No one can deny the importance of a good night’s sleep. Not only do you want to feel well-rested and energetic come morning, but your body needs a chance to rest, recharge, heal, recover, and more. In theory, the cycle of sleeping and waking comes naturally. At the end of the day, you’re tired, and you fall asleep.
Unfortunately, there are many factors, both internal and external, that can strain, interrupt, or even impede your sleep. It could be a screwed-up schedule due to jet lag, too much stress at bedtime, or just some good old-fashioned insomnia with no discernable trigger or reason. Struggling with sleep is actually pretty common and it can really mess with your day or even your whole week or more if it gets bad enough.
With common ailments like this come many solutions, however, which is good news. Between medication, herbs, supplements, and calming activities like meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises, there are so many things you can do to help yourself. Whether you struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both, melatonin is a good place to start. The best melatonin brands often have multiple doses available, and even multiple formats. Whether you prefer capsules or gummies, these melatonin brands have plenty to offer in the way of healthy, natural, and effective melatonin.
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The Best Melatonin Brands
1. Solgar
Solgar has been around for decades, since 1947. They chose right from the beginning to work with scientists to create quality formulas that are based on nature. To this day, their scientists continue to research and innovate, constantly improving formulas as new information is discovered.
They are also committed to avoiding artificial ingredients and fillers as much as they possibly can. They care about the health, wellness, and wellbeing of their customers and have created products that are non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian-friendly.
When it comes to sleep specifically, they have many options. They have melatonin tablets available in three, five, and 10 mg doses, as well as a liquid form of the 10 mg. The melatonin tablets are vegan and kosher-friendly, too, making them accessible to a wide range of people. They’ve even packaged the melatonin in amber glass bottles which protect the integrity of the melatonin against things like heat, light, and moisture.
They also have valerian, 5-HTP, and full-spectrum curcumin to help you sleep as well if you want alternative options.
2. Natrol
Natrol makes a melatonin product that is not only top-notch in its quality, but is also one that customers love. More than once they’ve been named the number one melatonin brand for customer satisfaction. Their quality product is available in different forms including capsules and gummies, to make taking it easy and pleasant for everyone.
In addition to regular melatonin, you can also get supplements that serve a dual purpose. For example, they have products for sleep plus immune health, sleep plus recovery, sleep plus beauty, and more. They also have a few items designated for kids, because even young ones have trouble sleeping sometimes!
They also have a melatonin plus 5-HTP product which offers an advanced sleep assist formula that’s time-released so you not only get to sleep better but stay asleep all night for a great rest.
While their melatonin and sleep support products are what they are known for by many, they have plenty else to offer as well. You can shop by benefit and get vitamins and supplements for many things like brain function, energy, mood, stress, and so much more.
3. Nature Made
Nature Made is self-explanatory, they’ve created an impressive line of vitamins, minerals, and supplements that were made straight from nature. They’ve got natural and science-backed solutions for all of life’s ailments such as energy, immune health, sleep, and targeted products for men and women specifically.
For sleep, they have many options including melatonin tablets or gummies and supplements to help you fall asleep and/or stay asleep. Melatonin is an amazing sleep aid overall but sometimes you need to target a more specific issue like the inability to stay asleep, even if you can get to sleep okay in the first place!
If you find sleep is a major, ongoing struggle for you, they also have a lot of information and education available in the form of articles and frequently asked questions. Their website also talks about melatonin in more detail, such as when to take it, how often, when it’s safe, and who perhaps shouldn’t take it.
4. Nature’s Bounty
Nature’s Bounty is another wonderful brand that uses nature and natural ingredients to create a plethora of healthy, powerful, and effective supplements – from melatonin and beyond. They’re pretty well-known for their huge selection of gummy vitamins, including a biotin supplement for hair, skin, and nails, as well as sleep aids, energy boosters, immune support, and more.
The gummies are tasty and easy to take which is why they’re popular, but they do have many of their products in tablet form too if that’s what you prefer.
Their melatonin comes in many different forms, from 1 mg to 10 mg doses, including tablets, capsules, and more. You can also get rapid-release soft gels, quick dissolve tablets, or gummies. There is also an option to get it with L-theanine as well as the melatonin in one vitamin for a little extra power.
In addition to their huge selection of amazing vitamin products they also have plenty of help and information to offer. Their articles cover everything from information on sleep health to homemade healthy snack recipes and even a tasty smoothie that’s suitable to have before bed.
5. Life Extension
Life Extension is a vitamin and supplement brand that’s focused on helping you age healthily and gracefully – and perhaps extending your life a little along the way, through healthy choices and good nutrition. They have many products for men and women specifically, though the melatonin is suitable for all.
You can choose from a variety of styles and dosages, and it’s available in capsule or liquid form. You can also choose from a fast-acting supplement or a time-release option, depending on what you struggle with specifically when it comes to sleep.
If you’re at all unsure which supplements you need, whether it’s melatonin you’re looking at or others, they have a series of quizzes as well as plenty of information you can use to help you figure it out. The quizzes analyze your answers and recommend a series of products to help with what you say you’re struggling with. Of course, these are only educated suggestions and don’t replace information or medical advice from your doctor!
How to Take Melatonin
While melatonin is a common and generally pretty gentle and safe sleep aid, there are still some considerations. There are better ways to take it and there are optimal times. It’s also good to know when you maybe shouldn’t take it, or who should never take it.
When to Take it
Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish or fix, you might try taking it at different times:
- Jet lag. To deal with jet lag, take the melatonin when you arrive at the destination around the time you want to go to bed. Alternatively, some studies have been done that show you can benefit from taking it three days before leaving to alleviate and prevent symptoms.
- Night shift. Working a night shift can be quite lucrative and even enjoyable for some, but it’s not natural. If you’d like to sleep right after, take melatonin as soon as you get home. Never take it before driving home.
- Insomnia. If you regularly struggle with sleep, start taking a small dose of melatonin shortly before you go to bed. It’s useful for getting into a good sleeping pattern, though it’s often recommended to consult a doctor for extended use beyond a month or so.
How to Optimize Results
There are a few things you can do in tandem with your melatonin supplement to get the best possible results. It’s important to note that light is what controls when your brain creates melatonin. With that, consider the following:
- Avoid your cell phone and other devices that shine line directly in your face.
- Turn off your lights and leave them off once taking the melatonin.
- Turn the lights on promptly in the morning when you wish to get up as the bright light will signal to your brain that it’s time to wake up.
Who Should Avoid Melatonin
As wonderful and effective as it may be, melatonin not recommended for everyone. Some people need to avoid it for various reasons, including:
- Those with an autoimmune disease and/or those on prescription medication. If this is you it’s best to consult your doctor before trying melatonin.
- Pregnant women. While melatonin is generally safe, especially for short-term use, very few studies have been done regarding pregnant women and melatonin. Especially because doses vary so widely, there is no guarantee that it’s safe for the baby.
- Kids. Same as with pregnant women, very little research has been done on the long-term effects of melatonin on young kids. Therefore it’s best to consult a doctor before allowing your child to try it.
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