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How To Improve Your Sleep With Nootropics

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of good health, and without a substantial quality and quantity of sleep, things go wrong pretty quickly.

Unfortunately, not everyone can put their head to the pillow and fall asleep for 8 hours without trouble.

In fact, research from the CDC has shown that around 70 million within the US suffer from chronic sleep problems.

Although sleep can be improved by making changes such as doing more exercise throughout the day, getting to bed at a reasonable time, ensuring your sleep environment is dark, and practicing stress relief practices, there is another way to support your sleep health – through supplements.

Your nutritional intake is incredibly important when it comes to sleep since it determines the health of both your body and mind.

So, the first thing you need to focus on is improving the quality of food that you consume throughout the day.

However, certain supplements can improve sleep, specifically – nootropics!

In this article, I will be telling you how you can improve your sleep with nootropics, the most important ingredients in nootropics for sleep, and sharing some wonderful nootropic supplements with you.

What Are Nootropics?

Nootropics are a specific type of supplement that is used to support and boost cognitive health and function.

Different nootropics provide different benefits to the body, and a wide range of benefits are associated with them, from improved energy levels and motivation to better memory and quality of sleep!

In this article, we’ll be focusing on the latter – sleep!

Check out my round-up of the best nootropics supplements in my full guide.

Why Is Sleep Important?

Sleep is a vital element of our lives, and good sleep is essential to good health. This is because sleep allows the body to rest and repair to function the next day properly.

Getting substantial amounts of good quality sleep can reduce the likelihood of weight gain and illnesses such as heart disease and support cognitive function, libido, and healthy skin.

I used to really underestimate the importance of sleep each day. Every night I would stay up and watch just one more episode of the latest series I was watching on Netflix, only then to discover it was midnight!

This is why I wear an Oura ring every day now to monitor and track my sleep – you can check out my Oura ring review here.

Oura Ring sizing kit

How Your Body Promotes and Regulates Sleep

Two main factors regulate sleep – melatonin and sleep drive.

Melatonin is a hormone that’s produced naturally within the body and has the job of controlling your sleep cycle.

The body produces melatonin when it gets dark and encourages sleep. During daylight, melatonin levels in the body reduce and therefore you feel less sleepy.

This change in melatonin levels throughout the day is what’s known as the circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm creates and supports sleep drive.

Sleep drive is put, the drive to want to sleep. When it gets dark and melatonin increases, we feel the desire to sleep more, and when it’s daylight and melatonin levels decrease, we feel much less of a desire to sleep; hence we don’t have an issue wanting to sleep during the day.

What Affects Sleep Quality?

Several factors affect sleep quality, but if you’re unsure why you can’t get to sleep at night or struggling with staying asleep, you may want to look at the different things that affect sleep quality so you can pinpoint your problem more specifically!

What can disrupt your sleep?

  • Having an irregular sleep schedule
  • Bright artificial light and blue light at night
  • Snoring and sleep apnea
  • Depression
  • Stress and anxiety

The Common Ingredients in Nootropics That Improve Sleep

Melatonin

As already mentioned, melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the body. However, it can also be derived from animals and microorganisms and made artificially. Therefore, melatonin supplements exist.

Melatonin supplements benefit those with low levels of melatonin and those who suffer from a disrupted circadian rhythm.

Melatonin supplements not only support the circadian rhythm but also promote relaxation and sleep, therefore improving the speed that you fall asleep and helping you to fall asleep for longer.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential vitamin that supports more than 300 metabolic reactions within the body. Although most people don’t associate magnesium with sleep, this powerful vitamin can promote sleep quality and quantity.

Without enough magnesium, you may struggle with insomnia and interrupted sleep. So, having the optimum amount of magnesium is essential if you’re going to experience good sleep.

Magnesium helps to relax both the body and the brain by helping support the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you to feel calm and relaxed when properly supported. the system responsible for getting you calm and relaxed.

In addition, magnesium can also help to support the release of melatonin and therefore improve the circadian rhythm.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb with many benefits, particularly about sleep. The adaptogenic benefits of ashwagandha mean that it helps the body adapt to psychological, chemical, or physical stressors.

Therefore, ashwagandha reduces cortisol levels and reduces stress and anxiety. Low levels of stress and anxiety are essential when it comes to sleep since both mental health problems can affect sleep quality and quantity.

In addition, ashwagandha contains trimethylene glycol, a polymer that is a sleep-inducing agent.

Aswagandha Root and Powder

Check out my best aswagandha supplements to enjoy the benefits of this rockstar herb!

L-Tryptophan

L-Tryptophan is an amino acid found in food sources containing protein. When L-Tryptophan is in the body, it can be converted into the 5-HTP molecule that is used to produce melatonin and serotonin.

Melatonin, as already mentioned, helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle and promotes sleepiness.

