Which sleep night time recovery formula is best to buy - 8 products compared

A good night’s sleep is often the most overlooked piece of the health and performance puzzle. And it’s not just the odd good night that’s important, but a consistent pattern of deep and restful sleep. Far too many people who are aiming for success in their careers, their business, their performance or body goals don’t prioritise sleep enough. They are happy to grab coffee-after-coffee just to get through the day to offset tiredness – with huge impacts on the next night's ability to sleep. But focus suffers, as does performance and decision making. So you end up getting more caffeine. And so the cycle continues.

There’s been a ton of research over recent years on compounds that can help with sleep quality, and we feel that we’ve created the perfect sleep aid based on the current scientific literature. We’ve also, handily, compared Awesome Sleep with some other competitors to show you why ours comes out on top.

As always, if you feel that poor sleep is affecting your health or wellbeing – please speak with your GP or health practitioner. 

So firstly, what did we put in our sleep product, and why?

Magnesium

Magnesium has become a popular sleep supplement in recent years. It is a crucial mineral that is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body, including energy production, DNA synthesis, nerve function, bone health and vitamin D activation.

The Sleep Foundation says that “higher levels of magnesium in the body are associated with better sleep, longer sleep times, and less tiredness during the day”.

This study found that magnesium supplementation reduced sleep latency time (time taken to fall asleep) by 17 minutes in older adults, compared with a placebo.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is often described as the king of ayurvedic herbs. It’s been used for literally thousands of years in traditional Indian medicine to relieve stress and anxiety. And modern science is proving its worth as a natural sleep aid. This randomised control trial shows how 600mg of ashwagandha root improves sleep quality and total sleep time in those with or without insomnia, whilst also increasing mental alertness on waking and improving anxiety levels.

L- Glycine

L- Glycine is a non-essential amino acid, which means our body makes it. However, studies have shown that exogenous (supplemental) l- glycine increases peripheral vasodilation  - allowing the necessary drop in core body temperature to promote sleep onset.

 This small study showed that 3g l-glycine before bed improved scores of next day fatigue, compared with a placebo.

Inositol

Inositol is a compound that helps to regulate serotonin and melatonin – two neurotransmitters that play a vital role in sleep.

Though inositol’s main area of research is improving fertility and reducing symptoms of PCOS by improving insulin sensitivity, studies have found that 1-4g of inositol daily also improve sleep onset and sleep quality in pregnant women (the demographic being studied). More research is being conducted to see whether this is true of the general population, but inositol’s impact on sleep quality looks promising.

L- Tryptophan

Our bodies use the amino acid l- tryptophan to make melatonin – the “sleep hormone” that tells your brain and body that it's time to get some shut eye.

This randomised control trial found improved wake after sleep onset in participants taking 250mg – 15g l-tryptophan 20-30 minutes before bed. Wake after sleep onset is the amount of time spent awake in the night after initially falling asleep – showing l-tryptophan’s benefits on staying asleep and getting a full night’s rest.

Montmorency Cherry Powder

This tart cherry extract contains a high concentration of phytochemicals including sleep-promoting melatonin.

This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study shows an improvement in sleep quality and sleep duration in participants taking a Montmorency cherry supplement.

Camomile Extract and Passionflower Extract

Both of these plant extracts are extremely popular in traditional nighttime teas. Their use as a natural sleep aid have long been used. Passionflower works by acting on the GABA pathway, helping to reduce brain activity which results in feelings of calm and sleepiness. This study showed the improvement of sleep quality after consumption of passionflower tea compared with a placebo.

The exact mechanism of chamomile on reducing anxiety and eliciting a state of calm is unknown, but this systematic review shows its benefits on reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety.

How does our formula, for the cost, compare against other sleep products out there?

You can see for yourself that Awesome Sleep comes out on top. By a country mile for including not just the most well supported compounds, but in their research recommended dose. This is a very popular move by companies, they will often include a compound, but not in the research recommended dose for the desired outcome. 

Plus, most of these other products are capsules. Surely a hot, nighttime drink is way more soothing and enjoyable…?