Melatonin
Depressant.
Also an antioxidant.
Essential to the circadian rhythm and for sleep.
Inhibited by blue light.
Produced by the pineal gland.
From wikipedia (references are valid for this site though):
It has been documented that melatonin production diminishes as a person ages.1 Additionally, a shift in the timing of melatonin secretion is observed during adolescence, resulting in delayed sleep and wake times, increasing their risk for delayed sleep phase disorder during this period.2
Forms/Types
- Fruits (especially pineapples, bananas and oranges)
- Rice
- Cereals/grains
- Olive oil
Deficiency - Too Little
Random Facts
References
-
Sack RL, Lewy AJ, Erb DL, Vollmer WM, Singer CM. Human melatonin production decreases with age. J Pineal Res. 1986;3(4):379-88. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1986.tb00760.x. PMID: 3783419. ↩
-
Hagenauer MH, Perryman JI, Lee TM, Carskadon MA. Adolescent changes in the homeostatic and circadian regulation of sleep. Dev Neurosci. 2009;31(4):276-84. doi: 10.1159/000216538. Epub 2009 Jun 17. PMID: 19546564; PMCID: PMC2820578. ↩