Manta Sleep Mask Review: Offering 100% Blackout Conditions For Your Best Sleep Yet

August 8, 2019 by Side Sleeper Guide Team Leave a Comment

Creating a dark environment to get a good night’s sleep or catch up on some Zs with a quick nap isn’t always easy. Investing in a quality sleep mask is an option to consider if you sleep better in darkness. We think the Manta sleep mask is a great choice thanks to its adjustable eye pads. Find out more about the features of this product in our Manta sleep mask review.

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What Is The Manta Sleep Mask?

How Does The Manta Sleep Mask Improve Sleep Quality?

What Are The Main Specs of the Manta Sleep Mask?

How Does The Manta Sleep Mask Compare To Other Products?

Pros And Cons Of The Manta Sleep Mask

Verdict: Is The Manta Sleep Mask Worth Buying?

What Is The Manta Sleep Mask?

Manta Sleep Mask

The Manta sleep mask is a comfortable mask that covers your eyes to create a complete blackout. This dark environment helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep throughout the night.

The comfortable fit of the mask makes it an excellent option if you are looking for a lightweight product that won’t slip.

The breathable cotton material won’t feel too warm or heavy. We like the design of the mask because it feels comfortable regardless of the sleep position you adopt.

The Manta sleep mask is different from other products because of the customizable fit. You can adjust the size and fit of the band thanks to the Velcro closure in the back.

You can also adjust the position of the eye pads. Being able to slide the eye pads to get them to fit perfectly over your eyes makes the mask a lot more comfortable than other options and helps you create a complete blackout so you can get a good night’s sleep.

The eye pads are thick eyepieces with a circular shape. The padding won’t touch your eyes and won’t apply any pressure on your skin. You can slide these eye pads for a fit that adapts to the size and shape of your face.

The eye pads completely block light once you have adjusted them properly. You can take a nap in the middle of the day, sleep in a room without proper window treatments, or get a good night’s sleep without being bothered by electronics.

The mask is an excellent option for napping because the padding won't restrict your eye movements and won't smudge your makeup either.

The band of the mask is another exciting feature. You can easily adjust it thanks to the Micro-Velcro closure. Using Micro-Velcro prevents your hair from getting caught in the closure of the mask for a more comfortable experience.

Image via Pexels

You will find a silicone grip pad in the back of the band. The purpose of this pad is to prevent slipping and keep the mask in place. We like this feature because sleep masks tend to slip if you move around in your sleep.

The comfortable elastic material of the band will keep the mask in place without applying pressure. It stretches as needed and remains breathable.

The Manta sleep mask comes with a mesh carry case. This case doubles as a laundry bag you can use to protect the mask when washing it in a machine.

The mask comes with earplugs. The carry case features a small zipped compartment you can use to store the earplugs.

The mesh carrying case is an excellent addition since it makes the mask easy to wash and bring with you during trips.

How Does The Manta Sleep Mask Improve Sleep Quality?

When you sleep, your brain goes through different cycles. These cycles include Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep and Non-Rapid Eye Movement or NREM sleep.

Approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep, you will enter the first REM stage. It should only last a few minutes, and your brain will quickly shift back to NREM sleep.

You will enter other successive REM stages during a night's sleep, and each stage should be longer than the last one.

During NREM sleep, there are very few eye movements and slower brain waves. Brain activity increases during REM sleep and your eyes will start moving. Most of your dreams occur during REM cycles.

You need REM and NREM sleep to feel rested in the morning. The succession of REM and NREM sleep cycles improve memory, cognition, and alertness.

Entering REM sleep can be difficult if you keep waking up throughout the night. It’s easier to get enough REM sleep if you can create a dark environment since light signals that it’s time to wake up.

The Manta sleep mask can improve the quality of your sleep by creating the dark environment you need to enter REM sleep. The design of the mask won’t restrict your eye movements, and you might find that this product works better than other sleep masks because it stays in place without applying pressure.

What Are The Main Specs of the Manta Sleep Mask?

