Melatonin, Sleep and Tart Cherries.

 Eat tart cherries, increase your melatonin, and enjoy better sleep.

 Recent research indicates that tart cherries are a rich source of melatonin, so eating tart cherries may be a most important addition to the diet, particulary if you suffer from insomnia. Melatonin is secreted by a tiny pea-shaped gland called the pineal ,the ebb and flow of melatonin secretion is dependent on light and darkness. Darkness stimulates the secretion of melatonin, and when light reaches the eye, it's secretion is inhibited.Melatonin acts to increase sleepiness, as well as the duration and quality of sleep. 

Many factors may affect the secretion of melatonin other than the normal 24 hour circadian rhythms, a common offender being jet travel across multiple time zones which results in the condition known as jet lag. Age appears to play a significant role as well, for as a person ages sleep patterns change, the person has difficulty falling asleep,and maintaining uninterrupted sleep.

Some drugs inhibit melatonin secretion such as anti-inflammatory medications: Beclomethasone, budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, mometasone furoate, prednisone, triamcinolone. NSAIDs: Diclofenac, diflunisal, etodolac, fenoprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac tromethamine, meclofenamate, nabumetone, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxican, sulindac, tolmetin.Antidepressant medications: Fluoxetine. Cardiovascular medications: Acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol, celiprolol, esmolol, labetalol, levabetaxolol, levobunolol, metipranolol, metoprolol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol, timolol.

A study done by Dr Russel Reiter University of Texas, well known melatonin researcher, found that Montmerency tart cherries were a rich source of melatonin,  pineapple and bananas were also tested but were found to  have low levels of melatonin. Dr Reiter has also studied walnuts and found them to be not only a significant souce of omega-3 fatty acids, but also to contain melatonin.

Although melatonin is readily available as a supplement, Dr Reiter does not advise it to be taken in this form, but rather to obtain it from natural food sources such as tart cherries and walnuts.

Read more:Valerian for Sleep