies have shown that taking melatonin before hitting the sack help you get quality rest at night. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3656905/) In addition to this, melatonin has been shown to help relieve jet lag, which believe it or not, is considered to be a temporary sleep disorder. This occurs when your body‘s internal clock is out of sync with the time of the new location that you have traveled to. Melatonin can help reduce jet lag by syncing your clock with whatever time zone you are in. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22489607/) Interestingly enough, an analysis also showed that both lower and higher doses of melatonin were equally effective in reducing jet lag. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12076414/)

Can Help with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - This is a quite common type of depression that is related to changes in the seasons. It typically begins and ends at the same time every year, most often during the dark winter months. People who experience SAD often feel fatigued, irritable, and generally not their usual upbeat selves. Melatonin can assist in reducing the symptoms associated with seasonal depression by helping to regulate the sleep cycle. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16648247/) Some evidence has shown that seasonal depression is affected by changes in light and sleep (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3798117/) which is why melatonin may be an effective supplement for people experiencing this type of depression.

Assists in Reducing Anxiety - The majority of research on melatonin as it relates to relieving anxiety has been conducted on patients undergoing surgical procedures. This is because surgery is often a stressful and anxiety-inducing situation. Research has suggested that melatonin is effective in helping to relieve this anxiety, helping patients relax before their surgical procedures. (https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009861.pub2/full) A 2018 study found that melatonin helped reduce anxiety as well as Alprazolam, a sedative drug used to promote sleep before surgery. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6157235/) These studies offer insight and hope into the affects of melatonin relieving anxiety. That being said, it is important for people experiencing anxiety to speak with a health care professional who can assist them with their situation.

Why Superior Labs 100% Pure Melatonin Complex? Superior Labs 100% Pure Melatonin Complex contains a potent dose of five ingredients to help promote relaxation and sleep. This includes GABA, L-Theanine, L-Tryptohan, Magnesium Citrate, Melatonin; Plant Cellulose (capsules), and Organic Rice Extract. Each capsule contains 5mg of pure melatonin along with these beneficial ingredients. The supplement is formulated without any magnesium stearate, dioxides, preservatives or any potentially harmful ingredients of any kind. The supplement is manufactured in small batches to ensure quality, potency and efficacy. Best of all? Superior Labs 100% Pure Melatonin Complex is formulated and developed in an FDA registered and GMP compliant facility. This means you can rest assured that you were getting the highest quality melatonin supplement on the market. Learn more about Superior Labs 100% Pure Melatonin Complex here. (https://superiorlabs.com/collections/sleep-relaxation/products/melatonin-complex)