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Content sourced from the National Sleep Foundation
✦ Sleep Science

Sleep isn't downtime.
It's when your body does
its most important work.

Modern sleep science has revealed something profound: the hours you spend asleep are among the most biologically active of your day. Here is what actually happens - and why it matters more than almost anything else you do.

1/3
of your life is spent sleeping
7–9
hours needed by adults every night
4–5
sleep cycles per night
0 min
per complete sleep cycle
EXPLORE THE SCIENCE
✦ The Foundation

Sleep is not a lifestyle choice. It is a biological necessity.

Every system in your body depends on sleep to function. Not just to feel good - to function at all.

Brain & Memory

Consolidates memories, clears toxic proteins, restores cognitive function overnight.

Cardiovascular

Heart rate and blood pressure drop during sleep, giving your heart essential rest.

Immune System

Produces cytokines and immune cells that fight infection and inflammation while you rest.

Metabolism

Regulates insulin, hunger hormones, and energy storage - disrupted by poor sleep.

Hormonal System

Growth hormone is released almost exclusively during deep sleep driving repair and recovery.

Mental Health

Emotional regulation, stress resilience, and mood all depend on adequate REM sleep.

Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day. Neglect sleep and diet, exercise, and mental health all suffer.

- Sleep science research consensus

Based on NSF research - thensf.org
✦ Sleep Architecture

What happens during each stage of sleep.

Sleep is not a uniform state. Your brain cycles through distinct stages throughout the night - each serving a specific biological purpose.

N1 & N2 · 50-60% of night

The gateway to rest

Light sleep is your transition zone - the bridge between wakefulness and deeper rest. Your brain produces sleep spindles and K-complexes, your body temperature drops, and your heart rate slows. You can be woken relatively easily in this stage.

Body temperature begins to drop
Muscles relax and may twitch
Brain waves slow from alpha to theta waves
Eye movements slow and stop

Melly's melatonin helps you reach light sleep faster by reinforcing the natural sleep signal your brain is trying to send.

Theta waves (4–8 Hz)

✦ The Cost of Poor Sleep

What happens to your body when you don't sleep enough.

Sleep deprivation does not just make you tired. The effects are systemic, progressive, and in many cases, cumulative.

24 hrs
one missed night
Mild Impairment
You notice it
Reduced attention and reaction time
Increased irritability and stress
Mild cognitive slowing
Greater hunger (ghrelin spikes)
48 hrs
two nights
Significant Impact
Performance drops sharply
Cognitive performance equivalent to 0.05% blood alcohol
Microsleeps begin (brief involuntary sleep episodes)
Immune function measurably reduced
Emotional regulation impaired
72 hrs+
three or more nights
Severe Impairment
The body starts to break down
Hallucinations can begin
Severe cognitive impairment
Metabolism significantly disrupted
Immune system seriously compromised
Chronic
consistently under 6 hours
Long-term Damage
The invisible accumulation
Significantly elevated risk of heart disease and hypertension
Increased cancer risk (multiple studies)
Accelerated cellular aging
Substantially higher risk of type 2 diabetes

Effects sourced from NSF research and peer-reviewed sleep studies.

View NSF research →
✦ The Research

What science has discovered about sleep in recent years.

Immunity

Adults who sleep fewer than 6 hours per night are 4 times more likely to catch a cold when exposed to a virus compared to those sleeping 7 hours or more.

Cognition

After 17 to 19 hours without sleep, cognitive performance is comparable to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% - enough to legally impair driving in most countries.

Brain Health

During deep sleep the brain's glymphatic system clears toxic waste proteins including amyloid-beta - the same proteins that accumulate in Alzheimer's disease.

Genetics

Just one week of sleeping 6 hours per night alters the expression of over 700 genes - including those regulating inflammation, immunity, and stress response.

Longevity

People who consistently get 7 to 9 hours of sleep score significantly higher on cognitive tests, report better wellbeing, and statistically live longer.

