You may have heard the term ashwagandha when you have walked down the supplement aisle at a drugstore, shopped at a health food store, or learned about a trendy adaptogenic drink like moon milk.
While you may assume that ashwagandha is good for you, do you really know what it is, and what it does to your body?
What is ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an ancient herb that has been used for over 4,000 years. It is sometimes referred to as Indian ginseng or poison gooseberry. This herb is traditionally used in Ayurvedic practices and is considered an adaptogen, which may help the body adapt to stress.
Adaptogens typically come in the form of an herb or a mushroom. Many adaptogens, including ashwagandha, are thought to have a positive effect on the adrenal glands, and indirectly, cortisol levels, among other roles in the body.
Cortisol is a hormone that is released by the adrenal glands in times of stress. Thus, these herbs may play a role in how we may manage everyday pressures by possibly keeping cortisol levels in check.
Think about when you are not feeling stressed. Your body feels relaxed, you sleep better, your blood pressure and blood sugars may be better controlled, your immune system is likely stronger, and your brain seems to function better.
Adaptogens like ashwagandha may help manage stress levels and therefore may result in some positive outcomes.
What are the health benefits of ashwagandha?
Incorporating ashwagandha into a lifestyle may offer some major health benefits. The most obvious outcome is having a better ability to adapt to stress, since it is an adaptogen.
Some other health benefits one may experience when taking ashwagandha on a consistent basis include:
- Improved attention and focus (1),
- Better blood sugar control in people with a diagnosis of non-insulin dependent diabetes (2),
- Decreased triglycerides, serum cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol levels in people with mildly elevated serum cholesterol levels (2),
- Increased muscle strength (3),
- Improved sleep (3),
- Increased reduction in body fat percentage (4),
- Improved memory function (5),
- Balanced testosterone levels in men (6)
- Improved sperm count and motility in men with fertility challenges (7).
How to get Ashwagandha In Your Diet
Adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha are commonly incorporated into a healthy lifestyle in many ways. In fact, you may have enjoyed a taste of this amazing herb without even realizing it.
One easy way to incorporate ashwagandha into your diet is to use a green superfoods powder like Naked Greens. Besides ashwagandha, it also contains other ingredients like organic broccoli, wheatgrass, and spirulina, to boost immunity and promote overall health.
Add Naked Greens to your smoothie, baked good, or simply water, to get the benefits of ashwagandha, and to increase your daily intake of greens and grasses.
Make a Warm Glass of Moon Milk
Moon milk is a popular alternative to the classic warm milk.
It is traditionally made by warming milk or a milk alternative with ashwagandha, spices, and honey. Sipping moon milk has been thought to help support restful sleep.
Add a scoop of a clean collagen peptide, like Naked Collagen, for an extra boost to your skin health.
Take an Ashwagandha Supplement
If you are looking for a quick fix, you can also take an ashwagandha supplement, but be sure to look for brands that use high-quality ingredients without any fillers or artificial colors.
Final thoughts on ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an ayurvedic adaptogenic herb that may help you cope with stress, increase muscle strength, improve sleep, along with a slew of other potential benefits.
Adding a green superfood powder with ashwagandha to your diet is an easy way to promote wellbeing and optimize overall health.
