With more and more research, we continue to discover the advantages that a good sleep has on our lives. One topic that doesn’t get mentioned is vitamins for sleep.  The benefits range from weight loss to the health of our hearts. However, lack of sleep causes hypertension, and chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia as well as depression.

Despite the fact that sleep will provide you with rest and make you happy, it is essential for the health of your body. Few people can manage to get enough sleep, and most people complain about the occasional or chronic insomnia.

There are special vitamins for sleep, and by the end of this article, you will find out which vitamins can contribute to your avoiding sleepless nights.

Taking the right vitamins for sleep can make all the difference that you need so as to get your Z’s. With that said, the following are the vitamins for sleep:

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is an excellent vitamin for sleep.  Most people who are deficient in vitamin B12 are the ones who fall prey of not being able to catch a good night sleep. Sometimes they are vegetarians or vegans or those individuals who are regularly taking medications for acid reflux. They are bound to experience a condition known as neuropathy, which is the tingling or the burning sensations of the feet or hands. This happens mostly at night and can ruin your sleep. [1] Therefore if you can correct your deficiency of B12, you can do away with these symptoms and able to get some rest.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is also one of the essential vitamins for sleep. [2] Vitamin D plays an important role in the various aspects of our health and sleep is part of it as well. When you lack vitamin D, you are bound to experience muscle aches as well as fatigue.

Having a muscle ache will limit your ability to get some rest. On the other hand, fatigue will make you more sleepy. Research has also shown that those people who are deficient in vitamin D suffer from lack of enough sleep along with bone density, immunity and memory problems and much more. The importance of getting enough sleep cannot be emphasized enough but what you should know is that it is a key to many aspects of your health and your well being. If you cannot get enough Vitamin D from the sun, consider multivitamins to help you get enough sleep and feel better.  Now you see why Vitamin D is a magnificent vitamins for sleep.

Magnesium

There is no doubt that magnesium is one of the best and most important vitamins for sleep.[3] It helps relax your brain so you can fall asleep by contributing to stimulating what is called the GABA receptors. Muscle cramps are known to be another cause of poor night’s sleep, and magnesium serves to help you.

Therefore magnesium is one of the electrolytes that you cannot live without, and most certainly cannot sleep without which makes it an excellent vitamins for sleep. You will need to correct the deficiency levels of magnesium in your body so as to assist your body with the natural process of being able to fall asleep as well as get rid of the painful cramps that you experience in your muscles.

Iron

You need iron as it is necessary for your energy and as a vitamins for sleep. Aside from the fact that being deficient in iron will make you feel tired, it can also make you more likely to experience a condition known as Restless Leg Syndrome. With this condition, you will be having constant movements as well as the twitching sensations of your legs, and this will most likely disrupt you when you are trying to get some sleep. You can make the restless legs disappear by ensuring that you correct your iron deficiency as soon as possible.

Melatonin

Melatonin is also an essential vitamin for sleep.[4] Melatonin is a hormone which your brain will manufacture to signal your body about when to sleep. Melatonin is also the one that is responsible for getting you back on track when your sleep patterns have been distracted – for example by staying up too late. Melatonin is also available as a supplement that you can take 30 minutes before you go to bed so as to reset your body naturally and relearn when you should go to sleep.  Melatonin is considered to be the #1 vitamin for sleep by many expert nutritionists.

Theanine

You can find this ingredient in green tea. Theanine is an amino acid which is believed to help you brain relax by calming the major neurotransmitters. It also comes in supplement form – the extended release and the immediate release – but if you are having troubles sleeping it is recommended that you take the quick release. Before you start any supplement, it is important that you consult your doctor first.

With the above vitamins for sleep, you will be able to go back to having your good night’s sleep. By doing so, you will be getting the rest that your body needs on a daily basis.

 

References:

[1] http://www.progressivehealth.com/vitamin-b-and-its-impact-on-sleep.htm

[2] http://bodyecology.com/articles/vitamin-d-deficiency-could-explain-your-restless-nights-and-broken-sleep

[3] http://drsircus.com/magnesium/magnesium-and-sleep-disturbance/

[4] http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/tc/melatonin-overview