What Is the Difference Between Melatonin and Serotonin?

As one of the most important aspects of our health, hormones are a powerful thing. Sending signals to our brain, heart, nerves, and more, we couldn’t function without them.

Two of the most important hormones in our everyday lives are melatonin and serotonin. While these two hormones may be on opposite ends of the spectrum, they must work together to keep the body functioning.

To learn more about melatonin vs serotonin, read on for our basic guide.

1. What Is Serotonin?

Also known as the feel-good hormone, this naturally-occurring mood stabilizer is necessary for the body to get through each day.

Serotonin works to boost energy, aid in relaxation, and promote feelings of happiness. It is also a helpful hormone for creating healthier sleep schedules and getting better rest. Furthermore, serotonin helps regulate bowel movements as well as bladder functioning.

When we wake up in the morning, serotonin can help us feel prepared to take on the day with a positive mindset. It also helps to reduce feelings of lethargy and low energy. While supplements don’t work to treat disorders, they can help with things like nervousness, sadness, and fatigue.

With all these incredible benefits, it’s important that your body is producing enough serotonin. To ensure that your hormones are in balance, know the signs of serotonin deficiency and seek professional advice if needed.

2. What Is Melatonin?

If you’ve ever had issues falling asleep, chances are you’ve heard of melatonin. But do you know exactly what it is?

If serotonin is a day hormone, melatonin is a night hormone. Also known as the hormone of darkness, melatonin is made in the brain’s pineal gland and works to regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

This essential hormone works to create feelings of sleepiness and relaxation when we’re in a dark room or night falls. This signals to the body that it’s time to sleep and recharge your body and mind. With a low melatonin production, you may struggle with falling asleep and restlessness.

These health benefits are essential for our overall wellbeing and everyday functioning.

Since melatonin production increases at night, many find that sleeping with eye masks or in complete darkness helps them rest. One interesting factor to note is that no amount of melatonin naturally causes severe health problems in humans, whether low or high. But, taking large amounts of melatonin supplements can cause severe drowsiness and fatigue.

3. Hormones in Harmony

Since hormones serve as the body’s chemical messengers, it’s important to know their basic purpose to ensure that we’re as healthy as can be. The right balance of hormones is necessary for our growth and development, metabolism, mood, energy levels, and more.

When serotonin and melatonin work together, this makes for a balanced mind and body. Serotonin helps us power through our day with energy and positivity while melatonin helps us recharge and rest during the night.

Simply put, one couldn’t function without the other, and neither could we.

Learn About Your Melatonin and Serotonin Levels

If you have low energy or trouble falling asleep at night, you may consider taking supplements of melatonin and serotonin. This can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle and make you feel more positive during your everyday life. Before trying any new supplements, talk to a trusted nutritionist, pharmacist, or doctor.

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