Best Supplements for Sleep
[amazon table=”1832″]If you can’t get to sleep due to stress or too much energy, you could stand to gain a lot from taking a sleep supplement regularly.
While they might not be able to help you with ambient noise or long-term insomnia, sleep supplements use – often naturally-occurring – sleep aids to reduce levels of cortisol and promote relaxation at the end of the day.
Since they are natural, you haven’t got anything to lose from giving sleep supplements a go. After all, a good night’s sleep can have a profound impact on your overall health and wellbeing.
Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
[amazon box=”B07QD2GTCT” title=”Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager” description=”Integrative Therapeutics know that cortisol is the culprit for a lot of tossing and turning at night, so they’ve made the perfect supplement to deal with this sleep-inhibiting hormone.”]⭐ Our Other Top Picks for Sleep Supplements
- Best of the Best: Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager
- Best Bang for Your Buck: Puritan’s Pride Super Strength Melatonin
- Best Natural Sleep Supplement: Nuvana Shut Eye Natural Sleep Aid
Best Supplements for Sleep Reviews
Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager (👑 Top Pick)
One of the biggest obstacles to getting a good night of sleep is the stress hormone our body produces called cortisol. While cortisol can be useful as a response to potential danger, it doesn’t have much use late at night when all you need is to rest well for the next day. That’s why we love this Cortisol Manager sleep supplement from Integrative Therapeutics.
This professional-looking supplement goes straight to the source of a lot of sleep-related issues: cortisol. By better regulating your level of cortisol with a supplement such as this one, you reduce the chance that your body will produce an unnecessary flight or fight response due to something you saw on a Netflix show. That’s right, even something innocuous like watching TV can spike your body’s anxiety level, and overload you with cortisol. This is the last thing you need when you’re trying to wind down for the evening.
So how does this supplement lower your stress level?
This supplement from Integrative Therapeutics uses a cocktail of ingredients such as ashwagandha root and leaf extract, L-theanine, and magnolia bark extract to combat cortisol. While you might not recognise any of the big naturally-occuring sleep aids in this supplement, you can rest assured that each capsule has all that your body needs to effectively reduce cortisol. This supplement is as good as it gets without needing to get hold of a prescription.
You might think the lack of inclusion of ingredients like melatonin means this supplement isn’t as effective as other sleep supplements. The truth is that melatonin isn’t the only way to help your body enter a relaxed state, and you can even get dependent on melatonin so this supplement provides a solid alternative.
Features:
- Capsule form
- Vegan-friendly
- Main ingredients: Ashwagandha root and leaf extract, L-Theanine, Cortisol-reducing blend.
- 30 capsules
Puritan’s Pride Super Strength Melatonin (💰 Best Bang for Your Buck)
One of the best supplements for sleep, and the best value for your money, Puritan’s Pride Super Strength Melatonin is a great way to get the sleep you deserve.
These powerful rapid release melatonin capsules provide a quick and easy way to promote relaxation and calm the mind and body after a busy day. Being both super strength and rapid release make this supplement essential for anyone who lives an active or busy lifestyle and gets to the end of the day with their mind still racing and energy level high. If you are always on the go, or you constantly travel for business and struggle to wind down at night, then these pills could be just what you need to rest up for the day ahead.
All you have to do is take a quick look at what past Amazon customers have to say about this supplement, and you’ll soon realise how effective it actually is. Many of them verify the rapid-release nature of the capsules, and are impressed with how quickly they notice the calming effects of the supplement. This should be reassuring if you’re someone who can spend anywhere up to an hour or more ruminating or stuck in an anxiety loop when all you really want to do is rest.
This supplement is 100% natural, with no artificial colours, flavours, or sweeteners. You can be sure that you’re getting the highest quality ingredients with every 10mg capsule you take, with melatonin taking centre stage as it should.
Features:
- Capsule form
- 120 capsules
- Main ingredients: melatonin
- Rapid release
- Super strength
- 100% natural
Nuvana Shut Eye Natural Sleep Aid (🌱 Best Natural Sleep Supplement)
The best natural sleep supplement we’ve found is Shut Eye Natural Sleep Aid. This supplement makes the most of a combination of natural sleep aids to help you get to sleep at night. Boasting several of the most effective sleep aids such as melatonin, valerian root, and chamomile, you can be sure that you’re getting just what your body needs for the perfect balance. All of these ingredients work well together to calm the body and the mind just in time for bed, and do so naturally.
