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
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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Exelente información!!
Consumo el beauty elixer agregado a mi jugo
Saludos
Thanks for sharing this article, Jil. There is yet another herb which they call it Shilajit. It is also an adaptogen. Here is some information about it http://purple-tips.com/shilajit-a-miracle-herb/
Happy Christmas.
I’ve never heard of adaptogens before – I’m very intrigued! I think I’d most like to try the Beauty Elixir.
Great post. Me and my mom need those adaptogens. Will share this to my mom asap. Thanks for sharing.
I never heard of adaptogens before !! Holy Basil is one which grow in our garden. Thanks for a great share .
I would love to try the beauty elixir
I love that you teach us something new! Interesting topic, and I would benefit from the Belly Elixir, for sure!
Wow, I was not aware of the benefits of adaptogens! I really need to start have tons of them 🙂
That Holy Basil has my name written all over it, because I’ve been struggling with some pretty strong insomnia lately so the fatigue is real! I love looking into alternatives for getting the nutrients I need through juicing and smoothies too!
The holy basil is definitely something I’ll look into . I’m definitely trying to fight fatigue and stress.
Those do look like some great and healthy recipes. I had never heard of adaptogens before. I will have to check this out and learn some more about it. Thanks for the great information.
I’m definitely going to have to check this out! The only one I’ve tried on a consistent basis is ginseng (which is pretty much my substitute for caffeine when I need it)!
I’d love to try the Brain Elixir (or the Beauty one)! Amazing Grass is awesome! <3
how interesting! i love learning about these plants! a friend just gave us some holy basil , i will show this to her! =)
Oh, and I pinned too: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/64317100912522207/
This is so interesting and I’d love to try them. I’m just not sure which one I want to try the most! I’m thinking at my age I need them all! 🙂
Wow those all look yummy. I would love to try for the benefits.
I have never heard of adaptogens. But It’s very interesting and I would love to give it a try. All the recipes just sounds delicious!
I don’t think I’ve heard of adaptogens before but as new as the term for me maybe, I think it’s really interesting and I would love to learn more. I really appreciate the info and the recipes that you shared.
Thank you Carol. Have a beautiful day.
This was so informative, I have never heard of adaptogens. Definitely need to try some of the recipes you listed. The quote at the end is so perfect
Thank you Angela. Have a beautiful day.
I need some of that holy basil!
I want to try the belly elixir!
Hi Paige, the belly elixir is my husband’s favorite.
This is really interesting and I would love to try some of these adaptogen recipe sometime.
Thanks for sharing this info!
Oh my gosh! (smacking hand to face) I know all of the above herb ingredients but never put the word adaptogens with them.
Thanks so much for this information. I am TOTALLY entering the giveaway.
I would love to try the … gosh to pick one.. can I pick two?? LOL
I would like to try the Sweet Berry one?? Or the Green Superfood?.. to many awesome ones to pick out.
Hi Mikki, the products Amazing Grass provides are amazing. I’d say that even if this wasn’t a sweat pink campaign. I’m a long time user.
Fascinating topic! Love all the recipes you shared 🙂
Thank you Abbey! That means a lot coming from my go-to for nutrition info. Have a beautiful day!