I recently just started taking zma again, not sure if it helps me sleep at all, but hey it's got minerals that are good for the muscles so can't go wrong. You are supposed to take it on an empty stomcahe, I usually take it an hour or so after my last meal, basically right before I go to bed. Alternitavely if you are worried about your last meal affecting it and you eat right before bed then you could take it before your last meal.