All the sleep aids used in this supplement are naturally sourced ingredients, and are vegan and non-GMO. As opposed to single ingredient supplements, you can expect a variety of benefits from taking this combination product. If you need a powerful sleep supplement that draws from several sources to help you wind down at night then this is it. Not many other sleep supplements utilise as many sleep aids as this one, so this should be a strong contender if you’re interested in taking a combination supplement.
Features:
- Capsule form
- 60 capsules
- Naturally sourced ingredients
- Main ingredients: valerian root, l-theanine, chamomile, lemon balm, melatonin.
- Vegan-friendly
Perricone MD Sleep Booster
The Sleep Booster supplement from Perricone MD makes use of the popular natural sleep aids mineral magnesium, the amino acid L-Theanine, and the sleep hormone melatonin as its main ingredients. Each capsule has everything you need to get a peaceful night of sleep, uninterrupted by the stress hormone cortisol.
Taking a few of the most effective sleep aids and combining them into one handy supplement, this product from Perricone MD can help you tackle your evening struggles with stress. Each naturally-occurring ingredient has been proven to be very effective at bringing on a state of drowsiness, and helping to promote a healthy sleep cycle.
Previous customers report that this sleep supplement is a perfect substitute to prescription drugs, and one which doesn’t produce any nasty side effects in the morning.
Features:
- Capsule form
- 30 capsules
- Main ingredients: magnesium, ashwagandha extract, l-theanine, melatonin.
- GMO-free
Moon Juice Dream Dust
With a name like Dream Dust, it’s hard not to love this sleep supplement by Moon Juice.
What’s special about this supplement, as the name suggests, is that it comes in powder form as opposed to capsules. This means you can get creative with how you consume it, and you don’t have to worry about taking hard to swallow pills before bed every night. Dream Dust blends especially well with herbal teas and warm golden milk, making for a surprisingly delicious evening treat that should facilitate the best of dreams.
The ingredients in this powder include jujube seed powder, chamomile flower extract, and schisandra berry powder. While apart from chamomile they may seem alien to you, all of the ingredients that go into this sleep supplement provide stress-alleviating and relaxation benefits.
This supplement is ideal for everyone who prefers to not take capsules, and anyone who believes all they need is a little nighttime elixir to melt into a deep slumber.
Features:
- Powder form
- 12 sachets
- Main ingredients: jujube seed powder, chamomile flower extract, schisandra berry powder.
- Non-GMO
- Vegan-friendly
What To Look For When Selecting Sleep Supplements
By far the most important factor to consider before investing in a sleep supplement is the main ingredient/s.
Everything else is largely irrelevant, since all you’ll be concerned with is getting hold of a supplement that actually helps you get to sleep at night.
1) Sleep Aids
When assessing the different types of sleep supplements out there, the main thing you should be doing is looking for the natural sleep aids that are used.
Sleep aids are ingredients which have natural properties that help bring on a state of relaxation or tiredness. They are commonly used in herbal teas and are often mixed together to make effective sleep supplements.
To give you a better idea of which ingredients make the best natural sleep aids, we’ll list a few of them here.
- Melatonin
Melatonin is an indisputable sleep aid powerhouse. A great way to address the potential roots of your sleeping struggles, this naturally-occurring hormone can be just what you need to step up your rest.
- Valerian Root
Valerian root is a lesser well known natural sleep aid, but one which can be equally effective in treating sleeping struggles. This herb can fight against the stress hormone cortisol, and help achieve a more harmonious balance in the body for better sleep.
- Magnesium
A mighty mineral, magnesium is often found in health supplements due to its positive effect on brain and heart function. It is great for calming the body and the mind, leaving you no choice but to surrender to sleep at the end of the day.
- Chamomile
Chamomile is mainly known for its inclusion in the popular tea of the same name. There’s a good reason many people drink this tea instead of normal tea at the end of the day: it has a calming effect. Chamomile has an antioxidant which works to reduce stress and induce a state of relaxation, which can both be hugely helpful for getting to sleep.