Melatonin

Melatonin supplementation at physiological doses of 0.5 to 3mg is shown to reduce sleep onset time by up to 34% in healthy adults with delayed sleep phase.

Mental Health

REM sleep deprivation specifically is linked to a significantly higher risk of anxiety and depression - the emotional processing that happens in REM cannot be replaced.

Cardiovascular

People sleeping fewer than 6 hours regularly have a 48% higher risk of developing heart disease and a 15% higher risk of stroke.

✦ Sleep Recommendations

How much sleep does your age group need?

The National Sleep Foundation recommendations by age group - based on extensive research into what different life stages require.

Age GroupRecommended HoursMay Be Appropriate
Newborns (0-3 months)14-17 hours11-19 hours
Infants (4-11 months)12-15 hours10-18 hours
Toddlers (1-2 years)11-14 hours9-16 hours
Preschoolers (3-5 years)10-13 hours8-14 hours
School-age (6-13 years)9-11 hours7-12 hours
Teenagers (14-17 years)8-10 hours7-11 hours
Adults (18-64 years)7-9 hours6-11 hours
Older adults (65+)7-8 hours5-9 hours

Source: National Sleep Foundation Sleep Duration Recommendations - View full guidelines →

✦ Where Melly Fits In

The science behind every Melly ingredient.

Melly is not just a sleep supplement. Every ingredient is chosen based on specific sleep science - targeting the most common reasons people struggle to sleep.

Melatonin
3mg per gummy
Optimal physiological dose
The Science

Melatonin

How it works in your body

Melatonin binds to MT1 and MT2 receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus - your brain's master clock. This binding signals your entire body that it is nighttime and initiates the biological cascade that leads to sleep.

What the research shows

Clinical trials consistently show melatonin reduces sleep onset time in people with delayed sleep phase. A meta-analysis of 19 studies found it reduced time to fall asleep by an average of 7 minutes - small but meaningful for people who typically lie awake for 30+ minutes.

Sleep benefit: Faster sleep onset - typically within 20-30 minutes
Ashwagandha
200mg KSM-66 per gummy
Most studied ashwagandha extract
The Science

Ashwagandha

How it works in your body

Ashwagandha (KSM-66) is an adaptogen that works primarily by modulating the HPA axis - the hormonal system that controls your stress response. It reduces cortisol, the primary hormone that keeps you alert and prevents deep sleep entry.

What the research shows

A double-blind randomised controlled trial published in Cureus found that 300mg of KSM-66 ashwagandha significantly improved sleep quality, sleep onset time, and morning alertness compared to placebo after 8 weeks.

Sleep benefit: Deeper sleep - by reducing cortisol-driven night waking
Chamomile
150mg extract per gummy
Standardised apigenin content
The Science

Chamomile

How it works in your body

Chamomile contains apigenin, a flavonoid that binds to GABA-A receptors in the brain - the same receptor system targeted by many prescription sleep and anxiety medications, but without the dependency risk or cognitive side effects.

What the research shows

A randomised controlled trial in older adults found that chamomile extract significantly improved sleep quality scores and reduced nighttime waking compared to placebo. The mechanism via GABA-A binding is well established in the literature.

Sleep benefit: Calmer transition into sleep - with less night waking
Vitamin B6
2mg per gummy
167% of daily recommended value
The Science

Vitamin B6

How it works in your body

Vitamin B6 is a cofactor in the biosynthesis of serotonin from tryptophan, and subsequently in the conversion of serotonin to melatonin. It supports the entire biochemical chain of your body's natural sleep chemistry.

What the research shows

Vitamin B6 supplementation is associated with more vivid dreams and better dream recall - an indicator of enhanced REM sleep. It also reduces the residual sedation that some sleep supplements cause, supporting a clear-headed morning wake.

Sleep benefit: Clear-headed wake up - with no next-day grogginess

Now you know the science.
Time to experience the difference.

Melly combines the most effective natural sleep ingredients at the doses that science actually supports. Try it from the night it launches.