Melatonin: Uses, Side Effects, Interaction, Precaution and Melatonin Rich FoodsPosted by Vishal Kaushik on December 15th, 2020 Melatonin hormone is essential for good sleep. It is naturally produced in the pineal gland, located in the centre of human brain. It works to help the body to maintain its sleep cycle, also known as the biological clock. On average, a human work for approx. 16 hours and sleep for about 8 hours a day. This body cycle is controlled by a hormone called melatonin. Here it is advisable that melatonin supplements should be taken as per your doctor's advice or guidance. If you are taking melatonin pill or supplements to help you with sleep disturbances, take it about half an hour before bedtime. This is mainly because the drug takes some time to make effect. While supplementation can work wonders for some individuals, it may not work effectively for others. In this case, it is best to seek the advice of a doctor. Melatonin is also useful in the prevention and treatment of other health problems like cancer. Research states that this hormone also plays an important role in age-related macular degeneration and helps to reduce the risk of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The most common side effects of melatonin include frequent headaches and an altered sleep pattern. Although a rare, an allergic reaction may occur resulting in hives and itchy skin rashes, in which case a doctor should be consulted immediately. The information given here is based on salt. Its side effects and uses may vary from person to person. Melatonin Side Effects Some common melatonin side effects may include -
Other side effects may be -
An overdose of melatonin supplements may cause following side effects -
Interactions Melatonin may interact with other drugs -
Precautions Tell your doctor if you have diseases; especially -
It is advisable not to take melatonin if you are pregnant. It may cause many birth-defects in newborn baby. Ask your doctor before taking melatonin supplements if you are pregnant. It is not clear if it is safe during breastfeeding. It may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor if you're breast-feeding. Additional Tips It is better to use foods rich in melatonin instead of using pill and supplements. Nuts such as almonds and pistachios are the richest source of melatonin. Other foods that contain melatonin in plenty may include -
You can also boost melatonin production by adopting these habits -
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