- CBD
Also worthy of mention, although not for everyone, is the cannabinoid CBD. CBD has been proven to treat stress and anxiety, so it can be an effective sleep aid. However, it’s best to use CBD with caution, and not to use it too late in the day. It can help you fight cortisol throughout the day and stop your stress levels spiking, but shouldn’t be used directly as a sleep aid before you go to bed.
2) Single Ingredient vs Combination
Another question that you might have while looking for a sleep supplement is whether single ingredient or combination products are best.
It’s hard to give a definitive answer here, and this is mainly because both have their merits and drawbacks.
Single ingredient supplements can be more potent, and let you know exactly what you’re putting in your body so you can best determine the correct dosage.
Combination supplements on the other hand can potentially bring more benefits, and work better. However, if you experience any uncomfortable side effects, you will be less likely to know what caused them which isn’t ideal.
Related: Best Weighted Cooling Blanket for Sleep
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Supplements
What is the best supplement for sleep?
The best supplement for sleep in our view is Integrative Therapeutics’ Cortisol Manager.
This supplement is our top pick since it addresses the root cause of many sleep troubles: cortisol.
While a lot of sleep supplements aim to induce a state of relaxation, not all of them target the stress hormone which throws your body out of balance at night. Cortisol is the reason why you have unwanted energy spikes and anxiety when you actually want to rest for the night.
With a powerful combination of ingredients used in every capsule, this is a great supplement that provides an effective alternative to melatonin.
What can I take to help me sleep?
There are actually quite a few decent naturally-occurring sleeping aids which can make going to bed at night more pleasant.
Amongst which you’ve almost certainly heard of melatonin. Considered by many to be the best sleep supplement, melatonin is a hormone which your body produces to let you know it’s time to sleep.
As a result, supplements high in melatonin can be very effective in inducing a sleepy state and getting the rest your body sorely needs.
Aside from the obvious though, there are some other great sleeping aids to look out for if you struggle to get shuteye.
Valerian root for example is commonly used to treat symptoms of anxiety, and promotes a healthy sleep cycle.
Magnesium is a mineral with powerful calming agents which can work to regulate your levels of melatonin, and as such bring your energy level down when you most need it to be.
Other ingredients which can help you get the sleep you need include lavender and Passion flower.
When looking to invest in a sleep supplement, it’s worth checking what the main ingredients are and whether any of those previously listed make an appearance.
Do sleep supplements work?
Sleep supplements can work, but it’s hard to guarantee results. While you would expect a boost in melatonin or a reduction in cortisol to lead to better sleep, the wrong dose can actually have adverse effects on some people.
There’s also the issue of a lack of regulation by the FDA. Natural sleeping aids can be surprisingly effective, but you have to be careful since companies can mislead you with their marketing.
Lastly, while you might struggle to sleep due to a high level of stress, you might also struggle due to ambient noise or other issues. This means that a sleep supplement might not provide a fix for all of your sleep-related troubles. You might also want to try sleep headphones or a sunrise alarm clock for a more effective all-round approach.
What is the best natural sleep aid?
Melatonin is widely considered to be the best natural sleep aid, since it is the natural hormone our body produces to get us ready for a good night of sleep.
Supplements rich in melatonin will help your body make even more of this hormone, which should support a healthy sleeping routine.
A lot of people struggle to sleep at night due to stress or simply an inability to feel tired, as a result, something like melatonin can be a real lifesaver as it can dissipate your worries until you are able to fall to sleep.
While it isn’t the only effective natural sleep aid, melatonin is definitely one of the best to try, and should be your first port of call if you just want a good night’s sleep.
Related: Best Anti Snoring Device
A Final Word on Sleep Supplements
Sleep supplements can help you overcome the dreaded late night anxiety and energy spikes that prevent you from getting the best night of sleep possible.
If you find the right sleep aid for you, you can effectively target the cause of your late night woes and develop more healthy sleep habits going forward.
2 thoughts on “Best Supplements for Sleep in 2024: Detailed Reviews and Buyer’s Guide”
I prefer not to take melatonin when I can and instead stick to more “natural” remedies as I find I wake up with a headache when I take too much melatonin. That being said, standard dosages are too high these days and you really only need a little.
Absolutely Tina, natural is always better!