The Best Vitamins for Sleep: Are You Getting What Your Body Needs?

Getting the right amount of sleep each night is crucial for your overall health and wellness. Adequate sleep supports optimal immune system function, improves your mental acuity and helps to maintain a positive mood throughout the day. While the occasional sleepless night is nothing to worry about, chronic sleep deprivation can have serious consequences on your physical health and emotional well-being.

There are a number of things that you can do to support healthy sleep patterns. One of these steps to take is to ensure that you are getting enough of the best vitamins for sleep.

Best Vitamins for Sleep

There are a bevy of vitamins that have been shown to be instrumental in supporting good sleep. Here are some of the top choices and where you can find these vitamins in abundance.

Vitamin D

New research is demonstrating that vitamin D impacts both the quantity of sleep that you get as well as the quality. A recent study has shown a connection between lack of sleep and vitamin D deficiency. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight because the nutrient is produced when the skin is exposed to the sun. Food sources include tuna, eggs, salmon and mushrooms.

Iron

Doctors have routinely pointed to low iron levels as a significant factor in insomnia. Not getting enough iron can also contribute to anxiety, making it more difficult to sleep well. Good sources of iron are chicken, beef, turkey, beans, tofu, cashews, dark green leafy vegetables, fortified breads and cereals and oysters. Taking iron alongside vitamin C will promote better absorption of the mineral.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C does more than just support the body's immune system. This powerful antioxidant has also been shown to lower the risk of sleep disorders and disturbances. The good news is that vitamin C is found in plentiful amounts in many foods that most people consume regularly, including citrus foods, kale, spinach, kiwi, strawberries and green and red chilis.

B Vitamins

The family of B vitamins may help to regulate the amount of tryptophan in the body. This nutrient is what helps produce melatonin, the hormone that rises in the evening hours and signals to the body that it is time to wind down.

Most healthy diets should supply the right amount of B vitamins, which can be found in a variety of meats, produce and grains. However, a B-Complex supplement or a multi-vitamin containing this family of nutrients will deliver an extra layer of insurance to bridge the gap.

Magnesium and Calcium

The macronutrient magnesium is useful in relaxing the body and mind so that you are ready to get a good night of sleep. The mineral is also known for its ability to ease symptoms of stress and anxiety, helping to ward off insomnia. Like B vitamins, magnesium is also helpful in regulating the secretion of melatonin to prepare the body for sleep.

Along with magnesium, research is shedding light on how calcium works in conjunction with this mineral to induce sleep. Calcium is found in a myriad of dairy products, soybeans and green leafy vegetables. You will find magnesium in nuts, seeds and greens. There are also many commercially produced foods that are fortified with magnesium and calcium.

Vitamin E

The many antioxidant capabilities of vitamin E have been shown to reduce the risk of some of the most common sleep-related problems. For instance, the proven ability of vitamin E to provide brain protection could guard against memory loss while sleeping. The nutrient may also protect against conditions such as sleep apnea.

Vitamin E can be found in plentiful amounts in spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, peanuts, almonds and sunflower seeds. The nutritional powerhouse is also found in corn and soybean oils.

How to Ensure Proper Vitamin Intake for Quality Sleep

In addition to being intentional about eating foods that are rich with these vitamins, you may also want to consider taking a dedicated supplement. A supplement such as Vitachron is specially formulated to deliver the vitamins that you need for optimal sleep at the right time of the day.

This chronobiological multi-vitamin will provide the peace of mind of knowing that you are doing everything that you can to encourage good sleeping habits. Both Vitachron Male and Vitachron Female offer the nutrients that have been identified as crucial for healthy sleep patterns. It could not be easier to supply your body with what it needs to fall asleep and stay that way.

There are a variety of issues that may be causing your sleep issues. Being proactive about nourishing your body with the best vitamins will go a long way in ensuring that you wake up rested and ready to face the day.