Melatonin Benefits and the Importance of Sleep for your Brain

Melatonin (chemical name N-Acetyl-5-Methoxytryptamine) is a naturally occurring hormone in the human body. Interestingly enough, this is also found in a number of plants, animals, and even microbes.

This supplement is secreted by the pineal gland deep inside the brain and intimately involved in the process of regulating sleep and wake cycles of the body.

Melatonin levels vary throughout the day based on a number of factors. There has been a tremendous amount of research on Melatonin benefits, with a Spanish study concluding that this supplement is more effective at getting people to sleep than other medications.

It is considered a precursor to Serotonin which is rapidly metabolized and taken up by all body tissues. Additionally, this is also an anti-oxidant which can help the body to rid itself of harmful toxins.

Melatonin

Sleep Supplement

Sleep

Calmness

Daytime Alertness

How It Works:

• Reduces insomnia, jet lag & daytime fatigue
• Promotes restful sleep & calm mood
• Supports brain function, wellbeing & anti-aging

Dosage:

Between 0.5 - 5 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Melatonin Effects

Many researchers have looked into the effects of Melatonin on longevity of life and mental performance.

Today, it is regarded as one of the most important anti-aging supplements available, also known to improve a number of cognitive functions related to memory consolidation, daytime alertness and creative thought. The benefits of Melatonin are derived from the fact that it can dramatically improve sleep quality.

As you age, Melatonin levels start to decline and some individuals have a lower baseline amount of this hormone than others. Declining sleep duration and quality can lead to significant deterioration in cognitive health as less time and resources are made available for the all-important maintenance processes that occur when you are slumber.

Using a Melatonin supplement can make it easier to fall asleep and help you sleep more soundly for a longer period of time so that deep states of REM are achieved for the appropriate periods.

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland which is located deep inside the brain. The trigger for this release is thought to be the levels of light that are perceived. In fact, light appears to inhibit the secretion of Melatonin.

For the purposes of regulating your sleep hormones, light is detected both through the eyes as well as sensed through your skull. This is why you may find it difficult to fall asleep with the lights on or go back to sleep when you wake up during daylight. Taking this supplement, it actually stimulates the release of additional hormones including Melatonin itself.

One of the ways in which scientists believe this supplement works to help control circadian rhythms is by acting as a precursor to Serotonin. This is a powerful neurotransmitter thought to play a vital role in controlling the normal sleep and wake cycles that we all experience on a daily basis. Another action of Melatonin is that of an anti-oxidant. This helps to rid the brain and body of numerous toxins.

Melatonin Benefits:

The first and foremost benefit of Melatonin supplementation is the ability to help one get to sleep easier and improve overall sleep quality. Many people use it as a sleep aid or as a nootropic for lucid dreaming states.

This supplement may help you to relax and shut off your mind so that you can fall asleep even after a particularly stressful or anxious day. With higher sleep quality comes better whole body health, improved long-term memory conversion, and improved brain balance or “synaptic homeostasis”.

If you do not get enough sleep, this can lead to fatigue during the day, lack of alertness, poor attention and concentration as well as generally diminished cognitive functions. By making it easier to fall asleep, Melatonin can have a wide ranging influence on mental performance and brain health.

Melatonin also acts as a very potent anti-oxidant. This helps to protect both lipids and proteins against damage. It is also able to scavenge some of the most dangerous free radicals in the body. This includes hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. One of the most important things to keep in mind here is that unlike other anti-oxidants, this supplement is able to easily diffuse into all cells.

Melatonin may even offer a number of benefits as a neuro-protectant. It is able to cross over the blood-brain barrier and enter into the central nervous system. Part of why supplementation is so helpful, particularly to older people, is due to the fact that naturally produced Melatonin levels decline as we age.

Many researchers think this is one of the reasons for the dramatic increase in degenerative brain diseases as we age. Most conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even strokes are related to conditions created by oxidative stress, which is something that Melatonin can help with.

Melatonin may also have a number of benefits in helping to fight cancer. This includes improving the response to treatment in those suffering from breast, liver, and even lung cancer. Studies have even shown the supplement to be helpful in fighting prostate cancer in men, dramatically reducing the number of active cancer cells and even slowing down the growth and replication of those remaining cells.

Evidence also is suggesting that Melatonin can help to counteract the toxicity of chemotherapy treatments. Studies show that those undergoing supplementation have a higher rate of survival and are significantly protected against many of the commonly seen side effects like decreased platelet counts, neurotoxicity, heart damage, mouth sores, and fatigue.

Melatonin Dosage:

The dosage range for Melatonin is between .5 and 5 mg. The most commonly used and recommended doses are between 1 and 3 mg for helping to promote sleep.

For those with cancer who want to use Melatonin therapy, this could be as high as 50 mg per day. These individuals should seek out doctor advice before considering this treatment route.

As always, new users are strongly cautioned to begin by taken the lowest effective dose and then only increase after becoming more familiar the effects, both positive and negative.

Melatonin Side Effects:

While Melatonin is generally considered to be well-tolerated and safe, there are some side effects associated with its usage. These include confusion, abdominal discomfort, headaches, nightmares, excessive tiredness during the day, and sleepwalking.

It is also possible that Melatonin may adversely affect how some medications work including blood thinners, birth control pills, diabetes drugs, and immunosuppressants. Also, medications and other supplements used to produce sedative effects can be enhanced, which could lead to becoming over-sedated.

Melatonin Review:

Melatonin has a tremendous number of benefits due to its ability to work as a sleep aid. Sleep is so vital because this is when a number of your growth and development bodily processes occur (i.e. building muscles, encoding memories and overall recovery).

If you are currently suffering from poor sleep quality, Melatonin can make it easier for you to fall asleep at night thereby improving your concentration, wakefulness, and brainpower during the day.

This brain supplement is especially beneficial to older people who want to protect their brains against age-related cognitive issues. Melatonin is an excellent addition to an anti-aging regimen or as a night-time component of a nootropic stack.

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