Adaptogens Are Guaranteed To Improve Your Quality of Life

Do you wake up after 8 hours of sleep and still feel fatigued? Are you drinking multiple cups of coffee or unhealthy energy drinks for memory and focus? Has the pandemic, and your job and the kids and the stress of it all just made you want to scream? Our bodies deserve the chance to exist in a state of homeostasis. What if there was a category of herbs, plants and fungi that could counteract stress and enhance vitality? Meet adaptogens, natures answer for improving your quality of life.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens have become all the rage in the wellness industry. What’s interesting is adaptogens are not new. They have been used in Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. So what are they? Adaptogens are a non-toxic category of plants, herbs and mushrooms to help balance your body’s reaction to stress. Furthermore, the name is derived from their ability to adapt to what your body needs in it’s current state.

How do adaptogens work?

Adaptogens balance your body’s reaction to stress by adjusting your hormonal and physiological functions. These botanical wonders help keep us out of fight or flight mode and give our bodies the chance to rest and digest. This is where all of the important functions really happen in your body.

Simply put, adaptogens are magic. Reducing your body’s fatigue, improving clarity and warding off stress is guaranteed to improve your quality of life. For more technical explanations of how adaptogens work on the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal) axis, I recommend Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief.

Adaptogens can knock out stress

Some stress is good for you. Stress makes you productive and gives you drive. However, chronic stress and anxiety do nothing but harm our physical and mental well-being. Adaptogens have the incredible ability to help decrease the amount of cortisol, that’s the stress hormone, released by the body. Over time that means you’ll feel less stressed out, reactive and tense. I enjoy adding Peak and Valley’s Balance My Stress to morning coffee or my pre-workout smoothie.

All adaptogens will have a beneficial effect on the body’s ability to handle stress, but some are especially great at it. Ashwagandha, an ancient Ayurvedic herb is a personal favorite. Not only is it fun to pronounce, but it reduces irritability, relaxes an anxious mind and helps you build a tolerance to stressful situations. Try Banyan Botanicals Stress Ease on Amazon.

Fall and stay asleep

Many people suffer from difficulty sleeping. Excessive stressors throughout the day make it hard to “turn off”. Calming adaptogens like Ashwagandha and Reishi (a type of mushroom) can improve your quality and quantity of sleep. Since they help calm the nervous system and decrease cortisol, sleep becomes more likely. Schisandra, an herb used traditionally in China and Russia has been found to be beneficial for people with insomnia.

To ensure a solid night sleep, try a warm mug of oat milk and add Your Super’s Golden Mellow. This routine has made a remarkable difference in how well I sleep. As a result of more restorative sleep, I wake feeling energized and ready to tackle anything.

Enhanced focus and mood

The adaptogen rhodiola is a powerful strengthenening herb that improves the brain’s oxygen absorbing ability. It can boost alertness and mental clarity and increases serotonin. Lion’s Mane is a mushroom that contains nerve growth factor and could potentially regenerate and protect the brain tissue. Maca, a root native to Peru has been used traditionally for centuries to boost energy and enhance mood.

If you want to nourish your brain, reduce depression and enhance clarity, try Peak and Valley’s Nourish My Brain blend