The way the world is right now, many of you will be feeling more and more stressed out, and being in lockdown, this limits the number of outlets we have for coping with that stress. A hormone called cortisol is behind all of the effects you notice when you become increasingly stressed. From irritability to feeling anxious to disrupted sleep, which can make it even harder to manage, cortisol is working away in your bodies.

On top of this, there aren't many natural supplements, foods, or teas out there that have a marked impact on lowering our stress levels or cortisol levels to be specific. That was until we discovered Ashwagandha, which is proven by multiple studies and reviews to produce a noticeable reduction in cortisol levels.

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is an Adaptogen derived from a small shrub with yellow flowers that's native to India and North Africa. Extracts or powder from the plant's root or leaves is used to treat a variety of conditions. Many of its health benefits are attributed to its high concentration of withanolides, which have been shown to fight inflammation and tumour growth.

Why Are Adaptogens good for us?

Adaptogens keep your internal environment in a state of balance. Ashwagandha, for example, is very effective at balancing cortisol levels, meaning, if your levels of cortisol are too high, Ashwagandha helps lower them, or if levels are too low, it can help bring them back up. By keeping your hormones and other such things balanced, it enables you to live longer and better.

Ashwagandha for Stress.

In one study in chronically stressed adults, those who supplemented with Ashwagandha had significantly higher reductions in cortisol, compared with the control group. Those taking the highest dose experienced a 30% reduction, on average.

Researchers believe that it reduces stress by blocking the stress pathway in the brain by helping to regulate the chemical signaling in the nervous system.

Benefits of Regulating Cortisol levels?

If your cortisol levels are too high, then when they return to normal levels, you may notice an increase in energy as high cortisol levels can increase fatigue. You may also see an increase in motivation and mood, as high cortisol levels can negatively impact our mood.

Weight Management – Cortisol affects your weight. Too much cortisol can increase the amount of visceral fat around the stomach area.

Athletic Performance – Research shows that cortisol levels affect your performance output. High cortisol levels can negatively affect your physical performance and limit muscular gains at the gym.

Ashwagandha for Anxiety

Having imbalanced cortisol levels can lead to issues such as anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. In a study conducted by pukka herbs, with over 300 members of the public participating, they found a 42% improvement in emotional health and willingness to engage in social activities. Ashwagandha also has the added benefit of helping to treat adrenal fatigue, giving our adrenals a well-deserved rest.

Ashwagandha for Sleep

Cortisol should naturally decrease in the evenings; however, for many of us, it doesn't. Being stressed can keep your cortisol levels elevated well into the night, which can adversely affect our sleep quality. By drinking Ashwagandha Tea or taking a capsule 30 minutes before bed, you can return your cortisol levels to where they should be.

By getting sufficient amounts of sleep we also improve our ability to regulate stress levels as well as a number of other important areas of our wellbeing.