In This Review
One of the most frustrating things that almost everyone experiences, to some degree but with increasing frequency as we age, is the increasing difficulty in getting a good, restful and rejuvenating night’s sleep. Yes, the tossing and turning and the inability to be able to shut down the swirling thoughts that go round and round in our heads is a common problem as a result of our body’s decreasing ability to produce the natural sleep agents such as melatonin that we all need to be able to drop off at a reasonable time so that we end up with a complete period of rest for our bodies and our minds.
As you have probably discovered, this is a problem that affects millions and millions of people and all around the world. And, as a result, the industry offering help to all those millions keeps growing by leaps and bounds. The problem for consumers of sleep aides is that it can be incredibly difficult to know which of the many very useful sleep aides is right for them. And, with the many new entities coming online seemingly every day offering one miracle cure after another it keeps getting harder all the time. That’s why, as part of our ongoing efforts to help our readers weave their ways through this maze of products, we have decided to take a close look at one the most talked about sleep aides on the market today – it’s called Sleep Optimizer.
Used For: Enhancing sleep quality and supporting restful sleep.
Active Ingredients: Melatonin, valerian root, L-theanine, GABA, possibly other herbal extracts.
Form: Capsules or tablets.
Type: Dietary supplement.
Benefits: Combines natural ingredients to help fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality.
Brand: Various brands could market a product under this name; you’d need to check specific branding.
Price: Varies depending on brand, quantity, and retailer.
*All the prices listed here are as they appear on their websites and are subject to change.
Inside Sleep Optimizer
Upon first discovering the official website for Sleep Optimizer the impression one gets is that this is a quality product based on the professional appearance of the site. However, upon closer examination it becomes clear that this clean, professional appearance is due, in part, to the lack of critical information related to any form of clinical studies or research that back up the high level of claims made by its manufacturer.
Another thing that will jump out at you is that you cannot purchase Sleep Optimizer directly through the official website but they do provide a listing of online retail outlets including iHerb and Amazon.com. This product is produced in thirty and sixty capsule bottles generally priced between eight and nine dollars for the small bottle and ten to twelve dollars for the large one – Shipping costs not included.
The manufacturer, Jarrow Formulas of Los Angeles, California is a producer of many similar medicinal products aimed at treating a wide variety of conditions and, as far as our research could find, has no past or pending legal actions against it. They also have a listing with the Better Business Bureau but have not received their accreditation.
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*All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.
Ingredients
The list of ingredients for Sleep Optimizer may not be groundbreaking in any way but it does offer a combination of elements that are common to most of the higher grade sleep aides on the market today.
Melatonin: As we age we all begin to lose the ability to produce many elements that are beneficial to a strong body. One of the most important of these elements in the hormone known as Melatonin which is critical to our ability to sleep. Without the high levels of Melatonin production that we all enjoy in our younger life our bodies begin to lose the ability to properly regulate our sleep patterns and wake cycles.
Lemon Balm Leaf: Though this herb is known for many beneficial effects including stomach irritation and other digestive issues it is included here, we assume for its long known calming effects which reduces stress levels and other anxiety associated symptoms.
GABA: Known for many physical and psychological benefits including the lowering of blood pressure, the burning of excess fat and the building of lean muscle, this naturally chemical is produced in the brain but can be recreated in the laboratory and helps with mood related issues such as stress and the restlessness that goes along with it.
L-Tryptophan: Often associated with the myth of drowsiness commonly perceived after the Thanksgiving dinner indulgence of Turkey, this amino acid is derived from the consumption of many forms of protein and is converted during digestion into the chemical Serotonin which, again, has many small benefits to our systems but, in this case, helps to prevent anxiety and others effects of insomnia.
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*All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.
Hops: Prized for its many benefits, especially to the digestive system, this plant extract is believed by many to help alleviate the symptoms associated with anxiety and associated sleep disturbing issues including insomnia.
Pros:
- Ingredients include multiple well-respected ingredients
- Available from multiple online retail outlets
- Competitive pricing structure
Cons:
- Quantities per dosage are less than average for similar medications
- Low level of information related to research and clinical studies
- Higher than average negative user reviews
Prescription Versus Non-Prescription
Adding to the confusion and worry about the use of sleep aides is the fact that there are many remedies that are prescription based only. These medications carry many potential side effects including memory issues and even delusions. As we move into our retirement years and the problems associated with sleep loss worsen these prescription based medications tend be become even more prominent and have caused concern among many medical providers and researchers due to their tendency to produce addiction problems for many patients who need to take it on a nightly basis.
Given that many of the prescription based medication have so many associated problems including issues with addiction many people have turned to more all-natural and remedies that avoid these potential pitfalls.
The Final Conclusion
As we discussed at the beginning of this review, the growing problem of sleeplessness, especially among people who have moved beyond their years of peak production of a number of hormones and other chemicals by their own body which help to regulate sleep and stress is one that cannot be ignored without sometimes very serious consequences. Finding a solution is not, for most, an option – it is a necessary action in order to, not only help us function at a high level, but also to avoid potentially serious and even life threatening results. As any of us suffering from a clinical lack of sleep and who have done any reasonable amount of research knows, a significant lack of sleep invites a host of detrimental effects on our brains, our hearts and every other system including our immune systems which, when compromised, can open us all up to many diseases and other major health problems. So, if you are concerned and truly need a high quality sleep aide and don’t want to get involved with the health risks and addictive qualities of prescription sleep medications then we suggest you look closely at more all-natural and non-addictive options.
With regard to Sleep Optimizer, when you look at the conspicuous lack of detail and information regarding clinical research and trials on the formula plus the generally negative tone of the majority of independent reviews that we were able to find it is clear that this non-prescription sleep aid has not among the best possible choices.
For more information regarding highly ranked, top quality non-prescription sleep aids available on the market today, click here.