We looked at the specs of this product to create this Manta sleep mask review. The standout specs include the materials used to make the mask and the design of the mask itself.

The primary material is lightweight and breathable cotton. This material has a soft and comfortable feel and won't keep you warm.

The soft and elastic band does a great job of keeping the mask in place while reducing pressure. We also like the silicone pad in the back of the band since it prevents the mask from slipping even if you shift positions during the night.

The choice of materials makes the mask machine-washable. Being able to wash the product in a machine is a lot easier than having to hand wash it and will help you save time.

When it comes to the design of the mask, the adjustable eye pads are the feature that stands out the most. The circular shape of the eye pads and the thick padding help create the total blackout you need to enter REM sleep.

The manufacturer offers a 60-day money back policy on the product. If you aren’t satisfied with the mask, you can contact Manta for a full refund.

Image via Flickr

Product name	Manta Sleep Mask
Eye pad material	Memory foam
Exterior material	Breathable cotton
Band material	Elastic stretch band
Band length	25 inches
Eye pad dimensions	3.1x2.7 inches with 0.7 inches of padding width
Closure system	Micro-Velcro
Color	Color
Size	One size with adjustable eye pads and band
Machine washable	Yes, protected by the mesh carry bag
Extras	Mesh carry bag Earplugs

Pricing

You can purchase the Manta sleep mask on the official website of the manufacturer for $30. If you subscribe to Manta’s newsletter, you will receive a 10% off coupon for your purchase.

How Does The Manta Sleep Mask Compare To Other Products?

You might have to try a few different sleep masks before you find a product that feels comfortable and improves the quality of your sleep. Here are some options to consider.

Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask

Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask, Made by the Creator of the Gravity...

A premium-grade weighted sleep mask that primes your body for sleep by blocking out light and distributing light touch...
WEIGHT: built to evenly distribute 0.75 to 1lb of weight lightly across your face
SIZE: comes in 1 standard size with an adjustable back strap, allowing you to properly fit the mask for your head

The Gravity Weighted sleep mask has a very different feel than the Manta sleep mask. While the Manta reduces pressure and feels weightless, the Gravity Weighted sleep mask helps you relax by applying pressure on specific points around your eyes.

The total pressure applied by the mask is just under one pound. The mask evenly distributes the pressure to target different points and deliver a comfortable feel. It uses delicate glass beads to create this sensation.

The design is very different from the Manta sleep mask. The Gravity mask covers your eyes and nose with a single piece instead of using eye pads. You can’t adjust how the mask fits over your eyes, but the added weight will help keep the mask in place and block light effectively.

The mask features a soft plush material that feels very comfortable. You can wash it by hand. The weight of the mask doesn’t make it a convenient option for travel, but you might find that the pressure helps you relax and improves the quality of your sleep.

You can order the weighted sleep mask for about $ on the manufacturer’s website.

Product name: Gravity Weighted sleep mask
Comfort: 4 out of 5 stars.
Blackout: 5 out of 5 stars.
Guarantee: Non-returnable, non-refundable.

Image via Pexels

Morihata Binchotan Charcoal Eye Mask

Morihata Binchotan Activated Charcoal Eye Mask - Packaging May Vary

A travel-ready rejuvenating eye mask infused with Japanese binchotan charcoal
The charcoal-infused organic cotton lining uses the restorative powers of binchotan to reduce bags and puffiness around...
Gently wraps around your eye area with an adjustable band to block out much of the surrounding light and quiet the mind

This satin sleep mask uses activated charcoal to improve your complexion while you sleep. If you want a sleep mask that creates a complete blackout while removing puffiness and dark circles, this sleep mask is an excellent option for you.

The Morihata Binchotan sleep mask features a large piece of satin fabric that covers your eyes and nose. The mask includes an organic cotton lining infused with activated charcoal powder.

You can use the same mask for several nights in a row but keep in mind that these products are disposable. You can purchase them in cases of 12.

Activated charcoal powder can absorb bacteria, toxins, and other micro-particles. This mask will improve your complexion and help you wake up refreshed.

