The Natural Way to Reduce Stress

Adaptogens are naturally occurring plants and herbs that help support the adrenal system. The adrenal system produces hormones such as cortisol, the stress hormone, and adrenalin which helps your body react to stress. Adaptogens have been around for thousands of years and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. Adaptogens help the body adapt to biological and psychological stress, allowing the body to balance it's hypothalamic-pituitary endocrine axis. They help the adrenals produce hormones more efficiently, so your body spends less time and energy making these hormones. They help with stress, fatigue, impotence, inflammation, immune system, brain health, and infertility. There are many types of adaptogens so I would suggest finding one that will suit your specific needs. However, you can't go wrong with any of these adaptogens. The list below is not a comprehensive list but these are the most common adaptogens.

Types of adaptogens:

Ashwagandha root

Ashwagandha: Most notably used to reduce stress, but also can be used to decrease anxiety and improve memory. It does this through lowering cortisol, the stress hormone, and decreasing c-reactive protein levels, an inflammation marker.

Astragalus Plant

Astragalus: Lengthens telomeres which are the structures on the ends of chromosomes that become progressively shorten as we age. The shorter they become the closer that cell is to dying. In principle, by lengthening telomeres you are lengthening the year on your life. This adaptogen also boosts the immune system by activating T-cells. In addition, it decreases inflammation by decreasing c-reactive protein.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa Monnieri: Enhances memory via increasing the communication between neurons through increased growth rate of nerve endings. It also reduces psychological stress when taken in advance with a source of fat. Lastly, it is a natural antioxidant, thus is protects against oxidative stress and the adverse effects of iron, aluminum, and mercury.

Chaga Mushroom

Chaga: Contains many antioxidants which supports apoptosis or cell death which is ideal for the suppression of cancer or tumor growth. It's antioxidant power also reduces oxidative stress thus preventing DNA damage. It also lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Cordyceps Mushroom

Cordyceps: Combats fatigue via increased energy and reduced oxidative stress. It also enhances memory by promoting the growth of neuron pathways and improves exercise performance.

Holy Basil Plant

Holy Basil: Is one of the most sacred herbs of India. It helps protect the liver, can boost libido, lower stress, anxiety and support skin, hair, and nails health.

Maca Powder

Maca: Is a Peruvian root that grows in the Andes mountains. It boosts libido and can increase fertility in both men and women via increased sperm count and motility and balancing hormones for women. It is also packed with vitamin C, which makes it perfect for immune health.

Macuna Pruriens Seed

Macuna Pruriens: Also know as dopa bean, has a high content of L-dopa which is the precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine functions in movement, memory, attention, and mood. It lowers stress, anxiety, and depression. Macuna also increases fertility and boosts focus.

Panax Ginseng Root

Panax Ginseng: Improves brain power and focus by decreasing fatigue. It can also boost mood, increase libido and sexual performance.

Reishi Mushroom

Reishi: Fights cancer via its tumor growth suppression and cancer prevention properties. It also detoxifies the body, boosts immune system through its antioxidant properties, and helps support sleep. In addition, reishi is able to down-regulate alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme responsible for breaking down starches into sugar.

Rhodiola Rosea Plant

Rhodiola rosea: Reduces fatigue and exhaustion in stressful situations. It also reduces C-reactive protein, boosts cognition and performance, improves mood and lowers depression through its effect on serotonin levels.

Siberian Ginseng Plant

Siberian Ginseng: This adaptogen has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine and Russian and Korean folk medicine for hundreds of years. It can improve endurance, and resistance to mental and physical fatigue. In addition, it can boost the immune system through increasing T-cells.

Pearl in Shell

Pearl: This is an adaptogen of the sea, as it is found in mollusks. Pearl is a great source of aminos to help nourish hair, skin, and nails.

Lions Mane Mushroom

Lions Mane: Nerve growth factors found in lions mane can help regenerate and protect brain tissue. It can improve memory, boost creativity, increase concentration, and improve mental clarity. In addition, it can also help with anxiety and depression.

Turkey's Tail Mushroom

Turkey's tail: This adaptogenic mushroom is named after its colorful stripes. It has antiviral and antimicrobial properties making it helpful in improving immune function and the common cold and flu.

Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake: You can find this mushroom in the grocery store produce department and it is full of vitamins and minerals. This mushroom also has anti-cancer properties, has also been helpful in improving heart disease, and lowering cholesterol.

How to incorporate adaptogens into your diet:

1. Mix powdered adaptogens into coffee or smoothies. Powder adaptogens can be found from these reliable companies: Moon Juice, Sun Potion, and Four Sigmatic.

2. One of my favorite ways to incorporate adaptogens is to drink Four Sigmatic products which infuse adaptogens into coffee, elixirs, mochas, hot chocolates, and lattes.

3. Take in capsule form, but be sure there are no additives or fillers used in the making of these capsules.

4. Grab some local shiitake mushrooms from the grocery store and add them to your favorite home cooked dish.