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COLLAGE BY SARAH OLIVERI Beauty Mind & Body Can’t Sleep? Try These 7 Expert-Approved Supplements Can’t Sleep? Try These 7 Expert-Approved Supplements Put restless nights to bed with these doctor-recommended sleep aids
Getting a good night’s sleep is an art because, in today’s stressful world, with our phones glued to our hands, good shut-eye is harder than ever. It feels as though we’re throwing methods against the wall to see what sticks, from meditation to stomping on salt . If sleepless nights keep happening, you may want to add a sleep supplement to your routine.
While tons of supplements are marketed to help you sleep, they aren’t all created equal and may not be a one-and-done solution. “I tend to be cautious about recommending one sleep supplement for everyone because there are many different reasons someone may struggle with sleep,” says Elizabeth Dulaney-Cripe, an orthopedic surgeon, certified menopause practitioner, and founder of Valivera Health . “From an integrative and lifestyle medicine perspective, I believe the most important step is understanding what is contributing to poor sleep.”
Melatonin is the most well-known ingredient for sleep, but experts say it’s not the only effective one. “Magnesium glycinate is one ingredient that may be beneficial for some individuals, particularly if their dietary intake is inadequate,” Dulaney-Cripe says. “It’s involved in pathways that help regulate relaxation and nervous system activity and interacts with GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps reduce excitability in the nervous system.” L-theanine is another ingredient that can help relax the body at night. Dulaney-Cripe also recommends more homeopathic ingredients like lavender and chamomile. “As we tend to spend much of our time in a higher-stress environment, it can be difficult to turn down that intensity,” she adds.
If you want to put restless nights to bed, scroll on for the best sleep supplements to add to your routine for your best shut-eye ever.
Melatonin isn’t the only ingredient that can improve your slumber. This Arrae capsule has GABA, the neurotransmitter that regulates the nervous system, along with chamomile, to quickly put your body into a rest-and-relax state without grogginess.
If you have trouble swallowing pills, try these mochi bites, which look like candy but help you fall asleep and stay asleep with a trifecta of melatonin, magnesium, and chamomile. They taste delicious, but each has only one gram of sugar to avoid a pre-bed sugar high.
People on TikTok rave about Lemme’s sleep gummies for a reason—they have almost every sleep-aid ingredient in the book. Each gummy contains melatonin, magnesium glycinate to support nerve function and relaxation, L-theanine to calm your mind, and relaxing botanicals like chamomile and lavender—the latter, Dulaney-Cripe says, is great for reducing sleep disturbances when anxiety is high. Although the dosage is two gummies, start with one and work your way up, as the formula is potent.
The star of Hum’s sleep powder is magnesium bisglycinate, which has two magnesium molecules for a total amount of 325 milligrams, almost a full daily serving. “Magnesium plays a role in many processes throughout our body, including muscle function, nerve signaling, and regulation of our nervous system,” Dulaney-Cripe explains. The formula is rounded out with tart c…