Satin has a very different feel when compared to the Manta sleep mask. If you are looking for a mask with a soft feel, satin could be a good material for you.

You can adjust the mask in the back, but you might not be able to get a complete blackout like with the Manta sleep mask. However, the Morihata Binchotan mask is an attractive alternative if you want a sleep mask with skincare benefits. You can order a case of 12 masks on the manufacturer’s website for $.

Product name: Morihata Binchotan charcoal eye mask
Comfort: 5 out of 5 stars.
Blackout: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Guarantee: 30-day money back guarantee

Pros And Cons Of The Manta Sleep Mask

The main drawback of the Manta sleep mask is that you have to adjust the eye pads to create a dark environment. Some shoppers say this process is straightforward and report being satisfied with the result.

Other shoppers say that finding a comfortable fit for the eye pads is difficult and typically takes a few tries. Experiences with adjusting the mask vary a lot because everyone has different features. However, adjusting the mask while you travel can be frustrating for this reason.

This issue doesn’t affect everyone. We still think the Manta sleep mask is a great buy due to the materials and design.

Few sleep masks offer the kind of coverage and blackout that you will get with the Manta sleep mask. Masks that cover both eyes with the same piece of fabric tend to let light in at the top and bottom.

We also like the fact that the Manta sleep mask doesn’t touch your eyes and doesn’t apply any pressure on your skin. If you find it difficult to fall asleep with a mask on, the Manta is the right sleep mask for you.

PROS

Adjustable band
Adjustable eye pads
Complete blackout
Breathable material
No pressure
Doesn’t slip
Works with any sleep position
Machine washable
A convenient option for traveling

CONS

Mask might be difficult to adjust
No skincare benefits

Verdict: Is The Manta Sleep Mask Worth Buying?

Image via Pexels

We have discussed the different features of the mask in our Manta sleep mask review and compared it to other sleep masks.

We conclude that the Manta sleep mask is worth buying and deserves a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. The mask loses one point because some people seem to have a hard time finding a comfortable fit when adjusting the eye pads.

There is no way to tell if this issue will affect you until you try the mask on, but keep in mind that the manufacturer has a 60-day money back policy in case the product doesn’t meet your expectations.

We think the product is worth trying because few other sleep masks offer the same kind of blackout. Not having any pressure around your eyes will help you enter REM sleep, and the design of the mask will prevent it from slipping.

The Manta sleep mask is perfect for improving the quality of your sleep at home and a very convenient option for traveling. We like the fact that it is machine washable while most sleep masks require hand washing.

Understanding Sleep Paralysis

April 3, 2017 by Side Sleeper Guide Team Leave a Comment

You’re suddenly awake from your slumber. You can’t move a muscle, yet you see a shadow from the corner of your eye. Fear starts to climb from inside you. Are those voices you hear? Is it a ghost? Perhaps aliens? Demons? Is it just a hallucination to conjure your own denomic images? You might feel like you’re in great danger, even fear that you’re going to die. Some of you might even think that you’re going to die. As you succumb to your fears or continue to fight, you can suddenly move again! As you look around, you realize the shadows aren’t there. You think to yourself, “Thank goodness I am okay.” This phenomenon is what is commonly referred to as sleep paralysis (SP), or as science calls it, Awareness During Sleeping Paralysis (ASP).

Do these symptoms sound familiar to you? Chances are you’ve either experienced sleeping paralysis yourself, or heard stories from other people. This ‘waking nightmare’ story is nothing new. In fact, studies suggest that it can be traced back to the earliest history of humanity. Sleep paralysis has been the inspiration for many different types of art and painting throughout history. In more recent times, you can find this art in the form of a meme, gif, song lyrics and documentary videos and movies. Almost all cultures have traditional stories or legends to try to explain the phenomenon of sleep paralysis. Often, these stories have a main theme of spirituality. For example, the Spanish culture has a tale of “Pesanta”, a name of a demonic black animal, often a cat or a dog, that sits on people’s chests while they are asleep, causing nightmares.

