Ashwagandha is an evergreen shrub that has been gaining attention in the U.S. for its ability to help relieve stress and anxiety. It has the properties of adaptogens which are natural substances found in certain herbs that are believed to help the body resist physical and mental stress. It is a non-toxic plant that originates from Asia and Africa, often known as the “Indian ginseng”, and is believed to have properties that can help enhance muscle growth, strength and energy.
What Is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is a herb that contains chemicals known to help calm the brain, reduce swelling, lower blood pressure and build a stronger immune system. With these benefits, many people have started to use ashwagandha in teas, supplements, powders, tinctures and even in its raw form.
In this article, we are going to highlight what ashwagandha is, its scientifically-backed benefits and its potential to become one of the best stress relief supplements, as well as an energy booster.
Why Use Ashwagandha?
People use ashwagandha for the following reasons:
- Stress and anxiety relief
- To boost energy when feeling tired
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor memory
- Trouble sleeping
- Low endurance (mentally or physically)
Five Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
As research on ashwagandha continues to evolve, we’ve compiled a list of a few scientifically claimed benefits.
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May Support Stress Relief
To further fully understand what ashwagandha is, we must first understand what adaptogens are. Simply put, adaptogens are certain herbs with health benefits that can help our bodies adapt and cope with daily stressors that we may have in our lives. It also reduces the activity of what is known as a hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a system in our body that regulates our response to stress.
In fact, several studies have shown that ashwagandha supplements may help relieve stress in all forms, whether the stress is emotional, psychological, or physical, because its contact with our body helps to normalize our cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” that our body naturally creates. Having too much or too little of it can throw us off balance and make us feel unwell or cause us to have low energy throughout the day.
Early experimentation, as well as documented historical use of this plant has shown that ashwagandha root extract does indeed significantly reduce our cortisol levels. By lowering our stress levels, we can adapt to the feeling of having a better quality life. With its use, we can wake up feeling more focused and energized to start work, go for a walk, play a sport or work out at the gym. So not only do ashwagandha supplements help to relieve stress, they also help to raise our energy levels, improve our concentration, and improve our social functioning skills.
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May Help Improve Sleep Quality
Many people who have taken ashwagandha supplements have made a common claim that they saw significant improvement in the quality of their sleep. This indicates that there are properties within ashwagandha that can turn it into a natural sleep aid for those who are struggling with sleep deprivation, insomnia and other sleep related issues.
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May Improve Athletic Performance (Muscle Growth and Strength)
Since ancient times, ashwagandha has been used to increase muscle strength and energy. By supplementing with ashwagandha, many people throughout the years have indicated a noticeable change in their weight lifting abilities. They have also claimed to have been able to lose overall body fat. This shows that fitness fanatics and professional athletes are very likely to see an increase in their athletic performance while implementing ashwagandha supplements into their daily workout regime.
As more research continues to be done surrounding this particular benefit, there has been positive evidence to support claims that ashwagandha can improve strength and muscle size in those who consume it either before, during or after their workouts. In these studies, participants were able to note an increase in their speed and strength, as well as significant gains in muscle strength. This was measured through changes in their bench press and leg extension exercises, as well as measuring the actual muscle size of their arms and chests over an extended period of time after using ashwagandha supplements.
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May Improve Brain Function (Focus and Memory)
Another ashwagandha benefit that has been noted through science-backed research is possible improvement in the performance of daily tasks and the speed in which those tasks are performed, especially during sports and physical activities. With properties that improve brain function, ashwagandha can also help with other long-term cognitive functions such as reaction time, general memory, performance, and information processing speed. However, more research is needed in this particular area.
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Supports Heart Health
Some studies also show that ashwagandha can increase VO2 max levels, which is the maximum amount of oxygen you take in while physically exerting yourself. These levels are used in measuring cardiorespiratory endurance. In other words, how well your heart and lungs deliver oxygen to muscles during physical activity and exercise. Having higher VO2 max levels can indicate a healthy heart that performs well under those circumstances, which means ashwagandha benefits athletic performance and productivity.
Supplementing with Ashwagandha
The health of our bodies is highly dependent on food. All the nutrients we ingest are metabolized into the energy within our bodies which is what forms our cells, tissues, and organs. As a result, our bodies all need a healthy balance of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Although research on ashwagandha supplements are still in the early stages, this particular plant has been around for at least three thousand years, and with almost no side effects when taken in healthy doses. That’s why, ashwagandha supplements have continued to prove themselves as a beneficial treatment to the stability of our health and wellness, as well as our mental focus and energy.
Which Ashwadgandha Should I Take?
If you are going to take a natural herbal supplement to aid in daily stress relief or for a boost of energy, you will want to choose one that is manufactured with the utmost care, quality and potency. At Can-i Wellness, our products are pesticide-free, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO and do not contain any sugar. Each product is formulated with natural ingredients in a convenient and easy-to-carry oral spray that you can take any time of the day.
Can-i Wellness for Energy
As a leading sports, fitness, and wellness company, Can-i Wellness offers high quality, third-party lab-tested energy-boosting supplements. Can-i Boost not only boosts immune functions, but also improves mental clarity resulting in peak physical and mental performance for anyone looking for an additional energy boost. So when it comes to finding the perfect solution to jumpstart a lackluster day, Can-i Boost can help by giving you the focus and energy you need to power through your rough mornings, workouts, and any sort of fatigue you are feeling. It has a blend of B vitamins, caffeine, astragin, ashwagandha root, and many other vitamins, nutraceuticals, and herbal extracts. Together, these amazing key ingredients provide an effective focus and energy driven supplement aid that is not only powerful, but safe.