The Benefits of Adaptogens and How They Work

Adaptogens can help you create a more balanced, energized and healthy way of life.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are a unique group of herbal ingredients that have been used for centuries to restore the body’s physiological functioning. Adaptogens improve the health of your adrenal system, the system that’s in charge of managing your body’s hormonal response to stress. They work to bring hormones of your adrenal system back into balance, which helps overcome adrenal fatigue. Adaptogens are neither stimulants nor sedatives and do not have addictive properties and are reported as being safe to use long-term. (frank lipman, indigo herbs)

Adaptogens can help strengthen your body’s response to stress and enhance its ability to cope with anxiety and fight fatigue – and doing it slowly and gently without jolts or crashes. They’re called adaptogens because of their unique ability to “adapt” their function according to your body’s specific needs. Though the effects can be subtle, they’re real and with time you will feel a difference.

How Adaptogens Work

Our body’s have built in protective mechanism designed to protect us from the effects of acute stress that is commonly called you fight or flight response. But, there’s a catch, the mechanism is designed to mitigate short bursts of stress as opposed to chronic stresses many experience in day-to-day life. Chronic stress wreaks havoc on your body and keeps the adrenal system in a constant active state.

The many different adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms have similar functions and benefits (indigo herbs link), with each having slightly different healing properties.

Benefits of Adaptogens

• Boosts immunity
• Balances hormones
• Promotes cognitive function
• Antioxidants
• Healthy weight management
• Increased physical endurance
• Increased mental focus
• Mood balancing
• Anti-inflammatory properties

Use adaptogens with discretion and always pay attention to how your body feels after eating them. I have experienced noticeable differences in physical stress on my body when taking maca and/or ashwagndha and my husband adds maca to his daily green smoothie.

5 Types of Adaptogens

Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda, a form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing. It has been used for over 3,000 years to relieve stress, increase energy levels and improve concentration. Ashwagandha can also reduce blood sugar levels, reduce cortisol levels, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce symptoms of depression, reduce inflammation, improve memory,

Holy Basil is known in India as the “elixir of anti-aging.” Preliminary studies suggest that holy basil benefits include helping you fight fatigue and stress; boost your immune system; and regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and hormone levels.

Chaga is a type of fungus. It mainly grows on the outside of birch trees in very cold climates. Chaga mushrooms grow wild in places like Siberia, northern Canada, Alaska, and some northern areas of the continental United States. Chaga benefits include stimulating the immune system, a potent anti-viral, inflammation reducer, and improved physical endurance,

Moringa was discovered for its beneficial properties thousands of years ago, but only recently has it become known as one of the most impressive herbal supplements to hit the holistic health market. In fact, in 2008 the National Institute of Health called moringa the“plant of the year,” acknowledging that “perhaps like no other single species, this plant has the potential to help reverse multiple major environmental problems and provide for many unmet human needs.” Six proven moringa benefits to show that nickname is well-deserved. Moringa provides antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, balances hormones and slows the aging effect, helps improve digestive health, balances blood sugar levels, helping fight diabetes, rotects and nourishes the skin and helps stabilize your mood and protects brain health

Asian Ginseng has been one of the most valued (and expensive) medicinal plants in the world for thousands of years. It’s believed to affect the body by influencing metabolism within individual cells, and it has been studied extensively for its ability to help the body withstand stress. Western herbalists say that it restores and strengthens the body’s immune response, promotes longevity, and enhances the growth of normal cells. Research indicates that it promotes a sense of well-being and may protect against some kinds of cancer.

Adaptogens come in many forms—from pills to extracts and powders. You can take them as a supplement in pill form or use extracts and powders to add to recipes and brewed in teas.

Here are some of our favorite adaptogenic recipes to get you started:

Beauty Elixir Blueberry Matcha Latte Recipe

Blueberry Coconut Beauty Elixir Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Gut Healthy Ginger Peach Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Chocolate Hazelnut Brain Elixir-Infused Energy Balls Recipe

Happy Belly Elixir Butternut Squash Soup Recipe With Adaptogens

Protein Peanut Butter & Beauty Blueberry Jelly Smoothie Recipe

Belly Elixir Vegan Beet & Zucchini Loaf Cake Recipe

Non-Dairy Blueberry Beauty Elixir Nice Cream Recipe

Brain Boosting Chocolate Banana Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Beauty Elixir Blueberry Muffins Recipe

Far Out Fudge

Coffee, Elevated

Strawberry Milk for Restoring Hormonal Balance

Superfood Almond Butter Swirl Chocolate Cups

Creamy Matcha and Moringa Latte

Amazing Grass has a wonderful line of greens and adaptogens elixirs.

The elixirs include Beauty, Brain and Belly powders with organic fermented greens and a stress-reducing blend of 6 adaptogenic herbs including Moringa and Ashwagandha. The three delicious blends are each crafted with unique functional ingredients to support natural beauty, cognition and gut health.

Beauty Elixir is a delicious USDA organic powder combining our farm-fresh greens with adaptogenic herbs and pioneering functional ingredients to help support radiant skin, hair and nails.

Brain Elixir is a delicious, USDA organic powder blend combining our farm-fresh greens with adaptogenic herbs and pioneering functional ingredients to help support cognitive health, concentration & mental clarity.

Belly Elixir is a delicious USDA organic powder combining our farm-fresh greens with adaptogenic herbs and pioneering functional ingredients to help support digestion and gut health.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Amazing Grass through my partnership with Fit Approach. While I was compensated to review and write a post about Amazing Grass, all opinions are my own.

Please consult with a doctor with any medical issues, making diet changes or before beginning a training program. This information is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice and supervision of your personal physician.

Resources

• https://www.bewell.com/blog/adaptogens-natures-miracle-anti-stress-and-fatigue-fighters/
• https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/blog/4-incredible-benefits-of-adaptogens
• https://draxe.com/7-adaptogen-herbs-to-lower-cortisol/
• https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/what-are-adaptogens/#1
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-ashwagandha-benefits
• https://draxe.com/holy-basil-benefits/
• https://draxe.com/chaga-mushroom/
• https://draxe.com/moringa-benefits/

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