174. Is Melatonin the Next Vitamin D? Unlock Deeper Sleep, Gut Health & Hormone Balance

Struggling with restless nights, stubborn inflammation, or the roller‑coaster of perimenopause?

In this powerhouse episode of The Women’s Vibrancy Code Podcast, functional‑medicine women’s health expert and Host Maraya Brown, unpacks the real story behind melatonin—the multitasking hormone scientists now call “the next vitamin D".

What you’ll learn:

• Melatonin myths vs. facts: why this hormone is way more than a sleepy-time gummy.
• Gut–brain connection: your intestines make 400× more melatonin than your pineal gland—discover how that shapes energy, nutrient absorption, and bloating.
• Circadian sabotage: how blue-light overload creates “darkness deficiency,” suppressing melatonin by up to 80 % (plus quick lighting fixes).
• Antioxidant & mitochondrial power: melatonin outperforms vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione at neutralizing free radicals and repairing cellular energy.
• Detox & immunity: the hormone’s role in liver cleanse, glymphatic “brain wash,” long-haul viral recovery, and inflammation control.
• Symptom checklist: migraines, PCOS, insulin resistance, rheumatoid arthritis, neuro-degeneration—how low melatonin links them all.
• Smart supplementation: plant-based (phyto) melatonin vs. synthetic, starter micro-dose 0.3–1 mg, and how to avoid next-day grogginess.
• Life-stage shifts: why levels plummet after puberty and crash at 50 (and how peri- & post-menopausal women can benefit).
• Action blueprint: 6 step-by-step fixes—morning sunlight, evening screen curfew, fiber-rich gut foods, daily movement, Dutch Plus + GI-MAP testing, and rhythmic sleep hygiene.

 

Listen now to reboot your rest, detox like a pro, and reignite your vitality. Share this episode with a sister, friend, or client battling burnout—and leave a 5‑star review so more women can hear the show!

Timestamps:

03:00 Why experts now call melatonin “the next vitamin D” and why you should care

04:30 How your gut makes 400× more melatonin than your brain—and what that means for energy, bloat, and nutrient absorption

05:50 The antioxidant/mitochondrial super‑powers of melatonin that outclass vitamins C & E

07:30 Exactly how blue‑light and “darkness deficiency” slash melatonin levels (plus quick lighting fixes)

8:30 The symptom checklist: migraines, insulin resistance, PCOS, brain fog—how l