Image Credit: BuzzFeed

History

Of course, back during the early history of mankind, superstitions were a stronger part of everyday life and beliefs. People directly associate these scary sleep paralysis experiences with ghosts, demonic possession activities, and other old hag tales, even death. As science advances, people have also started relating this phenomenon to alien abduction, while others still stick with demon and incubus possessions, spiritual beliefs, and other myths. However, turns out there is a scientific approach to explain this phenomenon. This article will attempt to be an in-depth discussion about sleeping paralysis. How does it actually happen? Why do hallucinations occur with it? Should you be worried if it’s recurrent? What’s the actual cause and how can sleep paralysis be avoided?

We will provide the true facts and bust the myths to get you real answers to this perplexing disorder. First things first, what causes sleep paralysis?

Cause of sleep paralysis

Studies suggest that up to 40 percent of the world’s population experience a sleep paralysis attack at least once in their lives. Most people say that experiencing sleep paralysis was creepy and unsettling, but nothing overly scary or serious. However, 6% of the total population reports frequent recurrence. These episodes tend to be more intense, often full of severe hallucinations which can be very unsettling.

Sleep researchers conclude that sleeping paralysis occurs because you simply don’t make a smooth transition between a deep sleep and wakefulness. Sometimes stress can be a cause of the lack of a smooth transition, or other factors in your life. At times, severe psychology issues can cause this as well, but this is not as common.

Symptoms of sleep paralysis included being unable to move or speak. Some people experience a choking sensation or feeling pressure throughout their body. So based on this little bit of information we know so far, how does sleeping paralysis really work? To answer that question, we must first understand the two different occurrences of sleeping paralysis.

When does sleep paralysis occur?

There are two different common occurrences for sleeping paralysis. If it occurs while you are just about to fall asleep, it’s called Hypnagogic Sleeping Paralysis. If it happens while you’re waking up, it’s called Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis.

The definition of Hypnagogic is a state of the body immediately before you enter deep sleep. On the other hand, Hypnopompic happens after you have experienced a deep sleep, and becomes a state as the body is trying to wake up from that deep sleep. These two different types of sleep paralysis have similar symptoms despite their different causes.

Let’s dive a little deeper on these similarities and differences.

Image Credit: Pinterest

Hypnagogic Sleep Paralysis

When you fall asleep, your body slowly enters into a relaxed state. When this stage occurs smoothly, we become less aware so we do not notice the actual change. For example, as you fall asleep each night you probably aren’t consciously aware that you’re falling asleep, right? You don’t think to yourself, “I’m about to go to sleep… Here it goes…”

When this transition doesn’t happen easily, sleeping paralysis can occur. When you retain awareness while falling asleep, the process is interrupted and as a result, you wake up and lose your ability to move or speak.

Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis

Hypnopompic Sleep Paralysis is slightly more complicated than the type we just discussed. During sleep, we alternate between REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (Non- Rapid Eye Movement ) sleep states. Each REM-NREM cycle will last for roughly 90 minutes. During NREM, which occurs for about 75% of the cycle time, your body relaxes. After that, you will shift into the REM state, where your eyes move quickly. This is where dreams, as well as nightmares, can occur.

What causes the difficult transition during sleep?

As mentioned, up to 40% of the total population have experienced sleeping paralysis. Over the years, studies and research have concluded a few main causes:

Lack of sleep or severe tiredness.
Sudden change of sleep schedule.
Sleeping on the back can disturb the REM-NREM cycle, causing failure to achieve a smooth transition.
Using certain medications can induce sleep paralysis. These can include treatments for ADHD and bipolar disorder.
Narcolepsy, nighttime leg cramp syndrome, and insomnia.
Mental conditions such as severe stress and bipolar disorder.
A study in 2013 suggested that rare neurodegenerative diseases can cause sleeping paralysis.
Chemical and substance abuse can increase the chance of sleeping paralysis. It’s important to seek treatment if this is occurring.
Some people are experimenting with self-inducing sleeping paralysis, mainly to reach a lucid dreaming state.

