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The problem with natural sleep aids

Natural sleep aids like melatonin and magnesium supplements, valerian root, and tart cherry juice are often touted by people faced with sleepless nights. But can they actually help you fall and stay asleep? According to the National Academy of Medicine, 50 to 70 million people in the United States face chronic sleep issues—and collectively, Americans spend $67 billion dollars on sleep aids every year. Despite a growing global market for natural sleep aids, they likely do little to help. Experts agree that sleep supplements don’t combat what’s at the root of insomnia: anxiety. “Insomnia is a medical condition,” says Michael Grandner, a clinical psychologist and director of the Sleep and Health…

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