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Adaptogens are all the rage right now, and they deserve it! Using adaptogens for stress has it’s perks. Let me tell you why…
Many of us deal with stress on the daily – whether it’s deciding what to order for takeout, staring at your computer screen for 12 hours a day or when your iPhone dies at 30% (we’ve all been there). But for real, stress is a big issue and it stems from a lot of areas in our lives (relationships, personal, family, business/work, exercise, food, and so much more). Stress can be managed in so many different ways, by using relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation, taking a bubble bath or using essential oils. It can also be managed by following a whole food, nutrient dense diet, and avoiding foods that can add additional stress to the body, such as refined oils & sugar, junk foods and poor quality processed animal products. Another wonderful way to manage stress is through powerful healing herbs called adaptogens.
I’ve teamed up with one of my favourite herb and supplement companies, Organic Traditions, to talk about three of my favourite adaptogenic herbs that I’ve been using the past couple of years. Organic Traditions uses high-quality sourced herbs and superfoods to create amazing powders and unique blends for stress management, gut health, energy, digestion, and so much more. You can read more about their products here.
What are adaptogenic herbs?
Adaptogenic herbs are natural plant-derived substances that help to adapt to wherever your hormones need the most balancing. They are known to help promote stress management, balance sex hormones, regulate sleep hormones and so much more. Each individual herb has its own specific properties, such as energy boosting, immune supporting or detoxing. Today I want to dive into my top 3 favourite adaptogens for stress management.
The best adaptogenic supplements for stress management
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng, is one of the most commonly used and widely researched medicinal herbs. It has been traditionally used for many reasons, such as increasing fertility, reducing anxiety and more. It is part of the nightshade family and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Ashwagandha has been known to help many with adrenal fatigue, digestive issues and thyroid problems. Many take ashwagandha to help increase sex drive, support the immune system and improve memory.
How to Use Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha has a bitter taste, one that’s hard to describe unless you taste it yourself. Luckily, it’s easy to mask by blending it into a smoothie or a latte. Try blending 1 teaspoon ashwagandha powder into smoothie with frozen banana, avocado, grated zucchini, coconut milk, flax seeds and raw cacao powder for a hormone balancing smoothie. This is the ashwagandha powder I use
Maca
Maca powder is the ultimate beauty adaptogen! It is known for it’s powerful hormone-balancing properties, especially for promoting glowing skin. When our body undergoes stress (from lifestyle, chemicals, pharmaceutical medication, pesticides, etc.), it can often show up in our skin, causing acne, rashes, and swelling. Maca powder is a great way to help regulate your cortisol (stress hormone) and in return make you feel, and look, beautiful! It is also packed with vitamin C to help support a strong immune system (which gets depleted when we are sick). Maca is also great for sex drive, sustained energy and balancing female hormones.
How to Use Maca Powder
Maca has a strong and robust “butterscotch” flavour that is paired nicely with chocolate or citrus flavours. Try blending 1/2 teaspoon maca powder into your morning coffee or matcha for an added boost. I love adding maca to my smoothies – try blending frozen pineapple, maca powder, coconut milk, lime and ginger for a zesty snack. Or sprinkling it onto your morning coconut yoghurt & granola. This is a great maca powder.
Tusli (Holy Basil)
Drinking Tulsi tea is a beautiful and ancient tradition that has been done for thousands of years to help reduce stress and promote a healthy sleep. It has been known to be a great tea to sip on throughout the day to help balance hormones naturally, especially stress-related hormones (cortisol) and sleep hormones (melatonin). Studies show that it can improve physical, chemical, metabolic and psychological stress. Tulsi contains phytochemical compounds that positively affect neurotransmitters in the brain to improve mood and overall well-being.
How to Take Tulsi
Tusli is lovely as a hot or iced tea. In the summer months, try cold-steeping the tea with some freshly squeezed lemon and raw honey. I love drinking a warm cup of Tulsi tea after dinner to help stop sugar cravings and help me wind down for the evening. This is a great tulsi tea blend.
Other amazing adaptogens for stress also include rhodiola, cordyceps, shisandra and reishi, among others. Listen to your body and see which adaptogen is right for you! I personally have thrived from using adaptogens and think they are simply amazing. Consult your ND or nutritionist prior to use if you have specific health conditions.
This post was sponsored by Organic Traditions. All opinions are, as always my own. Thank you for supporting companies that support The Pure Life. This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product from the link(s) above, I may make a small profit from your purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support – I know you guys will love these products!
