Why is no one talking about the side effects of over-the-counter melatonin?

(BPT) – Do you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep? Do you wake up and still feel tired? Quality sleep is essential to every aspect of well-being, yet many Americans are plagued by troubles getting the deep sleep they need to feel their best. What’s worse, many people are reaching for common over-the-counter melatonin sleep supplements which may be doing more harm than good.What is melatonin?Your body naturally produces melatonin, which helps regulate your wake-sleep cycle, also known as circadian rhythms. The production and release of melatonin in the brain is connected to time of day, increasing when it’s dark and decreasing when it’s light, according to Mayo Clinic. Therefore natural levels of melatonin in the blood are highest at night.Melatonin can also be manufactured and is used as an artificial ingredient in many sleep supplements. Melatonin supplement use has increased fourfold between 1999 and 2018, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Medicine aisles are filled with supplements promoting sleep by using melatonin that they claim is safe and non-addictive.The problem is, while artificial melatonin can help tell your body it’s time to rest, it doesn’t improve quality of sleep, and that’s what’s essential for your body and mind to fully rest and recover so you feel your best each morning.Concerns with melatoninCircadian rhythms help your body and mind follow a 24-hour cycle, regulating things like body temperature, hormonal activity, immune function, and of course, sleep. While melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body, taking too much in a supplement form can disrupt your circadian rhythm and sleep cycle, causing you to miss out on critical deep sleep. This can make you feel groggy or “off” all day, as deep sleep is needed for the human body to feel mentally and physically healthy.Taking excessive supplemental melatonin is more common than you think. A study of 31 different melatonin supplements found that the actual melatonin amounts could be nearly 500% higher than labeled, reported in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. What’s more, this can occur within a particular product, meaning one evening a person might get the advertised dose and another they may unknowingly get much more.Side effects are also becoming a growing concern with melatonin. Because over-the-counter melatonin doesn’t necessarily improve sleep quality, many people experience side effects like grogginess in the morning. Other side effects can include headaches, dizziness and nausea.Melatonin alternativesNatural alternatives are helping people get the restorative sleep they desire without the known risks and side effects of OTC melatonin. Developed by scientists, BrainLuxury DELTA is a unique, patent pending supplement you drink that contains the precursors for your body to naturally produce the melatonin it needs.Tryptophan is one of the key ingredients of DELTA, an important amino acid converted by the body to stimulate production of natural melatonin. This ingredient along with essential fatty acids including omega-3 and omega-9 oil; vitamins C, E and D3; and minerals like zinc and magnesium create the proprietary formula that gives the brain what it needs for natural sleep. Better yet, all ingredients are vegan, gluten-free and have no added preservatives.Many people take melatonin without realizing what it can and can’t do, and the numerous risks associated with its use. If you want to establish regular sleep cycles and get the deep sleep that helps you feel mentally and physically healthy, consider your options. A BrainLuxury user study found deep sleep improvements in over 75% of participants. Learn more at BrainLuxury.com.