We are living very stressful lives! Juggling kids, careers, marriage, money, social media, the news … the list goes on. The result is high anxiety! Many of us turn to food in order to help calm our nervous system. We all know that stress causes weight gain, whether it is due to spiked cortisol levels, a sluggish thyroid, using food to cope, or lack of time to exercise. Stress, for most of us, means a struggle with weight gain.
Ashwagandha is a powerful natural remedy for anxiety. This plant has been used for thousands of years in Ayuvedic medicine and is commonly known as Indian Ginseng. Ashwagandha can help with – calming your nervous system and balancing your hormones so that you are handle stress differently. It promotes feelings of well-being, allows for a better response to stressful situations, and promotes restful sleep. It can even help with your libido – which is also great for reducing stress and burning calories!
In fact, Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogenic herb, which means it “adapts” to the needs of the organism. I am just focusing on a few of the benefits of Ashwagandha in this post. If you would like to learn more about it’s many other benefits and see the research.
It is very important to buy quality Ashwagandha. Make sure you get what you pay for – check the ingredients to insure you are getting 100% organic Ashwagandha root. I like the brand Organic India which you can find at supplement stores, Whole Foods, or on Amazon.
While Ashwagandha is safe and has very few contradictions. If you have hyperthyroidism or are pregnant you should check with your doctor first – it may not be recommended. If you start taking it and notice a problem with diarrhea or other stomach problems, cut the dose in half and slowly raise it over time. The suggested dose is between 600-1000 mg twice a day (follow the instructions on the label unless instructed differently by a doctor or herbalist).
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Ashwagandha, or if you want to talk with me about managing your anxiety. While Ashwagandha is a useful tool, it is still important to manage your stress and emotions through diet, lifestyle, and behavioral changes. You don’t have to do it alone. I can help you with that!