Do you struggle to fall asleep? In December’s issue of our newsletter, you’ll discover how melatonin can help you drift off into the land of nod. We also mention a regulatory claim regarding the substance 5-HTP derived from the Griffonia plant.
Sleep and health
Everyone has different sleep requirements. Some people manage on just five hours sleep a night throughout their lives, while others need ten hours to wake up feeling rested the next day. According to sleep researchers, seven to eight hours sleep a night is the average requirement for most people. Recent studies reveal that about 43 % of the German population suffer from sleep problems. But how do you identify sleep problems if the amount of sleep we need varies so much from person to person? If you are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, this may be an indication of a sleep disorder:
• Lying awake for a long time because of how long it takes to fall asleep
• Restless sleep and awakening several times a night
• Feeling tired upon waking, and persistent fatigue and difficulty concentrating throughout the day
Reasons for sleeping problems are wide ranging and may include worry, stress, shift work, alcohol and medical causes (e.g. sleep apnoea or taking anti-depressants).
The key to sleep
The hormone melatonin plays an important role in healthy sleep. It is produced in the pineal gland in the brain and regulates the body's circadian rhythm. The sleep-promoting effect of this hormone means that too low a level of melatonin can cause sleeping problems.
Sleep products containing melatonin are trending right now. If you take 1 mg melatonin shortly before bedtime, it will help to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. In the following, allow us to introduce a few of our product innovations:
For example, our Melatonin capsules. As well as a daily dose of 1 mg melatonin, these capsules also contain other ingredients that can prepare you for restful sleep, such as magnesium. This mineral helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue, thereby ensuring you wake up the next morning happy and refreshed. The capsules also include lemon balm powder and passionflower extract. Due to the essential oils it contains, lemon balm is known for calming nerves and making it easier to fall asleep. Passionflower is also said to relieve tension and anxiety, and help to promote sleep.
Sleep-promoting lozenges
Our sorbitol Melatonin lozenges are ideal for when you're out and about, as you don’t need to take them with any water. Available in apple and cherry flavours, they are nice and fruity with a pleasant tooth-friendly sweetness thanks to the sugar substitute sorbitol.
A comforting nightcap
Did you know that it is scientifically proven that a regular ritual before going to bed helps you to fall asleep more easily? Our Sleep Well cocoa blends efficacy with indulgence. Along with the classic aid, melatonin, it also contains magnesium and glycine to boost relaxation. The amino acid glycine in particular has a soothing effect on the human brain. Ingredients such as ashwagandha (sleep berry), lavender and valerian are also used as well-known sleep-promoters. From a historical perspective, these plants are key ingredients in many calming products used to promote sleep. The use of L-tryptophan as a raw material for the production of natural melatonin in the body completes the proof of concept.
We have combined this package of active ingredients with cocoa powder and delicious flavours to create a tasty nightcap. Imagine drinking a warming and delicious cup of cocoa before going to bed and then delightfully drifting off into a dreamworld. The foundation of your personal evening ritual has been set!
Did you know …
… that you shouldn’t be without melatonin products on long flights in particular? If you just take 0.5 mg melatonin shortly before going to sleep on your first day of travel, melatonin will help to mitigate the subjective feeling of jet lag during the first few days after arriving at your destination. Happy and refreshed sightseeing – melatonin makes it possible!
Griffonia seed extract and novel food
We would also like to use this opportunity in our monthly newsletter to tell you about a raw ingredient that is somewhat controversial in legal terms – Griffonia simplicifolia. It is a plant species with a seed that contains the active ingredient 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). This ingredient is said to have a positive effect on mood and sleep. However, 5-hydroxytryptophan itself and all extracts of Griffonia simplicifolia, which are standardised to contain a certain percentage of the active ingredient 5-HTP, are not an approved novel food. In Europe, therefore, only natural Griffonia raw materials i.e. without any modification to standardise 5-HTP, can be used in nutritional supplements.
Happy Healthy Holidays!
Our Christmas Holidays are: Dec 23 – Jan 1
Our team will be back on Jan 2
• Last goods acceptance Dec 15
• Last shipping date Dec 18
Thanks for your partnership and continued support. We’re looking forward to working with you in the years to come! Wishing you a happy holiday season and New Year.