Natrol Sleep and Restore Drink Mix Review from a Dietitian

Natrol Sleep and Restore is a drink mix designed to help encourage a restful sleep, but can it really help you catch more Zs?

By Rachel Gargano MS, RD, CSSD, CBS | Chief Registered Dietitian at Live it Up,

— On Jan 14, 2026

Natrol Sleep and Restore Drink Mix Review from a Dietitian

In this article:

As a registered dietitian, I find that many of my clients are battling stress and having trouble sleeping, which can negatively impact their health and wellness. That's why I'm eager to find natural supplements that purportedly help encourage rest and relaxation.

After learning about the newly released Natrol Sleep and Restore sleep aid drink mix, I was curious to see how it compared to my go-to recommendation, Live it Up Golden Hour. I reviewed Natrol's ingredients, health claims, costs, and more to see if it’s worth a try.

Below, I'll discuss:

What is Natrol Sleep and Restore?
Purported Health Benefits
Ingredients Breakdown
Quality and Safety
Cost Analysis
Taste Review
Why I Recommend Live it Up Golden Hour

Natrol Sleep and Restore Quick Facts

Key ingredients:
- Magnesium
- GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid)
- Botanical blend of tart cherry extract, lemon balm extract, and chamomile extract
- Vitamin B6
Flavors:
- Cherry
- Lemon Chamomile
Manufacturer health claims: Supports faster falling asleep, muscle relaxation, and brain health
Nutrition facts: 1 serving = 1 stick
- Calories: 10
Container size: 10 stick packs per box
Formula type:
- Powdered drink mix
- Capsules
- Gummies
Price:
- $19.99 on Amazon (prices may vary by retailer)
Shipping:
- Free with Amazon Prime
- Without an Amazon Prime subscription, shipping costs will vary based on the customer's location
- Shipping may vary based on the vendor

Bottom Line: Is Natrol Sleep and Restore Worth a Try?

Natrol Sleep includes several ingredients that may help you enjoy a restful night's sleep, such as magnesium glycinate and GABA, but it also contains some fillers and stevia. Unfortunately, I think the sleep aid also has a bitter aftertaste and is expensive, costing nearly $2 per serving, so I don't believe it's worth it.

Instead, I recommend Live it Up Golden Hour, which is a delicious and affordable milk latte bedtime blend that does not contain any fillers, additives, artificial flavors, or stevia. This melatonin-free calming powdered mix features adaptogens and antioxidants to support rest, relaxation, and your overall well-being.

While I realize that both products have very different formulas, I believe Live it Up Golden Hour offers an excellent drink mix.

Learn More About Golden Hour

What Is Natrol?

In 1980, Elliot Balbert founded Natrol, a supplement brand focused on supporting sleep and relaxation. In 2020, New Mountain Capital acquired the brand, continuing the sleep aid brand's legacy.

The Natrol brand claims to provide the #1 drug-free sleep aid, providing a variety of non-habit-forming supplements, such as melatonin and melatonin-free gummies, tablets, and capsules. In 2025, Natrol released the Sleep and Restore magnesium glycinate drink mixes, which purportedly offer the ultimate restorative sleep.

Natrol’s Sleep and Restore Drink Mix Pros

Contains GABA and magnesium glycinate to support sleep quality
Botanical blend ingredients may encourage relaxation
Non-GMO and GMP-certified
No artificial flavors or added sugar
Melatonin-free
Also available in gummies or capsules

Natrol’s Sleep and Restore Drink Mix Cons

Somewhat small dose of magnesium
Expensive ($20 for 10 stick packs)
Vitamin B6 exceeds the daily recommended values (588% DV)
Contains fillers (maltodextrin and silicon dioxide)
Some customers report an unpleasant aftertaste
Not available on the Natrol website, so it doesn't offer subscriptions

Natrol Sleep and Restore Purported Benefits

While Natrol Sleep and Restore claims to offer several health benefits, such as supporting metabolic function and bone health, we'll address its three main purported claims below.

