What is melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland of human body what is a small gland in the brain. Melatonin helps more control your sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of it are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. You can also buy it as a supplement.

What does natural melatonin in the body?

Your body has its own internal clock that controls the natural cycle of sleep and your waking hours. For the part you see your body controls the amount of melatonin in the body is doing. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise in the mid to late evening, remain high for most of the night, and then went in the early morning hours.

Light influences how much melatonin the body produces. During the shorter days in winter, your body produce melatonin, sooner or later in the day than usual. This change may cause symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or winter lead depression.1

Normally, melatonin levels decline gradually with age. Some older adults make small amounts or none at all.

Why is used as a dietary supplement melatonin?

Melatonin supplements are sometimes used to treat jet lag or sleep disorders (insomnia). Scientists are also looking for other good uses for melatonin, including:

The treatment of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Helping to sleep for people to control work in night shifts.

Prevent or reduce the problems with sleep and confusion after the operation.

The reduction of chronic headaches cluster.

It may be that melatonin, when it can be taken as a supplement to stop or slow the spread of cancer, making it a stronger immune system and slow the aging process. But these areas need more research.

Melatonin is also examined to determine whether it can be used for sleep problems in people who are blind.2 since people can not see the light can, sleep disorders like sleep during the day and treat awake at night.