Serotonin reduces depression, improves mood, and can prevent rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. It’s also a precursor to melatonin, therefore supporting the sleep-wake cycle.

Phenibut

Phenibut is a central nervous system depressant, a gamma-aminobutyric acid containing a phenyl ring. Phenibut can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and has a calming effect on the brain, relaxing it and creating a peaceful sensation.

Because it has a calming effect, it is commonly used as a mood supplement.

However, it also supports good quality sleep and promotes uninterrupted sleep, especially for those dealing with insomnia.

The 5 Best Nootropics Supplements To Improve Sleep

Now you know the most powerful nootropic ingredients out there, it’s time for me to share some of the best nootropic supplements on the market.

Each has different pros and cons, ingredients, specific benefits, and prices, so choose one that suits you the best.

Supergreen Tonik

Supergreen TONIK and glass

Supergreen Tonik is a greens powder that contains more nootropic brain ingredients than most dedicated brain supplements.

Ashwagandha extract, Bacopa, and Rhodiola Extract are the brain-based powerhouse ingredients in the brain blend. You also get the benefits of supplying your powdered veggies and immune nutrients too.

Customers report improved sleep alongside better energy throughout the day.

One tub of SuperGreen Tonik costs $87 (with FREE US shipping), meaning the cost per serving works out at $2.49. You can make massive savings with the bundles reducing your daily cost to just over $2.

Check out the official website: https://supergreentonik.com

Performance Lab Sleep

Performance Lab Sleep

Performance Lab Sleep is a nootropics supplement that contains magnesium, melatonin, and l-tryptophan.

Therefore, it’s a great supplement since it contains three of the most powerful sleep-enhancing ingredients.

The formula is supposed to promote relaxation and calm, support serotonin production, and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

The capsules cost $44.00, meaning the cost per serving is $1.47.

This is a little more expensive than other nootropics sleep supplements on the market, but since it contains such powerful ingredients, it is worth the price.

Onnit New Mood

Onnit New Mood

Onnit New Mood contains magnesium, l-tryptophan and 5-HTP, as well as a blend of herbal extract ingredients that are supposed to promote sleep.

Onnit claims that the formula will promote relaxation, help the body wind down, keep consumers asleep for longer, and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.

One tub of Onnit New Mood costs $59.90, meaning the cost per serving is $2.00.

This is the most expensive nootropic supplement on this list, but it does contain herbal extracts that are supposed to improve sleep too, and it's produced by a popular and trusted brand.

Genius Sleep Aid

Genuis Sleep Aid

Within the Genius Sleep Aid capsule formula, there are only five ingredients, including melatonin.

The brand claims that in addition to melatonin, l-theanine and l-glycine in the formula help to regulate the circadian rhythm and promote deep sleep.

One tub of Genius Sleep Aid formula costs $19.95, meaning the cost per serving works out at $1.00.

This is by far the most budget-friendly nootropic supplement on this formula, but the amount of melatonin within it isn’t substantial, and there’s a lack of other powerful nootropic ingredients.

Proper Sleep and Restore

Proper Sleep & Restore Review

Proper Sleep and Restore is a nootropic sleep supplement that contains ashwagandha, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and melatonin, as well as valerian root and tart cherry extract.

Proper Nutrition claims that the consumer of these capsules will fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and have a regulated sleep cycle. It will also reduce the symptoms and severity of insomnia.

Sleep and Restore costs $39.99, which works out at a cost per serving of $1.33, which is a slightly cheaper option than the others above!

Innermost Relax Capsules

Innermost Relax Capsules

Innermost’s Relax Capsules contain 6 ingredients, including Ashwagandha and 5-HTP, as well as Lion’s Mane Mushroom, L-Glycine, Valerian Root, and L-Theanine.

The brand claims that the formula is supposed to reduce cortisol levels and promote calm and relaxation, therefore promoting better and longer sleep, as well as decreased stress levels and improved mood.

One tub of Innermost Relax Capsules costs $18.95, therefore meaning the cost per serving works out at $0.63.

This is by far one of the cheapest nootropic supplements for sleep on the market and is made by an independent company, this is impressive!

Ready To Sleep Better?

Nootropic supplements can provide a range of benefits, especially when it comes to sleep!

So, if you’re struggling with getting an adequate amount of shut-eye, or you struggle calming your mind down in order to sleep, you might want to turn to nootropics to help!

Adam Author

About the LifeHacker Guy

Hi, I'm Adam the founder of the LifeHacker Guy.

I have a First Class Honours degree in Sports Science from Brighton University, specialising in exercise physiology and nutrition. In my youth I was a competitive Triathlete and long-distance runner placing top 10 in most triathlon races I completed.

Since suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I moved into web development, after a couple of years I then moved onto developing a number of online businesses. I've recently taken a sabbatical and I'm now looking to make big changes in my life, hopefully this may resonate with you - join me in my journey!

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