What is melatonin?

What is melatonin? The hormone melatonin is produced naturally by the body at nighttime, in response to darkness. It's nicknamed the sleep hormone due to its role in our Circadian rhythm, getting us ready to go to sleep in the evening. It's secreted by the pineal gland, located at the back of the brain, and then released into the bloodstream. In the morning, another hormone called cortisol takes over and transitions us into wakefulness. Can't you also get melatonin supplements? Great; I’m off to the pharmacy then! In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: Who is Rosalia? What is deepfake democracy? What is environmental racism? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices