Do you wake up feeling well-rested every day? You should! However, 43% of men and 55% of women report trouble with falling asleep or staying asleep1. We know how great it feels to fall asleep easily, get a deep and restful sleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. What you may not realize is how important sleep is for our overall wellbeing.
Sleep is part of our circadian rhythm, which is the light-dark dependant cycle that keeps our body functioning in a healthy way. Melatonin is our “sleep hormone”, and it is released in response to darkness. It should be highest at night, promoting a deep, restful sleep, and lowest during the day. In opposition to melatonin is our “stress hormone”, cortisol, which inhibits melatonin to promote alertness and wakefulness.
There are five distinct stages of a healthy sleep cycle. Stage 1 is when you are drifting off to sleep. Stage 2 is light sleep where heart rate and brain waves start to slow down. Stages 3 is characterized by very slow delta waves in the brain. Stage 4 is the deepest state of Non-REM (NREM) sleep, and it’s when the body undergoes most of its healing. Stage 5 is when we dream, called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep2.
We should repeat this cycle 4-6 times during a healthy night’s sleep, which requires both sleeping for enough time and repeatedly entering into the deep sleep of Stages 4 and 52. When we face challenges with falling asleep, staying asleep, or entering into a deep sleep state, our overall health is significantly impacted.
When we don’t get enough sleep, or get poor quality of sleep, our ability to think clearly, learn and retain memories is significantly impacted. Our immune system is weakened, causing frequent cold and flu or difficulty with getting over infections3. Our appetite and blood sugar levels are negatively impacted, linking insomnia to increased risk of weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes1. When we don’t produce enough melatonin, we have an increased amount of cortisol, our stress hormone, which can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability and difficulty coping with stress1.
- Enhances the body’s natural melatonin production to assist with falling asleep and achieving a deep, restful sleep state4.
- Helps trigger the body’s sleep wake-cycle to assist with jetlag4.
- Assists with falling asleep and reducing sleep disturbance5.
- Reduces stress-related symptoms, improves low mood and anxiety, and improves cognitive function by targeting glutamate receptors in the brain, which stimulates the release of GABA, serotonin and dopamine in the brain5.
- Assists with falling asleep and staying asleep without causing morning grogginess6.
- Increases serotonin production in the brain, which reduces anxiety, improves mood and triggers sleep6.
- A primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, meaning it promotes feelings of calm and relaxation by taking us out of “fight or flight” and putting us into a “rest and digest” nervous system state7.
- Improves the ability to fall sleep through its calming action and improves quality of sleep by regulating both NREM and REM deep-sleep states7.
- Crosses the blood brain barrier and readily converts to serotonin in the brain, which improves mood, reduces anxiety and regulates sleep8.
- Activates GABA receptors to enhance sleep duration, helping us to stay asleep longer9.
- Improves sleep quality through increasing GABA in the brain, which promotes relaxation as we fall asleep and regulates NREM and REM cycles to facilitate a deep sleep state10.
- Reduces stress and anxiety through stimulating GABA receptors in the brain to promote relaxation11.
- Gentle sedative effect that significantly improves nervousness and anxiety through boosting GABA levels in the brain12.
- Acts as an adaptogen in the body by supporting our ability to cope with stress and promoting relaxation through acting on the serotonin pathway13.
Each Capsule Contains
Melatonin1.5mg
L-Theanine200mg
L-Tryptophan50mg
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) 50mg
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan – Griffonia simplicifolia - seed) 50mg
Loquat Fruit (Eriobotrya japonica) 15:1 Extract, 25% Ursolic Acid(QCE 975mg) 65mg
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) 4:1 Extract, 0.8% Valerenic Acids(QCE 200mg) 50mg
Skullcap Herb Top (Scutellaria lateriflora) 4:1 Extract(QCE 200mg) 50mg
Passionflower Herb Top (Passiflora incarnata) 10:1 Extract(QCE 400mg) 40mg
Schisandra Fruit (Schisandra chinensis) 10:1 Extract(QCE 250mg) 25mg
Non-Medicinal Ingredients: Vegetable Capsule Shell (Hypromellose), Oryza sativa (Rice) hull powder
Priority Allergens: None
Healthology does not use genetically modified ingredients. All ingredients are NON GMO / GMO FREE.
Recommended Dose: Adults: As a sleep aid and all other uses: Take 1 or 2 capsules, daily, with water, at or before bedtime as needed. For Jet Lag: Take 1 or 2 capsules with water, once a day at bedtime, while travelling and at destination until adapted to the new time zone or daily pattern. Do not drive or operate machinery within 5 hours of taking this product, which contains melatonin. Avoid taking with alcohol or products that increase drowsiness.
Duration Of Use: Consult a health care practitioner for use beyond 4 continuous weeks.
Do not use this product if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or have scleroderma. Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you are taking medications for seizure, blood pressure, immune suppression, to affect mental state, increase sedation, steroids, blood thinners, carbidopa, or drugs / supplements with serotonergic activity. These may include, but are not limited to, L-tryptophan, Sadenosylmethionine (SAMe), St. John's wort, antidepressants, pain killers, over the counter cough and cold medication containing dextromethorphan, anti-nausea medication and anti-migraine medication.
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have cardiovascular, immune, liver or chronic kidney disease, hormonal or seizure disorder, asthma, depression, diabetes, low blood sugar, or migraines. Consult a health care practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen. Stop use and consult a health care practitioner if you show signs of weakness, oral ulcers, abdominal pain accompanied by severe muscle pain, or if you experience skin changes. Stop use and consult a health care practitioner if you experience any of the following symptoms within a few hours after taking this product: changes in mental state such as restlessness or confusion, increased heart rate, enlarged pupils, loss of muscle coordination, headache, sweating, shivering, allergy, or gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Some people may experience drowsiness. Exercise caution if operating heavy machinery, driving a motor vehicle or involved in activities that require mental alertness. Some people may experience diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Consult a health care practitioner prior to use if you have had recent surgery or have upcoming surgery. Keep out of reach of children.
- Set a bedtime: What is your ideal number of hours of sleep per night? Your ideal number should be between six and eight hours. What time do you need to wake up to start your day? Use these parameters to set a bedtime and stick to it whenever possible.
- Develop a bedtime routine: Turn off all electronics and screens for 30 minutes before your bedtime. Instead find a quiet bedtime routine: get ready for bed, spend time with family, meditate, journal, or read a book. Light from our screens significantly inhibit melatonin production14, so I suggest giving your body a 30-minute head-start where you engage in calming, screen-free activities before you get into bed.
- Protect your relationship with your mattress: When you tuck yourself into bed, your body should know, “this is where we sleep”. If you watch tv, work, or even read in bed, your relationship with the mattress can become broken, and that signal to sleep in that space is lost. Keep other activities outside the bedroom, even reading before bed should be done on or near bed, not in bed, to help re-connect your body with the idea that “this is where we sleep”.
- Sleep in a dark room: Even a small amount of light inhibits our natural melatonin production14. I suggest using a sleep mask nightly to block out ambient light. It takes a few weeks to get used to but stick with it! A mask will also help to re-program your relationship with your mattress, as mentioned above.
- Balance blood sugar: Eating sweet snacks or simple carbs before bed can spike our blood sugar, making it difficult to fall asleep, and causing us to wake up when our blood sugar crashes during the night. Limit snacking after dinner, but if you do reach for a snack, focus on high protein and low sugar snacks such as nuts or unsweetened nut butters.
- Limit caffeine, nicotine and alcohol: Avoid caffeine, even lightly caffeinated beverages like green tea, after 3:00pm if you experience insomnia. Nicotine dependence causes waking about four hours after your last exposure, so smoking and vaping cessation helps us to sleep through the night. Alcohol may help us fall asleep but prevents us from achieving a deep sleep, so avoiding alcohol is important for waking up feeling well-rested.
- No napping: Napping is for babies, toddlers, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the elderly. Napping might help you feel energized to get through your day, but it undermines getting a deep, restful sleep at night.
- Additional screening: Insomnia and fatigue may be indications that another health concern should be addressed. Start with blood work to assess thyroid health and anemia, a sleep study to look for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, and address underlying concerns like anxiety, depression, frequent urination, and chronic pain.
We should aim for six to eight hours of deep, restful sleep per night. Sleeplessness can be improved by developing a consistent bedtime routine where we avoid screens, sleep in a dark room, avoid stimulants, and keep blood sugar balanced. From time to time, we benefit from additional support to re-set our sleep cycle and achieve a deeper sleep.
SLEEP-GREAT regulates our circadian rhythm through enhancing the brain’s natural hormonal pathways. It assists with falling asleep easily, staying asleep, and achieving a deep restful sleep. SLEEP-GREAT is effective without causing the grogginess or poor sleep quality of sedative treatments. It improves both sleep quantity and quality of sleep, allowing you to wake-up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated every day.
