What’s the big deal about adaptogens and why are our hormones all messed up?
Stress affects more Americans today than ever before. In fact, one report found that U.S. workforces experienced one of the highest levels of daily stress in 2020, with women experiencing 10% more stress than men. (1) Lingering effects of the pandemic added to the myriad of daily stressors many women experience juggling jobs, parenting, and managing busy households leaving many of us feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and just – well, over it.
So it’s no surprise adaptogenic herbs are making the greatest comeback since Dr. Dre and Eminem in the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Adaptogens sound good – important, even – but what are they and what is all the fuss about? How do they help us?
In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about adaptogens, their intriguing history, and the irrefutable role they play in stress management and hormone health.
I’ll also give you the lowdown on the top 5 stress-busting adaptogens and how you can easily incorporate them into your daily routine (without having to spend thousands of dollars or take handfuls of pills).
Shortcut secret: You can get ALL 5 stress-busting adaptogens in one place for ultimate hormone health.
(If you struggle to make it to lunchtime without throwing a few F bombs or deep breathing just isn’t enough to prepare you for vacation with the in-laws, keep reading…)
What Is An Adaptogen?
Adaptogens are plants or herbs that combat and counteract the effects of physiological, environmental, and emotional stress on the mind and body. As its name suggests, these plant-powered peacemakers literally help us “adapt” and fortify the body’s resilience to stressful situations and environments.
Adaptogens have proven health benefits such as:
- Better focus and concentration
- Antidepressant properties
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Mental clarity
- More restful sleep
- Improved digestion
The History and Safety of Adaptogens
Even though they weren’t affectionately known as adaptogens until the 1940s, these heroic herbs have a long and distinguished history where they were praised for their ability to promote vitality and longevity by ancient Chinese royalty, Ayurveda (alternative Indian medicine), gold-medal-winning Olympians, the Vikings, and more.
Uncovering some of nature’s best-kept secrets, the Vikings learned that Rhodiola would enhance their strength and endurance, leading them to victory in their many conquests. Soviet scientist Dr. Nikolai Lazarev 1948 discovered the perfect clean, green performance tonic for Soviet soldiers in the Cold War.
Today, continued research and clinical studies prove that adaptogens are ironclad natural mind-and-body performance enhancers, making them vastly popular among athletes and holistic health advocates and probably that person you know who never seems to panic when everyone else does.
Because adaptogens – nontoxic herbs and plants – are nature’s stress reliever, they pose no serious risks, making them ideal for those who struggle with feelings of anxiety and depression, but wish to attempt to forgo the side effects and potential adverse outcomes of conventional pharmaceuticals (though these are absolutely necessary in some cases. Talk to your doctor.)
Adaptogens and Hormone Health
As we get older and approach biological events like perimenopause and menopause, regulating your hormones can make all the difference when it comes to pesky hot flashes, interrupted sleep, irritability, brain fog, low libido, and more. Because stress is one of the biggest culprits of hormone dysregulation, adaptogens – which mitigate oxidative stress in the body, support your adrenals, lower cortisol levels, and maximize thyroid function – are especially beneficial.
But menopause doesn’t have to be a cataclysmic event.
You can think of adaptogens like Snow White’s dwarfs. Each one, helpful and hardworking, brings different benefits to the table that all work together to make you and your hormones – and you – happy and healthy.
Here are the top 5 adaptogens that promote robust hormone health and how to incorporate them into your daily routine.
Top 5 Adaptogens for Hormone Health
#1 – Licorice
Known as a tonic herb, licorice has a long history of medicinal use in Europe and Asia and has incredible healing and hormone balancing properties. In addition to soothing sore throats and stomach aches which make them a perfect addition to many popular teas, licorice has been proven to contain flavonoids that have an estrogenic effect on human cells. In other words, licorice supports healthy estrogen levels to keep your body in balance.
#2 – Ginseng (Asian and American)
As with most adaptogens, Ginseng’s benefits are many. Among them are better brain function, concentration, and memory, as well as a proven ability to improve stress-related depression and anxiety.² But wait, there’s more!
Ginseng is beneficial in improving thyroid issues which are often exacerbated due to chronic stress, which is why Thyroid Support – for anyone trying to balance their hormones and manage stress better – is jam-packed with this highly heralded herb.
#3 – Rhodiola Rosea
If you’ve seen Encanto – which, if you are a parent of children aged 12 or under, is a mathematical certainty – you can think of Rhodiola Rosea as the super-strong sister Luisa, who strong-arms a drove of donkeys and picks up a church building with her bare hands.
While this is a slight exaggeration, Rhodiola Rosea is known for its strength and endurance benefits, which make it a superlative supplement for athletes (including some Olympians). Mental strength is just as if not more important as physical strength, especially when it comes to quitting toxic, addictive behaviors like smoking or excessive sugar intake that wreak havoc on your hormones and overall health. That’s why I incorporated Rhodiola Rosea in Crave Reset, a safe and effective way to be victorious over the cravings that are calling you back to your old ways.
#4 – Ashwagandha
Known as one of nature’s most powerful adaptogens, Ashwagandha is known for its ability to bestow that brain and body boost we all desperately need on those super-stressful days that feel out of control.
In addition to lowering blood sugar levels, and reducing cortisol and stress, this herb also reduces inflammation and improves brain function, giving you all the tools you need to handle anything that life throws at you.
#5 – Eleuthero
The nervous system meets the endocrine system; the endocrine system meets the nervous system. Eleuthero helps bridge the gap and restores harmony between these two vital processes that play a big part in stress management and reducing inflammation, the root of all diseases.
From boosting immunity to improved memory to managing menopause, this adaptogen may be listed last but is definitely not least when it comes to happy, healthy hormones.
Hormone Health Without Handfuls of Pills
As someone with a personal history of relentlessly pursuing health and healing on my own when conventional medicine took me for a tailspin, I know firsthand the importance of adaptogens on my mind and body. I knew I needed to make room for them in my life but didn’t want to swallow handfuls of supplements every day to reap the innumerable benefits.
That’s why I specifically formulated my best-selling supplement, Adrenal Love, with a potent mixture of all five of these stress-busting herbs in just one simple pill. Just one of the top five adaptogens can be such a game-changer – so imagine what incorporating all five consistently can do for you.
When you stop and think about it, it’s pretty amazing that the earth gave us everything we need. Nourishing food, water, oxygen, sunshine – and little, tiny herbs that can completely change the game when it comes to not only stress management but whole-body health.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran in this journey or you are at your wit’s end trying to manage stubborn systems that won’t subside, you are not alone. By incorporating just one safe, effective, and affordable supplement that contains nature’s time-tested medicine, you can see improvements in just a couple of weeks. The beauty is we all have it within ourselves to take our power (and our health) back. It begins with you, and the best part is it can begin today.
Click here to grab some Adrenal Love now! >>
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References:
1. State of the Global Workplace: https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx?thank-you-report-form=1
2. Effects of ginseng on stress-related depression, anxiety, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S122684531630224X
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