Top 5 supplement ingredients for sleep
GABA
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is an amino acid that calms nervous activity in the brain. Indeed, sleep drugs like Ambien, though they don’t contain any GABA themselves, work by binding to GABA receptors in the brain, thereby giving a GABA-like effect.
One study found 100 mg of GABA alleviated stress induced by mental tasks. Because GABA has been associated with lowering blood pressure, you should check with your physician before taking a GABA supplement if you already have low blood pressure. The general dose recommendation is between 250 to 750 mg taken 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime.
Also, researchers found that doing yoga for an hour three times a week for 12 weeks increased GABA levels, all while improving mood and decreasing anxiety.