- Chaput JP, Wong SL, Michaud I. Duration and quality of sleep among Canadians aged 17-79. Statistics Canada. Sep 20, 2017. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2017009/article/54857-eng.htm
- Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., editors. Neuroscience. 2nd edition. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2001. Stages of Sleep.
- Besedovsky L, Lange T, Born J. Sleep and immune function. Pflugers Arch. 2012;463(1):121–137.
- Costello RB, Lentino CV, Boyd CC, et al. The effectiveness of melatonin for promoting healthy sleep: a rapid evidence assessment of the literature. Nutr J. 2014;13:106.
- Hidese S, Ogawa S, Ota M, et al. Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(10):2362.
- Richard DM, Dawes MA, Mathias CW, Acheson A, Hill-Kapturczak N, Dougherty DM. L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications. Int J Tryptophan Res. 2009;2:45–60.
- Byun JI, Shin YY, Chung SE, Shin WC. Safety and Efficacy of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid from Fermented Rice Germ in Patients with Insomnia Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial. J Clin Neurol. 2018;14(3):291–295.
- Birdsall TC. 5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor. Altern Med Rev. 1998;3(4):271–280.
- Jeon SJ, Park HJ, Gao Q, et al. Ursolic acid enhances pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors via GABAergic neurotransmission in mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015;762:443–448.
- Bent S, Padula A, Moore D, Patterson M, Mehling W. Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2006;119(12):1005–1012.
- Awad R, Arnason JT, Trudeau V, et al. Phytochemical and biological analysis of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora L.): a medicinal plant with anxiolytic properties. Phytomedicine. 2003;10(8):640–649.
- Kim M, Lim HS, Lee HH, Kim TH. Role Identification of Passiflora Incarnata Linnaeus: A Mini Review. J Menopausal Med. 2017;23(3):156–159.
- Szopa A, Ekiert R, Ekiert H. Current knowledge of Schisandra chinensis(Turcz.) Baill. (Chinese magnolia vine) as a medicinal plant species: a review on the bioactive components, pharmacological properties, analytical and biotechnological studies. Phytochem Rev. 2017;16(2):195–218.
- West KE, Jablonski MR, Warfield B, Cecil KS, James M, Ayers MA, et al. Blue light from light-emitting diodes elicits a dose-dependent suppression of melatonin in humans. J Appl Physiol. 2011;110:619–626.
Symptoms
Risks of lack of sleep or poor sleep include:
- The ability to think clearly, learn and retain memories
- Our immune system is weakened, causing frequent cold and flu or difficulty with getting over infections
- Our appetite and blood sugar levels
- Insomnia
- Risk of weight gain
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
When we don’t produce enough melatonin, we have an increased amount of cortisol, our stress hormone, which can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability and difficulty coping with stress.
Facts
43% of men and 55% of women report trouble with falling asleep or staying asleep1. We know how great it feels to fall asleep easily, get a deep and restful sleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. What you may not realize is how important sleep is for our overall wellbeing. Melatonin is our “sleep hormone”, and it is released in response to darkness. It should be highest at night, promoting a deep, restful sleep, and lowest during the day. In opposition to melatonin is our “stress hormone”, cortisol, which inhibits melatonin to promote alertness and wakefulness.
SOLUTION
SLEEP-GREAT is a complete formulation that helps you:
- Fall asleep quickly
- Stay asleep
- Achieve deep restful sleep
Unlike medications that may assist with falling asleep but limit your body’s ability to enter into a deep sleep state, SLEEP-GREAT works by enhancing the body’s natural sleep hormone pattern so that you enter all five stages of a healthy sleep, allowing you to wake up feeling refreshed every day.
GLUTEN FREE
VEGAN
NON GMO
CANADIAN
Dr. Hilary’s Lifestyle Changes To Improve Sleep
Set a bedtime: What is your ideal number of hours of sleep per night? Your ideal number should be between six and eight hours. What time do you need to wake up to start your day? Use these parameters to set a bedtime and stick to it whenever possible.
Develop a bedtime routine: Turn off all electronics and screens for 30 minutes before your bedtime. Instead find a quiet bedtime routine: get ready for bed, spend time with family, meditate, journal, or read a book. Light from our screens significantly inhibit melatonin production14, so I suggest giving your body a 30-minute head-start where you engage in calming, screen-free activities before you get into bed.
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