- April 4, 2025
Cortisol, the stress hormone, might be affecting your sleep issues, as well as how melatonin helps you wind down each night. Your body might not be producing enough natural melatonin, but a proper supplement can help you work toward healthy sleep patterns. Incorporating activities like walking, limiting screen time, and practicing self-care are essential components of a routine that alleviates sleepiness.
When you can’t get enough sleep, low energy and grogginess can completely derail your day and negatively impact your health. According to the CDC, more than a third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep. Everyday factors like stress, excess screen time, jet lag, and diet can make it challenging to sleep.
The key to quality sleep is a hormone called melatonin. If you’re not producing enough of it, your body can’t prepare for rest. From sleep disorders to stress-related sleep problems, added melatonin might be the natural solution you need.
Your circadian rhythm is your body’s internal clock, regulating your wake-up and wind-down cycles. Depending on the time of day and light exposure, your body alternates between releasing cortisol and melatonin. Cortisol kickstarts your wake-up routine, while melatonin prepares your body for sleep. Despite its reputation as the “stress hormone,” cortisol helps you wake up and get moving each morning.
When you’re stressed, your body produces more cortisol, which can disrupt your natural circadian rhythm. High cortisol levels can inhibit melatonin production, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Corticotropin-releasing hormone, a key player in the stress hormone system, has been found to block melatonin production in humans.
Melatonin is released in response to darkness. Exposure to artificial light from screens and other sources can decrease or inhibit melatonin production. If you’re exposed to a lot of unnatural light as the sun goes down, your body won’t get the signal to produce melatonin and prepare for sleep.
Daylight Savings Time and jet lag can disrupt your body’s internal clock, affecting melatonin release. Your body has an internal clock that releases melatonin at the same time each day. When the time changes suddenly, your body continues to produce cortisol based on its usual schedule. A dose of melatonin can help your body adjust and get the rest it needs.
Taking melatonin can help you sleep when your body isn’t producing enough on its own. Melatonin is a natural, over-the-counter sleep aid, meaning you don’t need a prescription to use it. Unlike prescription sleep medications, melatonin doesn’t have the same side effects.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, short-term use of melatonin is safe for most people. Bulletproof offers several sleep support products containing melatonin:
Bulletproof Sleep supplements mimic the melatonin produced by the body. Sleep Mode contains a physiological amount of plant-based, bioidentical melatonin, while Sleep Collagen and Sleep Gummies have higher doses for those who need more support.
When to take melatonin for sleep is a common question. It’s recommended to take your sleep supplement 30 minutes before bed. This allows your body to prepare for restorative sleep as melatonin takes effect.
If you’re dealing with sleep problems related to stress or other health conditions, don’t worry. In addition to taking melatonin, consider these tips for better sleep:
Yes, melatonin helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle and can aid in falling asleep when your body isn’t producing enough naturally
It’s best to take melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime to allow your body to prepare for sleep.
Melatonin supplements can mimic the natural melatonin produced by your body, helping to regulate your sleep cycle
High stress levels increase cortisol, which can inhibit melatonin production and disrupt your sleep.
Bulletproof Sleep products contain bioidentical melatonin and additional ingredients like L-ornithine, chamomile, and magnesium to support restful sleep.
nataly@bioupgraded.com
@bioupgraded
Dallas, TX, USA
