Secreted by the tiny pineal gland in the center of our brains, melatonin is responsible for helping each of us get a good night's sleep. Melatonin, which our bodies produce from the well know, sleep producing amino acid tryptophan, regulates our sleep patterns, an essential component in a long, happy and healthy life. In addition to the obvious benefits of sleeping well, only during the deepest stages of sleep, or REM, does our body truly re-energize itself and stimulate the healing and immune systems.

Melatonin, whose production levels drop drastically after age 45, helps restore good sleep patterns and improves our quality of life.

In addition to the valuable sleep related benefits, melatonin supplementation has also been linked to a variety of other positive effects, including:

• Reduced blood pressure
• Decreased cholesterol
• Antioxidant qualities
• Breast cancer prevention
• Tumor prevention
• Reduced IBS symptoms
• Increased lymphocyte activity
• Circadian rhythm (fights jet lag)
• Improved vision
• Elevated mood
• Better memory retention
• Increased REM sleep
• Skin hydration/decreased wrinkling