What are Adaptogens?

What Are Adaptogens and Why You Should Know About Them

Years ago I heard the buzzword 'Adaptogens' and wondered what are Adaptogens?

There are so many new terms that pop up in the health and wellness industry and my first reaction was skeptical..I guessed that this term referred perhaps to foods that the body can easily digest?

Being the curious cat that I am, I put my glasses on and started my research (habits from my previous life as a journalist kicked in).  

And boy am I glad did.

Little did I know how this research would help me in big ways.

You see, adaptogens have been around a lot longer than I have..over 4000 years!

As I researched further, I was intrigued by their magical effect that I went out and bought some to try them out. More on that later.

So, what are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are a unique group of herbs that can help the body handle stress.

Help you handle Stress? Who doesn't need that!

They have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda for centuries.
Adaptogens are considered to be 'super herbs' as they go beyond what other herbs do (enhance the flavour of your food). 

Stress, Stress and More Stress

Stress is everywhere and we know that a bit of stress is good for us - but when that stress lingers and interferes with our day to day living and mood, well then it's not so good for us and can in fact ruin our lives.

Every wondered why some people seem to handle their stress better than others?

When you think about it, it's often not the source of stress that's the problem, but how we handle the stress. It's our reaction and our coping mechanisms that make all the difference.

Hmm..so you do have control over your stress?

It's a bit of a catch-22. When you're stressed you know you have to change your reaction but at the same time you sometimes feel so overwhelmed you can't calm yourself down to think clearly. How do you control your reaction when you feel like you've lost control over life?

The solution: You need help lowering the stress and anxiety so you CAN think clearly. So you CAN calmly deal with the stressors. So you CAN focus on what changes you may need to make to reduce the stress in your life. 

Adaptogens and Your Adrenals

If you were to take a look at the insides of our bodies and how they work, there are many complex systems in place that keep us alive and functioning.

When the body is functioning optimally, you feel good, you feel energetic and generally  have a positive outlook on life.

When you encounter stress, the adrenal glands are responsible for managing your body's hormonal response to stress.

Here's a picture - you can see them just above the kidneys.

The adrenals strengthen the body's response to stress and enhance your ability to cope with anxiety and fight fatigue.

Adaptogens help normalize the adrenals so they are working  optimally. They 'calm' the adrenal glands and help support the function of the adrenals including blood sugar control, immune system regulation, hormone production and blood pressure regulation.   

Research shows the adaptogens have the ability to boost energy, improve mood and help the body feel calm under stressful situations.

Adaptogens are generally high in antioxidants (a substance that helps prevent or stops cell damage in the body), reduce inflammation in the body and they help boost energy and immunity (to help you stay healthy).

Dr. Brenda Powell co-medical director of the Center for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Wellness Institute) defines the purpose of Adaptogens as "They're meant to bring us back to the middle"

How do Adaptogens Help Lower Stress?

To understand how they help, let's do a quick overview to how our bodies handle stress:

1. We encounter stressors (running late for a meeting, lost our car keys, etc.)

2. Our adrenal glands produce a hormone called 'Cortisol' that helps us deal with the stress - our Cortisol levels are elevated temporarily to give us a boost of energy to resolve our stress.

3. The stress is resolved (we walk into our meeting, we find our keys, etc.)

4. The Cortisol level in our body drops back to a normal range.

The problem arises when our Cortisol levels remain high and as a result a plethora of other ailments follow (high blood pressure, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, foggy brain, sleep disturbances).

Adaptogens help by lowering the hormone 'Cortisol' that is over-produced.

Adaptogens help you 'train your body to handle the effects of stress' as Dr. Powell explains.

They help bring you back to the middle so that you are less anxious and can think clearer in order to make some changes in your life to reduce or better manage your stress.  

Remember, it's not the stress that's the problem but how you handle the stress.

How Do You Consume Adaptogens?

Adaptogens in the form of dietary supplements are available in powder form, cs a capsule or pill or as concentrated tinctures (drops).

Some adaptogens (like Holy Basil) can be eaten as part of a meal or brewed in teas.

When taking adaptogen as a supplement be sure to get the right dose required for results. 

Many companies put small amounts of adaptogens in their products hoping it will help you. The key is to get the right recommended dose.

Types of Adaptogens

Ashwagandha

Dr. Powell recommends Ashwagandha and Asian ginseng to soothe the long-term sources of stress and hormone imbalances that may result from it.

Dr. Axe, DNM, CNS, DC founder of Ancient Nutrition and DrAxe.com says "For decades, scientists have been studying the stress-busting impact of ashwagandha, often referred to as Indian ginseng, because it stabilizes cortisol levels and improves stress resistances in clinical trials". Dr. Axe further comments how "various studies have found that it improves cognition and memory, self-assessed quality of life, thyroid level balance and maybe even male-pattern baldness in women (related to hormone levels including cortisol)."

Important Note

Always discuss any new supplements or medication with your doctor. Some adaptogen herbs may interact with prescription medication and are not recommended for people with certain conditions.

When choosing a supplement always purchase high-quality, organic and lab tested ones that contain the dose required for the desired results.

Conclusion

Adaptogens are ancient herbs that have been used for over 4000 years to help reduce the feelings of stress and overwhelm.

They work with the adrenal system which is responsible for producing stress hormones in the body.

There are various types of adaptogens which can be consumed in capsule form, teas or as a food ingredient.

Adaptogens are a natural way to reduce your stress levels so you can live a healthier, happier life.