By Rosie Millen, Miss Nutritionist and Verve Ambassador.

Raise your hand if you struggle with your sleep!?

Me too. And the statistics are not pretty! According to a recent British study 79% of us struggle to switch off at night-time and 60% of us wake up in the night with thoughts of work and other worries.

Despite adults needing 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night we are averaging around 6 hours per night. PLUS 54% of adults say stress and anxiety were the top reasons they have trouble falling asleep. 

If this is you and you’re looking to change your sleeping game once and for all then look no further because Verve's new Eclipse Duo might just be the miracle sleep aid that you need…

What is Eclipse Duo? 

Eclipse Duo is a premium, all-natural sleep aid with a unique duo-capsule technology designed to deliver a restful and uninterrupted night's sleep - every night. You take two capsules of Twilight 30 mins before bed to send you to sleep and two capsules of Midnight at bedtime to keep you asleep. Clever. 

Now, I want to take a deep dive into each capsule to share with you why both formulas are so powerful.

Twilight. What’s inside? 

Montmorency Cherry

The main ingredient in Twilight is Montmorency Cherry which is packed with melatonin. This is the hormone that surges when it gets dark and tells the body to fall asleep. As well as helping you to fall asleep, it improves overall sleep quality and duration. In one study, participants who drank Montmorency cherry juice before bed increased their sleep time by an average of 83 minutes per night. 

Montmorency cherry is also high in another amino acid called tryptophan which gets converted into Serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep, appetite, mood, and pain. So, it has a multi-disciplinary effect. 

L-Theanine

Another star ingredient in the twilight capsule is L-Theanine. I love L-Theanine because it increases GABA, the calming neurotransmitter which is key for helping us to feel calm and drift off to sleep. I like to call it natures Valium  

L-theanine may also facilitate sleep through its effects on brain waves. Several studies which looked at L-theanine on brain activity found that L-theanine increases alpha brain waves compared to placebo. Alpha brain waves are associated with feelings of being relaxed and rested. 

Lemon Balm 

Lemon Balm is another important ingredient inside this capsule. Many people overlook the significance of lemon balm when it comes to sleep because it contains chemicals that have a sedative effect by increasing the production of the neurotransmitter, GABA, which helps to control the body’s response to stress. In one study subjects who were given the lemon balm described increased feelings of calmness.

Chamomile 

Most people are familiar with the herb Chamomile and it’s calming properties. Chamomile has been used for thousands of years as a natural sleep aid. Chamomile's sedative effects may come from its flavonoid content, particularly apigenin, which binds to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain.  In that randomised clinical trial, they found a significantly greater reduction in anxiety symptoms in those taking chamomile versus placebo. 

Lavender 

Lavender is top of the list when it comes to helping us sleep. The active ingredient in lavender is linalool which has a positive on our central nervous system. It helps to relax the CNS by targeting the areas of the brain responsible for mood, heart rate, and blood pressure.

A study in 2005 concluded that lavender was effective for those suffering with insomnia. 

Let’s take a look at what’s inside capsule two – Midnight

Magnesium 

The key ingredient in this capsule is Magnesium. This is a mineral that dilates the blood vessels which means that the muscles are more relaxed because blood flow is increased. 

So, taking it a night time is a great idea. Especially if you have muscle aches and pains or restless leg syndrome at night. Mg really helps with that. 

50% of the population are deficient in Magnesium which might be why the statics are so alarming!  It plays a key role in reducing tiredness and improving sleep efficiency, which is crucial for feeling rested when you wake up.  In one study, adults who took Mg before bed spent less time awake in bed and received lower scores on an insomnia scale.  

One of the encouraging things about this mineral as a sleep aid is that it plays a key role in regulating melatonin which tells the body to fall asleep in response to darkness.  Interestingly, studies have found that taking Mg in combination with Melatonin AND B Vitamins improves overall sleep quality in people with insomnia. Vitamins work best in synergy! 

Reishi Mushroom 

I love the reishi mushroom because it has an array of health benefits but more notably on your sleep. The reishi mushroom has been clinically proven to reduce sleep latency AND improve the overall quality of your sleep. A study in 2011 found that when extracts of reishi mushrooms were taken for three days, it significantly increased total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement sleep in the test subjects. NREM sleep is a restful phase of sleep where the body repairs tissues, builds bone and muscle, and strengthens the immune system.

It important to highlight that this mushroom has apoptogenic properties which means it brings this back into balance. It works on the adrenal glands by reducing the stress hormone cortisol in the body so it’s a key compound if you’re looking to adapt to stress. It is known as the mushroom of immortality which makes sense given the evidence! 

Lion’s Mane Mushroom 

Lions Mane is known as the ‘brain’ mushroom because it stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF). These neurons are found in the brain and are responsible for modulating sleep. 

What’s more is that early research suggests that Lion’s Mane mushroom has a positive impact on REM sleep. Rapid Eye movement Sleep is associated with vivid dreaming, learning, consolidating experiences, creativity and memory. 

Saffron 

This ancient spice has been used for centuries for improving overall sleep quality. It interacts with various neurotransmitters that play pivotal roles in regulating mood and the sleep-wake cycles. Consequently, research has indicated that saffron supplementation can enhance sleep quality and reduce the severity of insomnia. 

Conclusion 

If all the above evidence is enough, I’ve been taking the new Eclipse Duo by Verve and it’s put me to sleep and kept me asleep ever since. Every time I take it I fall into a deep sleep and wake up feeling fresh and raring to go. It’s noticeable the spring it puts in my step. 

If you’re someone who struggles with sleepless-ness, I highly recommend giving Verve Eclipse Duo a try. Use my discount code ROSIE10 to get 10% off.