Getting a good night’s sleep can sometimes feel like an elusive goal, with many people struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night. Stress, screen time, and busy schedules can disrupt the body’s natural sleep rhythm, making it challenging to get the rest we need. Fortunately, some supplements have been proven to support better sleep by helping the body relax, reducing anxiety, and regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
@robertwblove Three Powerful Sleep Supplement. #sleep #supplements #lionsmane #mushroom #brain #memory #sponsored #robertlove #robertwblove original sound – Robert Love
Robert Love, a neuroscientist who has over 2.1M followers on TikTok, shared three “powerful” supplements he recommends to those who struggle with sleep. His top picks were L-theanine, magnesium, and Lion’s Mane.
He notes that sleep is not just important for your immune system but also crucial for bone health, muscles, and your brain! He adds that “research has shown that those who have a deficit in sleep have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and if you have one night of bad sleep, there’s an increased amount of plaque found in your blood the next day.” Yikes!
1. L-Theanine
L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea and black tea, is known for its calming effects and its ability to promote better sleep quality.
"It helps reduce stress and anxiety and allows people to fall asleep more easily," Love says.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays an important role in restful sleep. It aids in relaxing tense muscles and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for promoting a calm and relaxed state. "Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in your body; this involves bone health, brain health, energy, the immune system, and sleep."
He recommends taking magnesium glycinate, which is inexpensive, easily absorbed, and gentle on the stomach. Or magnesium threonate, which is a smaller version of magnesium that can cross into the brain. Both can be taken at night.
3. Lion's Mane
Love says this one is probably the most powerful. He says this is an ancient medicinal mushroom stemming from Chinese and Japanese medicine.
"Lion's mane helps people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and fall back asleep," he states. "It does this by reducing stress; stress is one of the biggest causes of sleep disturbances."
He notes that he has taken Lion's Mane over the course of a few years and noticed that it helped him fall back asleep more easily when woken up at night. He also adds that this supplement can help grow new brain cells and improve memory!
The bottom line
Adding these supplements into your bedtime routine can provide a natural approach to achieving restful sleep. However, it's important to remember that individual responses may vary, and consulting with a healthcare professional is always recommended.