Why We Believe in Melatonin-Free Sleep
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Time to read 4 min
TL;DR: Melatonin isn’t the right solution for most people. It doesn’t improve sleep quality, can cause grogginess, disrupt hormones, and lead to dependency. It is fine for short-term regulation of your sleep schedule (like for jet lag). But there are better, long-term natural solutions that help you relax and recover without relying on melatonin. Learn how Thirdzy uses ingredients like magnesium, L-theanine, GABA, and collagen to support sleep naturally.
If you’ve been using melatonin for sleep and finding that it just doesn’t deliver - or worse, it leaves you feeling groggy and out of sync - you’re not alone. The truth is, melatonin isn’t the right solution for most people. It’s not a sleep aid designed for regular, long-term use, and research shows it doesn’t even improve sleep quality. In fact, melatonin only affects sleep timing issues, and even then, it only reduces the time it takes to fall asleep by about 7 minutes on average.
At Thirdzy, we’ve seen firsthand how melatonin can fall short or even create more problems for people struggling with sleep. That’s why we’ve developed a different approach. Our PM Recovery Collagen helps your body naturally relax and recover, promoting restful sleep - without the side effects of melatonin.
Melatonin-free. And it actually works!
Why Melatonin Isn’t Right for You (Or Anyone)
Melatonin is often marketed as a go-to solution for sleep troubles, but the reality is, it’s not designed for long-term use, and it doesn’t even address the root causes of sleep issues for most people. Here’s why melatonin is not a great solution to rely on:
1. It Doesn’t Even Improve Sleep Quality!
Research shows that melatonin doesn’t actually improve the quality of your sleep. It’s not effective in helping you get deeper, more restorative sleep. Instead, it only works to shift your sleep timing, meaning it helps you fall asleep slightly faster - but the average reduction in time to fall asleep is only about 7 minutes.
2. Melatonin Disrupts Your Hormones
Melatonin is a hormone, and when you take it as a supplement, you’re essentially interfering with your body’s natural hormonal processes. It affects more than just your sleep - it can disrupt your cortisol levels, reproductive hormones, and even your metabolism. Long-term use can throw these systems out of balance, potentially leading to disrupted sleep patterns, mood swings, and metabolic issues.
3. It Can Mess With Your Metabolism
Melatonin affects how your body handles glucose and insulin, which can lead to metabolic issues. This is concerning for anyone - from those with or at risk for diabetes to fit populations concerned with body composition and athletic performance - as it can interfere with blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity.
4. It Leads to Dependency
The longer you use melatonin, the more likely you are to build up a tolerance, meaning you’ll need higher doses to get the same effect. This can create a cycle of dependency, and when you stop taking it, you may experience rebound insomnia or difficulty getting your sleep patterns back on track.
5. It Causes Morning Grogginess
Melatonin doesn’t always clear out of your system smoothly. For many people, it causes lingering grogginess, leaving you feeling sluggish well into the morning. This “melatonin hangover” can counteract the benefits of any sleep you did get, leaving you feeling less refreshed.
The Only Good Use Case for Melatonin
Melatonin isn’t completely without value - it just has a very narrow use case. The only scenario where melatonin might be helpful is for short-term adjustments to your sleep schedule. Here’s when it might make sense:
Jet Lag: If you’re traveling across time zones, melatonin can help reset your internal clock and help you fall asleep at the appropriate local time.
Shift Work: If you need to adjust to a new work schedule that disrupts your natural sleep-wake cycle, melatonin can help you transition for a short period.
But here’s the key: melatonin is best used for sleep timing issues over short periods of time (like 1-3 nights). It’s not a solution for improving sleep quality or fixing long-term sleep problems. For consistent, high-quality sleep, natural alternatives that support your body’s ability to relax and recover are much better choices.
What Could Help Instead?
If melatonin isn’t cutting it for you (and it likely isn’t), we’ve got a better alternative: our PM Recovery Collagen. Instead of disrupting your hormones, our formula works with your body to naturally relax and recover, helping you fall asleep and stay asleep without the risks associated with melatonin.
PM Recovery Collagen uses a blend of calming, natural ingredients like magnesium, L-theanine, GABA, and glycine from collagen to ease your body into sleep without grogginess or hormonal disruption.
The Science Behind PM Recovery Collagen
Here’s how our natural ingredients support your sleep:
1. Magnesium
Magnesium relaxes your muscles and supports your nervous system. It helps your body naturally produce melatonin, rather than relying on supplementation and the associated mounting tolerance and dependence. It also reduces stress, making it easier to unwind and fall asleep.
2. L-Theanine
L-Theanine promotes relaxation without sedation. It encourages alpha brain waves, which are associated with calmness and relaxation, helping you prepare for restful sleep.
3. GABA
GABA is a calming neurotransmitter that helps reduce brain activity, quieting the mind and making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. It supports deeper stages of sleep, which are crucial for recovery.
4. Collagen (Glycine)
Collagen contains glycine, an amino acid that lowers body temperature and promotes deeper, more restorative sleep. Glycine also supports muscle recovery and leaves you feeling refreshed and less stiff upon waking.
How to Add Natural Sleep Support to Your Routine
Supporting your sleep with PM Recovery Collagen is easy:
Drink it before bed: Mix it into a warm drink like herbal tea or cool water to help signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.
As a nighttime snack: Stir it into yogurt as a nighttime dessert to help satisfy cravings while preparing your body for rest.
Use it for post-workout recovery: Add it to your evening smoothie to help your muscles recover after evening workouts while promoting relaxation.
We Agree With the Sleep Experts
Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Matt Walker, two of the top voices in sleep science, agree that melatonin should be used only for short-term sleep timing adjustments. For long-term sleep support, natural solutions that help your body relax and recover are a much better option.
At Thirdzy, we’ve crafted a supplement that thousands of people are already using to get better, more consistent sleep - without the downsides of melatonin.