Understanding the hallucinations

The cause of hallucinations that often accompany sleeping paralysis is not absolutely clear and can vary widely for different people. However, research suggests that there are several things that can cause induced hallucinations:

Feeling scared: This may sound silly, but if you’ve had a scary experience lately, or even watched a particularly frightening movie or video, this can cause the hallucinations. If your mind is not calm when you’re sleeping, it’ll make your long night of sleep out of control and disruptive. This can cause visions.
When this happens as you get out of a dreaming state, the dream can mix with reality. You still retain your auditory senses and to some extent visual senses, which can confuse your state of mind about whether you are sleeping or awake.

Here are the common hallucinations associated with sleeping paralysis:

Seeing shifting colors or shapes, and sometimes swirling images. This often happens during hypnagogic sleep paralysis
Isolated vibrations in one part of the body, sometimes can travel from one body part to another. Ranging from very mild to very bad.
Seeing shapes and sometimes fully-formed pictures, shadow of entities
Hearing sounds, can vary from talking and whispering to banging, crashing, and many more
On the other end of the spectrum, some might experience a sense of awakening or euphoria
Feeling pressure on the chest, resembling someone lying on top of you. Creating a sense of choking
Having an increased heartbeat from mild to very fast
Sometimes can be very real sensations like a lucid feeling of someone lying next to you, flying over you, standing within your field of vision, or physical sensations like being dropped from the bed and caught by something
Can cause severe pain on one’s self, although the chances are pretty rare

Again they all might seem scary, but there are no serious implications both physical and mental.

For more in-depth information, read our post about sleep paralysis symptoms.

How to Treat Sleeping Paralysis

While there is no direct cure for sleeping paralysis, it doesn’t mean you can’t work to prevent it from happening. Because there are underlying problems that often result in sleep paralysis, you can work to treat those to stop the systoms or rid yourself entirely of them.

Image Credit: Listovative

Avoid exposing yourself to blue light from TV or smartphone screens before you sleep. This will dramatically improve your sleep quality. You might want to buy a very affordable pair of digital glasses that can filter the blue light.
Curing any health problems that might contribute to sleeping paralysis. If you suspect yourself of any mental health issues, come to a psychiatric office and get help.
Fix your sleeping habit and give yourself enough sleep. If you have any trouble sleeping, check out these natural sleep remedies to aid you.
Lastly, one of the best cures for any conditions is to be happier. Laugh more and give yourself a break. You will live and sleep better without stress. Find some ways to reduce anxiety and stress including yoga, meditation, and many more.

Bottom Line

Although it might be (very) scary, sleeping paralysis not dangerous. There is no direct evidence that sleeping paralysis can be harmful, much less kill yo u. It can, however, disturb you from getting a good night sleep, which can put you in harm indirectly. Meaning, it might affect how you perform the next day and how one feels throughout the day. One of the simplest ways to address sleeping paralysis is to keep a healthy sleep habit. This means to get yourself a nice six to eight hours sleep every day. You might also want to improve your sleep quality instead of just quantity.

Stay tuned for more articles regarding sleep quality tips, sleep problems, and more.

A Guide to Sleep Remedies

February 24, 2017 by Side Sleeper Guide Team Leave a Comment

In recent years, more and more people are looking for sleep remedies to have a better sleep, both in quantity and quality. It is a well-known fact that people are getting worse sleep in the past decade of so, for various reasons. Are you suffering from any sleep problem? Let’s take a closer look to the common sleep problems, and see if you belong to these categories:

1.Difficulty Getting To sleep

Probably the most common problem. On severe cases, they can be categorized are insomnia, which is a serious health problem with many complications. How would you describe a sleep difficulty? Well, the benchmark for normal sleep is that you should be well unconscious within 30-minutes of sleep attempt.

Some people might take a few hours to finally fall asleep and can even spend the whole night awake.

2.Poor Sleep Quality

Here, you might have no problem to fall asleep completely, however, the problem is the quality. Often characterized by waking up often only by a slight noise or light disturbance. Hence, although they have enough sleep, they might still feel tired on the next day.

