(as seen on One-On-One with Jason's Fitness TV)

Magnesium (oxide / citrate) 200 mg

Magnesium deficiency

When you don't get enough magnesium over time, you can end up with a deficiency. You may not feel it right away because your body tries to hold on to what little magnesium it has in your pee. Some illnesses and medicines can also mess with how your body handles magnesium, making deficiency more likely. Signs of a magnesium deficiency include:

• Not feeling hungry
• Feeling sick
• Throwing up
• Being tired
• Feeling weak

It is an antidote to stress, the most powerful relaxation mineral available, and it can help improve your sleep.

The Relaxation Mineral

Think of magnesium as the relaxation mineral. Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff — whether it is a body part or an even a mood — is a sign of magnesium deficiency.

This critical mineral is actually responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions and is found in all of your tissues — but mainly in your bones, muscles, and brain. You must have it for your cells to make energy, for many different chemical pumps to work, to stabilize membranes, and to help muscles relax.

L-Theanine 400 mg*

L-theanine’s effect on the brain can be visualized on an EEG. Brain waves are actually smoothed out—but not flattened out—by supplemental L-theanine.16 The body is relaxed, the mind is calmed, but no drowsiness occurs.5 This is exactly the type of relaxation prescribed by sleep therapists. The person seeking help will be asked to listen to music or engage in a similarly relaxing activity immediately before retiring. Studies show that pre-sleep relaxation is very effective against insomnia, even in tough cases.18-20

Falling asleep is one thing; staying asleep and getting quality sleep is another. Researchers in Japan gave volunteers 200 mg of L-theanine daily and recorded their sleep patterns on devices worn around their wrists. The L-theanine didn’t cause the subjects to sleep longer, but it did cause them to sleep better. It was documented that sleep quality, recovery from exhaustion, and refreshed feelings were all enhanced by L-theanine. Those taking L-theanine felt like they slept longer than they actually did. 21 This is good news for people who don’t get enough sleep, or those who want to sleep less and do more.

One of the other effects of the tea ceremony is that it leaves people in a better mood. Knowing that L-theanine can cross the blood-brain barrier and positively affect brain chemistry, scientists investigated its mood-modulating effects. The results of those studies have led to L-theanine being patented as a mood enhancer.22 How it works is not completely understood, but one thing researchers have discovered is that L-theanine changes levels of amino acids affecting serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain.5

GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) 100mg*

GABA is the acronym for gamma aminobutyric acid. Although GABA is an amino acid, it is rarely considered as one. This is because GABA is not used to synthesize proteins in the body.

GABA Levels and Sleep

For long, scientists have tried to determine the factors responsible for insomnia. To do this, they compare the brain activities of people suffering from insomnia to healthy people with normal sleep-wake cycle.

Recently, studies into the science of sleep yielded a breakthrough when researchers determined that the difference between those who sleep well and those who have difficulty sleeping is the neurotransmitter known as GABA.

In a study published in the journal, Science Translational Medicine, researchers obtained cerebrospinal fluids from 32 insomnia patients.

Cerebrospinal fluid bathes the brain and spinal cord and serves as a buffer separating the central nervous system from the rest of the body.

By adding the cerebrospinal fluid samples to cells genetically engineered to produce GABA receptors (GABA-A), the researchers could determine the GABA content of the fluid through the activity triggered in the receptors.

However, the insomniacs’ cerebrospinal fluids caused no spike in electrical activity in the GABA receptor cells.

Thereafter, the researchers added a little GABA to the mixture. This triggered significantly electrical activity in the cells.

The researchers then concluded that insomniacs have lower GABA levels than normal sleepers.

A 30% Difference

But how big is the difference in GABA levels between good sleepers and insomniacs? A 2008 study published in the journal, Sleep, provided a good estimate of the GABA deficit of insomniacs.

In that study, the researchers recruited 16 adults suffering from insomnia and another 16 good sleepers. The insomniacs already had their sleep problems for at least 10 years and were not currently on sleep medications.

By measuring their sleep activity (with sleep diary, actigraphy and polysomnography) and GABA levels (through MRI or magnetic resonance imaging), the researchers determined that the average brain GABA level was 30% lower in people with insomnia compared to good sleepers.

The researchers, therefore, suggested that raising GABA levels in the brain should be the goal of sleep medications under development.

Besides sleep, low brain GABA levels have been linked with depression, mood disorders and anxiety disorders.

In fact, studies show that people suffering from chronic insomnia have higher risks of developing psychiatric disorders.

Phellodendron Root (herb powder) 100mg*

Phellodendron, also called Huang bai, is one of the 50 most important herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.It is derived from the two species of Phellodendron tree; one found mostly in Northern China, and the other found in central and lowland China.Huang means yellow in Chinese, and the color comes from an alkaloid berberine that phellodendron contains, which is very powerful and even toxic in large amounts.

Portions of the root, berry, twig or bark are cut out and made into a fine mesh powder, which can then be easily capsuled.Phellodendron has many health properties because of the numerous anti-oxidants it contains. It works great to calm the mind, and when stacked with other supplements, works great as a sleep formula before bed.This makes phellodendron a great option for athletes who are desperate for crucial sleep at night to help them recover, grow and repair muscles.

Mucuna Pruriens (15% extract) 100mg*

Treats insomnia and generally deepens sleep.The amazing herbal adaptogen that is mucuna pruriens is well known for it's wide range of tonifying, strengthening and all around beneficial properties.Indian herb

5-HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan) 50mg *

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a naturally occurring substance derived from the seed pods of Griffonia simplicifolia, a West African medicinal plant. In humans, 5-HTP is the immediate nutrient precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). This means that 5-HTP converts directly into serotonin in the brain (see Figure 1). Serotonin has many profoundly important functions, including a role in sleep, appetite, memory, learning, temperature regulation, mood, sexual behavior, cardiovascular function, muscle contraction, and endocrine regulation.

Melatonin 2mg

Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland camera.gif, a small gland in the brain. Melatonin helps control your sleep and wake cycles. Very small amounts of it are found in foods such as meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. You can also buy it as a supplement.Treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD).Helping to control sleep patterns for people who work night shifts.Preventing or reducing problems with sleeping and confusion after surgery.Reducing chronic cluster headaches.