It’s safe to say that the vast majority of people are always looking for ways to manage the stress in their lives, while also trying using methods to help keep their energy levels up throughout the day.
This leads to trying out any number of things, such as yoga, more sleep, coffee, exercise, and trying to avoid stressful situations at work and in your personal life. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but the issue remains: stress is a part of life no matter what, and proper energy levels can certainly make a lot of things easier.
While there are a number of routes one can take to reduce stress and maintain their energy throughout any given day, natural ingredients and supplements are often not high on the list.
It’s time to rethink that.
Adaptogens are an effective and natural way to regulate your body’s overall functionality, and may very well be what you’ve been needing all along. These can come in several forms, but supplements are often the easiest way to go about it.
Curious as to how? You should be. Read on to find out.
What Exactly Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens are plants and herbs that can help your body deal with stress, while encouraging homeostasis. When consumed as supplements to your diet, adaptogens interact with your body to aid in regulating it, often in response to certain stressors.
They can help tweak hormone production, ensuring that you maintain proper levels for optimal functionality.
While this may sound complicated, it’s really not. Adaptogens mainly aid your adrenal glands in functioning.
These glands are what control the release of hormones such as cortisol, a stress-related hormone that regulates your body’s energy throughout the day. Cortisol levels rise in the morning to help you wake up, and then slowly dip as the day goes on until you go to bed.
Stressors that you encounter during the day can throw off your cortisone levels, which can then affect how you feel overall.
This can often be manageable in the short term, but if you’re dealing with stress over a long period, your cortisone production can become inconsistent, causing you to feel tired, groggy, unmotivated, and even depressed, which can then trigger a domino effect.
By consuming adaptogens, you are giving your adrenal glands reinforcements that help them to function more efficiently, which then carries over to how you feel, and how you respond to stress.
Consider this similar to what exercise does for your body and heart. Adaptogens are essentially helping train your body to better deal with stressors, regardless of scope.
Certain adaptogens aid certain functions and hormones more than others, including estrogen and testosterone. They can also aid certain organs, and help regulate blood sugar.
The Best Adaptogens For Stress
Many users of adaptogens take them to help manage their body’s reaction to stress, which in turn helps keep energy levels up. Here are some of the best for doing so.
Ashwagandha
This is likely the most popular of all adaptogens for stress. Ashwagandha can help decrease anxiety, while also lowering cortisol levels — an aspect that is very beneficial when stress has caused these levels to rise.
It’s also been shown to boost your memory and thinking, and some research suggests it’s even effective in reversing neurological toxins that stem from neurological diseases.
Any quality adaptogen supplement should start with ashwagandha.
Rhodiola Rosea
Sometimes known as arctic root, rhodiola rosea can reduce fatigue and exhaustion when you’re exposed to prolonged stressful situations. It can also boost your cognitive performance, and due to its effect on serotonin levels, rhodiola rosea may even boost your mood and decrease symptoms of depression.
These aspects make rhodiola rosea one of the most widely-used adaptogens, and a perfect inclusion into many adaptogen supplement blends.
Eleuthero Root (Siberian Ginseng)
Siberian ginseng is another adaptogen that is especially effective in boosting your energy levels. When consuming this form of ginseng, you can expect a rise in endurance during strenuous activities, along with better physical performance overall. It’s also been shown to aid your immune system.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps is a combination of caterpillar root and certain funguses found in India. It can provide a substantial energy boost, while balancing out your hormone levels as well. Many users also notice added energy and performance when taking it prior to exercise.
It’s common to find cordyceps offered as a standalone adaptogen supplement, but it’s also a great complement to adaptogens such as ashwagandha and different forms of ginseng.
Reishi
Made from a rare type of mushroom grown in China, reishi is a powerful adaptogen that offers a wide range of benefits. Research has indicated that reishi can help aid your immune system’s functionality, reduce blood sugar, and may even decrease cancer cells.
Although reishi is a commonly used adaptogen, it’s not as easy to cultivate as others, so be mindful of where and how it’s sourced so you can ensure you’re getting the best quality.
Conclusion
Stress is something that will always be present in our lives to some degree, so it’s crucial to do all you can do put your body in the best position to handle and react to it. By using adaptogens, you are providing your body with a natural way to ensure your hormone and energy levels are regulated, something that’s much better than reaching for that fourth cup of coffee by mid-afternoon.
When combined with healthy diet and a proper amount of sleep, consuming adaptogens will have you feeling your best day in and day out, while preparing you for whatever comes your way.
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