3.Low Sleep Quantity

On the other hand, you can have no problem sleeping well, but you tend to wake up too early. Sometimes, it’s not a problem, since a lot of people are waking up early intentionally to do sports, cook, or other activities. However, depression, sleep disorder, bad mood, and stress can be the culprit.

Of course, you might also suffer from more than just one of them, which will further complicate your condition, and might make you feel tired all the time. Yet, to treat the problem, and before we look for help either from sleep remedies or professionals, we should first understand the cause behind the problem.

Cause of Sleep Problems

1.Exposure to Cell Phone, Computer, or Tablet Screens

Technology will affect your sleep in more ways than you may realize. Many studies and research have suggested that the blue light emited by your cell phone screen might suppress melatonin, and trigger your brain to stay awake. Yet, with current demands of everyday’s life, it will be hard to truly avoid technologies. At the very least, try to put your devices as far away as possible during your slumber. Besides, a sudden text notification can easily wake people with light sleep.

2.Stress, Anxiety, and Other Psychological Problems

Another common knowledge is that what happens during the day, or even in the past can keep you up at night. Anxiety, stress, and trauma can be the cause of many more health problems other than sleep and should be addressed as soon as possible.

3.Sleep Environment

Not using the correct mattress or pillow can disturb your sleep quality and quantity, as well as causing physical pain. Check out our guides for mattresses and pillows. Do you live near a noisy street or neighborhood, or do you have any problem with your bedroom lighting or even interior?

4.Medical Causes

There are some medical conditions that can promote sleep problems. Some of them are:

Menopause
Enlarged prostate, more needs to urinate in the middle of the night
Physical pain like stiff neck and painful joints
Tinnitus

Before resorting to sleeping remedies, natural or not, try to address the cause of your sleep problems first.

Do Sleep Remedies Really Work?

Sleep remedies can come in generally two forms: natural and chemical. Of course, as with everything else, natural remedies will always be preferred, as it will cause fewer side effects both short term and long term. So, before we can answer the big question, let us first look at the natural options for sleep remedies:

1. Change Your Routine

Before you try anything drastic, simply try to change your bedtime routine. Try drinking a warm beverage before bed. Decaf green tea is a nice option, try to drink it one hour before you sleep. Condition your mental state to sleep by listening to relaxing tunes. You can try anything from classical to pop music, as long as it’s not too upbeat. Parents will be familiar with the idea that lullabies can definitely help children to sleep faster, and better. The same principle will work for adults.

Avoid exposure to your cellphone, cellphone or TV screen at least 30-minutes before you plan to go to bed. Have you ever tried reading a book or a magazine to sleep? It may drastically help!Also, if you have the luxury of a bath tub, you can try soaking in a warm bath before bed.

2.Aromatherapy

It is a common knowldedge for ages that aromatherapy, especially lavender scent can help you get a better sleep. The stories of using lavender pillows can even be traced back to old folklores, so we may wonder, is it actual fact or just some old wives’ tales?

Turns out, there is a science basis for that. More studies and research have shown that Lavender, as well as other aromatherapies, can indeed help you sleep better.

InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Nowadays, electronic aromatherapy diffusers are pretty cheap, you can get decent ones for below $20 such as these ones. You can also get Lavender oils for only around $6 per 10 ml, so, although lavender aromatherapies work differently from person to person, it’s a very cheap experiment worth to try.

3.Meditation

As mentioned, stress and anxiety can really disturb your sleep quality and quantity, and we can’t just turn off our worries and stress anytime we want, can’t we? Actually, we can with some mental training in the form of meditations. Even medical professionals have now admitted that meditation is not just some mumbo jumbo, and can actually affect your thoughts, emotions, and even physical state in positive ways. Consider giving this journal by Neurology Now a read, to understand the benefits of meditation better.

Nowadays, you don’t have to join an expensive yoga or meditation class to learn, you can simply do a quick browse or make a small investment for meditation books or guided audio. Consider this guided meditation audio for beginners, or if you prefer to read, this Meditation for Beginners book.

