Meet Ashwagandha

Ashwaghanda has been in use for at least 2500 years in Ayurvedic Medicine, and it is one of the most common and researched adaptogenic herbs on the planet.

Ashwagandha has been found to be very helpful in balancing the thyroid, stimulating and protecting the brain, and even tested as an anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory , which is why, in combination with Turmeric in the Wunder Blends, it proves to be a powerhouse for  health.

Similarly to Maca in Peru, Ashwagandha is known as a strengthening and powerful herb in India because of its effects on the immune system and the massive increase in stamina in those who take it.  There is definitively something with those Adaptogens guys!

Research was also conducted to see how Ashwagandha affects stress and the results were pretty awesome.

As an adaptogen, this herbs helps the body maintain balance with hormones such as Cortisol, which is not only responsible for stress, but also weight gain and oxidation (ageing an diseases associated to it), but also with growing issues in fertility.

Nature is powerful, always has been, and we just need to learn how to work with it to be healthy. Our creator knows what He is doing. The botanical name of Ashwagandha is Withania Somnifera (which in Latin refers to "things that make you sleep"-  aka relax),  it is a nightshade and it is also called: Indian Ginseng or Winter Cherry.

Ashwagandha is rich in withanolides, a group of steroidal lactones, that contribute to its health benefits.

Aside from the health benefits mentioned above, Ashwagandha has also been studied for its effects on Alzheimer's disease and, according to research published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, the results are very promising.

10 top health benefits of Ashwagandha 

  1. Helps and improves Thyroid functions: As an Adaptogen, or Balancer, this wonderful herb has been found  to be very helpful in balancing thyroid functions, whether they are under or over active thyroid issues. Research done on Ashwagandha's effects on  underachieve thyroid, found its effects on  TSH amounts in the body and its effects on T4 (Thyroxine),   increasing their levels,  which hypothyroidism patients struggle with.

  2. Helps with Adrenal Fatigue:From a personal experience, herbs like Maca and Ashwagandha have truly helped me with my own adrenal issues and I totally vouch for it! So of course I am happy to see research backing my experience up, as it shows  that Ashwagandha may be useful in supporting adrenal function and helping you to overcome adrenal fatigue. Adrenals are endocrine glands that are responsible for releasing hormones, specifically cortisol and adrenaline, in response to stress when we are in overdrive, as i was. Most people actually are too and so those hormones get out of control and you literally crash! Golden Balance has been my daily go to to deal with it amongst other things i love about the product and benefit from!

  3. Stress, Depression and  Anxiety fighter: Anxiety is perhaps the single biggest side effect of modern day living!  Of course the overall well being of the body, from gut, to adrenals as I shared above, to the brain itself is important but all these things depend on the care we give the body and how we offer solutions. In a 2009 study, Ashwagandha was shown to be comparable to common pharmaceutical drugs lorazepam and imipramine, without the side effects. (win win). Another study also presented evidence of its benefits on depression, another common ailment of modern day living.

  4. Helpful to balance blood sugar: Diabetes is another huge healthcare issue, with more and more people being affected by it, and  Ashwagandha has been evaluated for its anti-diabetic effects, which are possible because of the presence of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids. Research shows that flavonoids possess hypoglycemic activities. Sadly this particular study was done on rats, which i don't agree with and /or understand,  but it shows positive data,  which should translate to humans as well.

  5. Helps fight Cancer: When it comes to Cancer, plants have proven to be such aid for this terrifying disease. Of course we need to respect and understand the plats we use, and sadly there never is a single pin-pointed cause of cancer, but we do our best to help the body heal (and better yet, prevent this illness) Research suggests that Ashwagandha has promising anti-tumor effects, and can reduce its growth. The extract has been shown to help inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells — specifically breast, lung, stomach and colon cancer cells, which are among some of the leading types of cancers in the world.

  6. Helps with Brain degenerative diseases: Emotional, physical and chemical stress can all have damaging effects to the brain and nervous system. With Aswagandha being a powerful anti stress compound, rich in anti-oxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory, the evidence shows that this herb can help with degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Research also shows a positive impact on memory and mental capacity when taking Ashwagandha.

  7. Boosts Immunity:By managing stress, Ashwagandha can boost the immune system, directly affected by hormones such as cortisol. Ashwagandha can enhance immune function by increasing immunoglobulin production. It is also able to promote an anti-inflammatory environment by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines. By regulating the immune system when it’s compromised, ashwagandha might be a useful tool in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders.A study compared Ashwagandha to Echinacea and Brahmi (all herbs and love and take too) and Ashwagandha did pretty well in comparisons reviews.

  8. Hello Stamina: Studies have shown that Ashwagandha can boost endurance during physical activity by sharpening brain function and reducing bodily pain. Due to its positive calming, yet energizing effects on the brain, and its ability to lower stress hormones, ashwagandha showed improvements in concentration, motivation and stamina in conducted studies. Let me tell you, i am on this so i can finish my next book!

  9. Increase Muscle Strength:Was is endurance without strength, right?  Not to worry Aswagandha has got you covered in that too! People who engage in resistance training would benefit from using Aswagandha daily as it helps recovery. being an anti inflammatory it helps the muscles heal faster and grow faster too and research can back those claims.

  10. Improves Fertility and Virility:Another modern issue is sex drive and fertility! We are exposed to so many elements that affect our balance, it is completely normal to see negative effects on our body! In Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha has been used as an aphrodisiac and as helpful remedy to improve sexual dysfunction. Ashwagandha is also used to boost testosterone levels and improve male fertility. A few studies on both women and men have clearly shown its benefits on our reproductive system!

It is clear that Aswagandha is a powerful and natural  health supplement, but with everything, it requires caution. First things first, the origin of it is important. I personally don’t trust many sources but can vouch for my friends at Wunder Workshop, who can guarantee quality because of their relationship with the farmers who supply their Ayurvedic medicine/herbs/roots. Also, be mindful of dosage, as it is important, and only use are very little , especially at the start. If you are on medication or if you have any concerns, please consult your medical practitioner before introducing any supplements, especially powerful herbs.

Use Discount code: CHANTAL15 on the Wunder Website to get your superfoods.

Previous
Previous

Listen to your GUT

Next
Next

Big C for Cure