I’m having a hard time falling asleep. Are those sleep-inducing drinks safe to try?
Beverages and snacks that promise to help you drift off typically contain melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone that’s secreted by the brain throughout the night. The problem is, many of these products have such high doses of melatonin that they cause blood levels to spike (so you fall asleep), but levels then plummet as the hormone is processed by the body. This triggers the body’s wake cycle, often in the middle of the night.
That said, a melatonin supplement can help when levels are depleted by stress or excess exposure to evening light. The key is to take a time-released formula that delivers 3 mg of the hormone. This mirrors the body’s natural melatonin release to help you sleep through the night.
