8 Adaptogens to Make You Stress-Free for 2020
Did you know constant stress can be a detriment to your health? With all the pressures of everyday life (long workdays, tiring commutes, tight deadlines, etc.), many Americans suffer from stress and anxiety. A Gallup poll from 2017 found that 44% of American adults claim to frequently encounter stress in their lives, with another 35% claiming to sometimes encounter stress.
As the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, stress has become a major health issue for its ability to cause other damaging health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. This research has led stress management aids to become popular among consumers under 40, especially supplements such as adaptogens.
Adaptogens are herbs that train the body to counteract stressors of all types (physical, chemical, or biological). They can be incorporated into most diets through capsules and pre-mixed powders. When taking adaptogens, your body learns how to handle the effects of stress by hacking your stress response. Generally, our bodies go through three phases when we’re stressed:
- The Alarm Phase: the initial symptoms the body experiences, such as a higher heart rate and a boost of adrenaline and energy. This is where the body goes into “fight-or-flight,” a stress response where you choose to flee or protect yourself.
- The Phase of Resistance: Once the stressful event passes over, the body begins to normalize and goes into recovery mode to repair itself.
- The Phase of Exhaustion: This phase is the result of the body struggling with chronic stress. If it goes untreated for too long, the body’s physical, emotional, and mental resources can be so immensely drained that the body can no longer defend itself against stress.
As the body enters the Phase of Resistance, adaptogens get to work by kicking out hormones caused by the stressor. This increases the body’s energy to avoid crashing and enhances concentration to allow the brain to think clearer. Additionally, adaptogens can potentially combat other health issues such as fatigue, depression, and insomnia.
Each adaptogen claims to have different restorative properties to help the body adapt to stress, so it’s important to know which one will deliver the results you want. For this, we have placed some of the most popular adaptogens into one of three categories: Long-Term Stress Adaptogens, Intense Stress & Anxiety Adaptogens, and Immune Health Adaptogens.
Long-Term Stress Adaptogens
Ashwagandha
Mainly found in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, this evergreen shrub has, historically, been used to treat a wide variety of health problems including arthritis, constipation, insomnia, diabetes, and memory loss. Ashwagandha has also been seen to promote heart health as it has been treated for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and chest pain.
Asian Ginseng
As one of the most popular types of ginseng, Asian ginseng has anti-inflammatory properties from its high levels of antioxidants and can improve brain functions such as memory, behavior, and mood for short periods. It has also shown to improve pancreatic cell function and boost insulin production to improve blood sugar.
Intense Stress & Anxiety Adaptogens
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng is usually used to treat conditions for the heart and blood vessels including high blood pressure and low blood pressure. This has allowed it to be used for improving athletic performance and focus.
Rhodiola Rosea
Also known as Arctic root, Rhodiola rosea has been seen to stimulate serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine activity to bring a balance between the neurotransmitters, leading to healthy neurological functioning. Other benefits of the herb include alleviating fatigue, enhancing exercise performance, and possibly improving diabetes.
Schisandra
Along with its ability to boost mood and lower stress levels, Schisandra has been seen to maintain vitality and support cellular function, as well as protect the skin from environmental stress, toxins, and overexposure. Schisandra also has extreme levels of antioxidants, making it an ideal choice for an anti-inflammatory.
Immune Health Adaptogens
Reishi
This popular fungus is also known as the “spirit plant” in China for its calming properties such as alleviating anxiety, easing depression, and relaxing the body. On top of this, extracts of reishi have been seen to have positive effects on the immune system as it produces natural killer cells that detect and potentially destroy harmful, damaged cells.
Chaga
Chaga is another rich antioxidant adaptogen that is used to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. Some studies have seen the mushroom to slow the aging process and reduce low-density lipoprotein, also known as the “bad” cholesterol.
Cordyceps
If you’re ever feeling low on energy, cordyceps is a great addition to your diet to give you a boost in endurance and stamina. Studies have found that cordyceps can improve athletic performance because they help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently and enhance the body’s blood flow.
Now that we understand the different effects of the most popular adaptogens available, there is a simple way to ensure you are getting the most out of these pharmaceuticals:
- Find the best way for you to incorporate them into your diet
- Rotate between the different adaptogens every six weeks
- Follow the product instructions and dosages
With 35% of consumers reporting likely to use supplements to handle their stress, and another 34% stating they would use supplements to maintain mood states, the demand for adaptogens will be growing more throughout the decade.
*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products and supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