#1: Helps with Falling Asleep Faster

Natrol Sleep and Restore contains several ingredients that may improve sleep quality and help make it easier for you to fall asleep faster, also known as sleep latency.

The formula contains magnesium, an essential mineral that may promote sleep in several ways. For starters, it can increase your body's natural melatonin production, which regulates your circadian rhythm. Magnesium also activates GABA, which are calming neurotransmitters that can reduce stress and promote relaxation in your brain.

Now, the Natrol Sleep Restore blend also contains GABA, suggesting that the supplement may further decrease the stimulation of nerve cells in your brain, thereby reducing stress and aiding sleep.

Furthermore, the botanical blend has ingredients that may also contribute to better sleep. For instance, tart cherry is a source of magnesium, while chamomile is an antioxidant that has calming effects.

While this magnesium sleep supplement does contain a variety of sleep-enhancing ingredients, they may not have a high enough dose for some people’s sleep needs. For example, the formula only contains 100 mg of magnesium, while health experts recommend 250-500 mg for a dose and research has found that consistently taking 500 mg daily may decrease sleep latency and improve sleep quality.

Why Try Golden Hour?

Did You Know? You can increase your magnesium intake by consuming foods that are naturally rich in this mineral. For example, nuts, seeds, legumes, leafy greens, and fiber-rich whole grains are excellent sources of magnesium.

#2: Promotes Muscle Relaxation

The magnesium and GABA in the Natrol formula may also support muscle relaxation.

Magnesium helps block calcium, which is responsible for making your muscles contract. This allows your muscles to relax and helps prevent cramps and spasms. GABA can also assist with muscle relaxation, as it helps calm your body to prevent it from triggering your muscles to contract.

Adding GABA-rich foods to your diet may help relax your muscles and support better sleep. Foods with naturally occurring GABA include peas, potatoes, tomatoes, chestnuts, and spinach.

#3: Supports Brain Health

The Natrol sleep aid may also support brain health in various ways.

For one, GABA and magnesium offer calming effects, reducing stress and promoting relaxation, which can help your cognitive health. This, in combination with the antioxidant properties of cherry extract, lemon balm, and chamomile, can have positive effects on your brain.

The blend also contains vitamin B6, which is essential for brain development and cognitive health. Adequate levels of this vitamin have also been shown to lower feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, this blend contains 588% of the daily recommended value of vitamin B6.

Natrol Sleep and Restore Ingredients Breakdown

Next, let's unpack some of the main ingredients in this formula:

Magnesium: This mineral can help relax your muscles and regulate your sleep cycle.
GABA: GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that may help reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
Botanical Blend: Tart cherry, lemon balm, and chamomile are rich in antioxidants and may offer calming effects that support sleep.
Vitamin B6: This B vitamin may help support brain health and mood, though this is 588% DV.
Flavoring: Citric acid, natural flavors, and stevia extract are added to enhance the taste of the drink mix.
Other ingredients: Maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, and fruit and vegetable juice are additives that contribute to the texture and color of the product.

Natrol Sleep and Restore Quality and Safety

The Natrol brand follows GMP requirements at its facilities and tests all of its products for quality, safety, and consistency. It also partners with NSF International, a third-party certifier, to review its facilities and processes, ensuring it aligns with industry standards. I was glad to see that the brand is committed to quality, like Live it Up, which undergoes third-party testing in GMP-certified facilities.

Natrol Sleep and Restore Cost Analysis

Natrol Sleep and Restore is unique in that it doesn't sell its products on its own website, so you must purchase them from a third party, such as Amazon, CVS, Walgreens, or GNC. The retail option adds convenience, though not selling on their own website means you don’t have the chance to subscribe and get additional discounts.

While prices may vary based on the retailer, Amazon sells a box of the drink mix with 10 stick packs for $19.99. Shipping is free if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. Otherwise, you're responsible for the shipping and handling fees.

As long as you purchase the sleep supplement through an authorized U.S. seller, Natrol offers a 45-day money refund/replacement guarantee.

