Are you struggling to fall asleep at night? Melatonin, found in our Sleep Gummies and Blueberry Moon Milk Collagen Latte™ might just be the answer to a restful night’s sleep.** Below, we’re sharing everything you need to know about melatonin.
What Is Melatonin?
Your brain produces melatonin, a natural hormone, in response to darkness and helps to regulate your 24-hour circadian rhythm. Melatonin helps promote sleep-wake cycles by putting you in a state of peaceful wakefulness hours before your bedtime, so you can fall asleep and stay asleep.
How Does Melatonin Work?
Your body knows to release melatonin thanks to the sun, as the brain’s production of it is blocked or disrupted by light. Bright light—including screens—will disrupt the release of melatonin. Melatonin levels increase in the evening as it gets dark out. Inversely, levels drop in the morning when it is light out, allowing you to feel more awake and ready for the day.
There are a number of factors that can disrupt melatonin production, including screen time before bed, jet lag or an altered schedule requiring you to go to bed earlier. Your body also produces less of it as you get older.
Is It Safe To Take Melatonin?
A lot of people naturally produce enough melatonin on their own, but for those who go more than two nights with difficulty falling asleep, there are steps you can take to help promote healthy melatonin levels. By making sure you get enough time in natural daylight and reducing light exposure before bed, you can help signal to the appropriate times to produce melatonin to your brain.
For example, you can try taking walks outside during the day in bright sunlight and limiting screen time at least two hours before bed.
Can We Increase Our Melatonin Levels?
There are supplements you can take before bed to increase your melatonin levels. These come in liquid, powder, pill or gummy form. Taking a melatonin supplement 15 to 30 minutes before bedtime can help increase melatonin levels to aid in you falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer.**
How Much Melatonin Should I Take To Sleep?
Great question! Our Vital Proteins® products with melatonin contain 1–2mg per serving. However, we recommend discussing these levels and your health goals with your licensed healthcare professional. They can best provide you with the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition and assist you as well in deciding whether a dietary supplement — and how much of it — will be a helpful addition to your regimen.
Want to try a supplement to help you sleep better and wake up feeling restored** without the melatonin? We have two options for that! Vital Performance™ SLEEP and Vital Performance™ Sleep Capsules contain snooze-inducing ingredients including GABA and L-theanine to support relaxation and quality sleep without melatonin.**