What are Adaptogens and Why Do You Need to Take Them Everyday?

Hearing the term ‘Adaptogens’ a lot lately? Yes, it’s suddenly become a buzzword. Having existed for thousands of years as integral parts of Indian and Chinese medicine, they’re only recently popularized. They’re (usually) herbs that are immunity boosters and train our bodies to handle stress.

When our body is stressed, we go through 3 stages:

Alarm

When we encounter a stressful situation, our body responds by releasing the hormone cortisol that turns our energy level up, activating the fight-or-flight response.

Resistance

If stress continues, our body stays activated and the energy level stays up. When the resources start to deplete, it results in fatigue.

Exhaustion

If the threat of the stressor is prolonged, the fatigue leads to wear and tear of our immune system and metabolism. Continuous exposure to stress leads to various physical and mental disorders.

Adaptogens basically help us stretch out the phase of Resistance. Our body’s energy is used carefully and avoids early fatigue. It’s important to note, however, that they’re not a cure, but help our body build resilience for the long term. They need to be consumed consistently and need to be paired with a healthy lifestyle to reap maximum benefits. Here are some lifestyle changes we can make to keep stress away.

1. Taking breaks to connect with ourselves.
2. 30 minutes of daily physical activity.
3. Regular meditation to cleanse our minds of negative and stressful thoughts.

Examples of Adaptogenic Herbs

Ashwagandha

Also known as Withania somnifera, Ashwagandha has been widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and is found to significantly reduce anxiety. According to a study conducted in 2019, “a 60-day intake of Ashwagandha extract in mildly anxious, healthy adults resulted in significant emotional improvements over time.”

Tulsi

Known as the ‘Holy Basil’ and the ‘Queen on Herbs’, Tulsi is worshipped in many parts of India for its medicinal properties. The Yoga Journal calls it ‘The Incomparable One’ for its immunity-supporting, stress-relieving, anti-ageing and detoxifying properties.

Reishi Mushroom

Scientifically called Ganoderma lucidum or ‘Magical Mushroom’, Reishi has been an integral part of Chinese medicine for over 2000 years. It’s proved to possess abundant chemical components like triterpenes and polysaccharides that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative effects and tranquillizing action for its use in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia and palpitation.

How to add them to your diet?

If you make your own meals, you can add a pinch of one adaptogen in its raw, powdered form. Remember to only use one of them at a time to observe its benefits and choose the one that works the best for you.

There are many adaptogen-infused foods and beverages available today. Ausum Super Latte is a dairy-free, plant-based Latte with all-natural Indian spices and supercharged with Ashwagandha / Reishi Mushroom. It’s available in 2 flavours - the not-so-sweet Chocolatte and Spiced Turmeric. Each serving contains 1000 mg of natural adaptogen extract, a measured dose to help you combat everyday stress. There are no caffeine crashes, no jitters, no side effects.

So go ahead, relish your instant cup of effortless wellness. Shop at www.getausum.com