4. Light Conditioning

Your body produced the hormone melatonine -which is very important in regulating your sleep pattern- as you expoxe yourself to darkness. As mentioned, this will include lights from your cell phone screen. On the other hand, your body will only produce melatonin for around 12 hours each day. To make the most of this pattern, make sure to expose yourself to natural sunlight in the morning.

We understood the danger of over exposure to sunlight, but just 15 to 30 minutes will be beneficial, especially if you can catch the morning sunlight, which will also boost your natural Vitamin D production. If you don’t have the time, don’t worry, thanks to technology you can use natural spectrum lamp to achieve (almost) the same effects.

Image Credit: Amazon

Try the NatureBright SunTouch, specially made for light and ion therapy purpose for just $53.15.

5.Caffeine Detox

Caffeine addiction can directly and indirectly affect your sleep Caffeine addiction can directly and indirectly affect your sleep pattern. Although it’s not as dangerous as other forms of addictions, the effects can be more potent than it seems. Consider reducing your daily caffeine intake, or quit cold turkey for a total detox. Here is a nice read regarding caffeine detox, the methods, and how to make the most of it.

Over-The-Counter Sleep Remedies

If all of the above methods doesn’t work for you, well, maybe it’s time to consider medical aids or supplements. Sleep remedies are definitely a booming business, with more and more people experiencing sleep problems every day. In that regards, there are many variants of sleeping pills, aids, and supplements available in the market, all claiming to be the holy grail. Yet, honestly, very few of them can be effective in the long run.

Before we begin, we strongly suggests to consult a medical professional before you take any sleep remedies. All the different types of over-the-counter sleep aids may contain different substances, and each may work differently. Let’s understand a bit of those substances, and how it may make you sleep more soundly.

1.Melatonin

Melatonin is actually a natural hormone produced by your own body, which is extremely important in regulating your biological clock. The natural production of melatonin will decrease as you age, and it will vary from individual to individual. Besides, as we have mentioned above, your exposure to sunlight regulate the melatonine production, of which we are getting less and less nowadays.

To help with that fact, external supplies for melatonin are widely popular today, such as these ones. Keep in mind, that most of the melatonin supplements available in the market are not FDA-approved, although many medical practitioners do endorse them. If possible, consult with your family doctor first before buying.

2.Magnesium

Many Americans, as well as people around the world today, are magnesium deficient. Yet, studies suggested that even a marginal deficit of magnesium can seriously disrupt your body to regulate sleep. Before resorting to supplements, you might want to take a look at your diet first. Pumpkin seeds, almonds, and common vegetables are great sources of magnesium.

If you are currently under medications, it is a good idea to first consult with your doctor, as magnesium supplements can interact with many different medications. With more than 75% of Americans are magnesium-deficient, there’s a good chance it’s the culprit for your sleep problems. Consider getting a check-up.

3. L-Theanine

L-Theanine is a type of amino acid commonly found in green tea and several types of mushrooms. Recent studies have shown that L-theanine have many beneficial effects for the body, including to help you sleep better. L-theanine, together with caffeine will allow you to focus better during the day. As a standalone supplement, L-Theanine can act as a powerful relaxant which can help you sleep better. Not to mention, it is one of the best antioxidant out there.

With this idea in mind, decaf green tea will be a very affordable (and safe) option for your sleep remedies. Keep in mind, that the main idea of L-Theanine is to make yourself more relax, instead of directly stimulating sleep. L-Theanine’s benefits might only show after quite some time, but the effect can be long lasting. It is pretty easy to get L-Theanine supplements nowadays, and most of them are FDA-regulated. Try these ones here.

Bottom Line

Sleep deprivation is more than a serious problem, affecting 1 in 3 adults in America. It can be a hindrance to your productivity, and in severe cases, can cause many health problems. Although the cause can be medical issues, it can also be a byproduct of your habits. Before trying any over-the-counter sleep remedies, consider fixing your habits first, which can be easier than you thought.

Also, consider getting the help of a medical professional. There’s nothing to be ashamed about not getting enough sleep, and you are definitely not alone.