Smarter Sleeping 101

The following supplement is included in the SleepSmart complex.

Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced within the body by the pineal gland. Melatonin is produced at night to help our bodies regulate our circadian rhythm, or our sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of melatonin are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables.

As we get older, the amount of melatonin produced by our body reduces which has led scientists to believe that this may be the reason why younger people have less of a problem sleeping than older people do.

That’s not to say that all young adults produce a sufficient amount of melatonin, many do not. In fact, many young adults suffer from a low production of melatonin, in part due to their exposure to light. Many young adults stay up late surfing the internet, watching tv, playing video games, etc. Sitting in front of a backlit screen or any kind of light (even a digital alarm clock) can disrupt the production of melatonin.

For these reasons, melatonin can be purchased OTC as a supplement.

Melatonin for Sleep

Melatonin supplements are herbal in nature and as such do not have any of the side effects that prescription and over the counter sleeping pills have. Research suggests that melatonin supplements make it easier to sleep and also ease the effects of jet lag.

Although research into Melatonin is still ongoing, it has been reported to make people feel better as well as strengthening the immune system and also reducing free radicals within the body. Studies are also being carried out to determine the effect of melatonin as an antioxidant. However, there is still much to be learned about melatonin and its effects on the human body.

For more info on Melatonin, visit Web MD.

Second only to water, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. With the exception of a mushroom (eg, Xerocomus badius ) and certain species belonging to genus Camellia ( C. japonica and C. sasanqua ), L-theanine is a unique amino acid found only in the tea plant. L-theanine was approved in Japan in 1964 for unlimited use in all foods (including chocolates, soft drinks, herb teas), except infant foods. 

Clinical data
L-theanine is able to cross the blood-brain barrier and most research has focused on its relaxing effect. Brain waves were measured in 50 high-anxiety and low-anxiety human volunteers after the oral administration of 50 to 200 mg of L-theanine. L-theanine promoted the generation of alpha-brain waves, an index of relaxation, and induced a relaxed but nondrowsy state in the volunteers.

L-Theanine is a key ingredient in the SleepSmart complex.  For further ingredients, please see our supplement facts page.

Passion flower is a flower plant found worldwide aside from Europe and Antarctica. Passiflora Incarnata, or Maypop, is a species of Passionflower (there are many) located primarily in the southeastern United States. It is a key ingredient in the SleepSmart complex.

There is a misconception that Passion flower gets its name for having qualities of an aphrodisiac. The name actually derives from the Passion of Christ on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures as symbols of Crucifixion. For example: the radial filaments which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds.

Passion flower has a tranquilizing effect, including mild sedative and anti-anxiety effects. It is non-addictive and promotes relaxation. The sedative effect of Passion flower has made it popular for treating a variety of ailments, including nervousness and insomnia. Research had indicated that passion flower has a complex activity on the central nervous system which is responsible for its overall tranquilizing effects.