These 5 Natural Supplements Can Help You Fall Asleep Better

In case you missed it, today is the second day of Sleep Awareness Week. With the recent Daylight Saving Time switch, you might feel like your schedule is going completely awry.

There is no harm in taking the occasional supplement to ensure you get a good night's rest, especially if its been a few days of tossing and turning. Below, discover five ingredients to look for in the drugstore—and like always, don't forget to consult with a doctor before making any major health changes.

Melatonin

Melatonin is the most popular over-the-counter sleeping pill you can find. You'll see tons of different brands and dosages to tailor to your needs. Our brains actually make our own melatonin—it's the hormone that tells your body its time to rest—but sometimes, you just need that extra boost to ring the alarm.

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Magnesium

Magnesium is one of those ingredients you wouldn't instantly expect to help you sleep. It helps regulate your blood pressure and ensure your nerves are doing the right thing. Magnesium glycinate, specifically, is shown to promote a calmer mood, which we all need when we're winding down.

 

Also read about: 5 Classic Tricks for Falling Asleep Faster

 

Ashwagandha

Okay, so you won't find ashwagandha in your body. It's a shrub that grows in Asia and Africa. However, over time, humans learned the plant can be extracted to help relieve stress. This is a must-try for anyone whose struggles to fall asleep comes from a racing mind and physical anxiety.

 

L-Theanine

It's not always about how quickly you fall asleep. The quality of your actual sleep should be good. Do you feel well-rested when you wake up? Are you getting up multiple times during the night? L-theanine boosts GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter), dopamine and serotonin in your brain to help you relax and have an overall clearer mind. It's also something you can find in green tea and matcha, so if you've ever felt at ease after a cup, that's probably why.

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Valerian Root

Like ashwagandha, you can find the valerian plant throughout Asia and Europe. Its root acts directly on your GABA levels to create a sedative effect—even creating a catnip-like response in cats. Warning, though, it's one of the smelliest supplements you can buy, but it works so well.

 

Do you need sound to fall asleep? Click HERE to learn more about white noise and the difference between all the other colors of noise you can find.