At roughly $2 per serving, this product is definitely on the expensive side compared to other sleep aids and supplements. For example, Live it Up Golden Hour costs only $39.99 for a 30-day supply ($1.33 per serving). Plus, Live it Up includes free shipping on every purchase and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Natrol Sleep and Restore Taste Review

The Natrol Sleep supplement comes in two flavors, cherry and lemon chamomile.

I found that they were fairly sweet but had a bitter, artificial aftertaste that ruined the experience for me. I suspect that the stevia may be what's causing the bitterness, as the sweetener is often associated with a strong aftertaste (especially when combined with magnesium, which can be metallic tasting). While I wasn't fond of the flavors, I did find that the powder dissolved quite nicely with only a little bit of grittiness left over.

I wanted to know what others thought of the taste, so I looked into some verified Natrol Sleep and Restore reviews. I couldn't find much feedback on the cherry flavor, as the majority of customers were commenting on the lemon chamomile flavor.

Some customers agreed with me, noting a “weird processed aftertaste” or mentioning that “the taste is definitely a big downside” for them.

However, some customers loved the taste, particularly the lemon chamomile flavor, which was “like a sweetened iced tea.”

One reviewer found the flavor "super light and comforting, kind of like a bedtime tea,” while another said they truly “enjoy the taste of this drink before bedtime."

While I appreciate that Natrol Sleep and Restore’s Calming Drink Mix offers a melatonin-free powder with proven sleep-supporting ingredients, it does have a few drawbacks. For instance, it contains fillers and stevia, comes at a higher price, and has an unpleasant aftertaste.

Because of these reasons, I'll continue to recommend Live it Up Golden Hour to my clients. I realize that the two brands have distinct blends with different ingredients, but I believe Golden Hour offers a great melatonin-free and magnesium-free formula.

After all, Golden Hour is a relaxing golden milk latte that's a delicious bedtime drink with warming, antioxidant-rich roots and spices, like turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The powdered drink also includes the adaptogen ashwagandha which supports your body's stress response and promotes a good night's sleep. Furthermore, the affordable, all-natural formula contains no added sugar, stevia, fillers, or artificial flavors.

I understand everyone's personal preferences and health goals are unique, and you may have to try a few different options to find the right sleep supplement for your nightly routine.

Try Golden Hour

FAQs About Natrol Sleep and Restore

Review our FAQs to learn more!

Does Natrol Sleep and Restore really work?

Yes, Natrol Sleep and Restore may help your sleep. The sleep formula contains magnesium, GABA, and a calming botanical blend that might help you experience restorative sleep. However, everyone is unique and may respond differently to sleep supplements. What's more, other factors, such as stress and lifestyle choices, can interfere with your sleep quality and the impact of these supplements.

What ingredients are in Natrol Sleep and Restore?

Natrol Sleep and Restore contains vitamin B6, GABA, magnesium glycinate, and a botanical blend with tart cherry, lemon balm, and chamomile. The formula also contains fillers, additives, and stevia.

What is the number one sleep supplement?

There are many different sleep supplements on the market, so oftentimes it comes down to personal preference and what works for your body. I recommend Live it Up Golden Hour as a great option to try because it's a warm and calming adaptogenic milk latte that helps relax you before bedtime, setting you up for a good night's rest.

Are Natrol supplements good quality?

Yes, Natrol supplements are high quality. The brand follows GMP regulations and every product undergoes third-party testing, ensuring quality, safety, and consistency. Natrol has also received certifications from NSF International.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice or individualized nutrition counseling. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to supplements or medications. Any product or brand mentions are for general information and don’t guarantee results.

References

About the author:

Rachel Gargano MS, RD, CSSD, CBS | Chief Registered Dietitian at Live it Up,

Rachel is a registered dietitian based in Contra Costa County, California, with over 15 years experience. She specializes in whole-body wellness and plant-based nutrition, helping people understand the dynamic interplay between food and health so they can live life to the fullest. When not helping others, she enjoys spending time with her kids, being physically active, and tending to her abundant household plants.

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