Are you looking for support when dealing with the stress of life?

Stress is one of the biggest challenges we face in our modern lives. Stress can affect your health, relationships, productivity, and happiness.

But what if there was a way to reduce stress naturally and easily?

Most of us would accept any help we can get. But what if the answer to reduced stress, anxiety, and better overall mental health could be found in something as simple as adding a few new plants and herbs into your diet?

Adaptogens are gaining traction in wellness circles due to their strong potential to improve the body’s ability to navigate our increasingly hectic lifestyles.

Let’s find out why they’re essential stressbusters that your body will want to adopt.

How Adaptogens Help Your Body Cope with Stress

Adaptogens are natural compounds that may help your body adapt to stress and improve overall well-being. ⁽¹⁾ These substances have been used for centuries in a variety of cultures around the world. Today adaptogens are gaining popularity for their various health benefits.

One of the most well-known benefits of adaptogens is their ability to support healthy stress levels. Stress is a natural part of life, but chronic stress can harm our health and well-being. Adaptogens regulate the stress response system, which can help reduce the production of stress hormones and improve our ability to cope with stressors. ⁽²⁾

In addition to reducing stress levels, adaptogens can help improve energy levels and reduce fatigue because they support healthy adrenal function, which produces hormones that help us feel energized and alert. ⁽²⁾

Adaptogens can also improve cognitive function and enhance mental clarity and focus by supporting healthy brain function and reducing stress’s impact on the brain. ⁽¹⁾ This can be especially beneficial for those who experience cognitive decline or brain fog as they age.

Finally, adaptogens can help to promote healthy aging by reducing the impact of oxidative stress on the body. ⁽¹⁾ Several age-related health issues have been linked to oxidative stress, including cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease.

Most Popular Adaptogens

Some popular adaptogens include functional mushrooms, Rhodiola, Panax Ginseng, and Ashwagandha. Each adaptogen has its unique benefits, but they all share the ability to support the body’s stress response system and promote overall well-being.

Ashwagandha, for example, has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels, along with improving cognitive function and sleep. ⁽³⁾

Rhodiola is another popular adaptogen shown to improve mood, reduce fatigue, and enhance the ability to concentrate. It has also been shown to improve athletic performance. ⁽⁴⁾

Panax Ginseng has been shown to improve the feeling of calm and aspects of memory. ⁽⁵⁾

Functional mushrooms, such as Reishi, Maitake, and Lion’s Mane, are popular adaptogens because they support the body’s stress response system and contain unique compounds such as beta-glucans and polysaccharides that have been shown to support healthy immune function. ⁽⁶⁾ Lion’s mane also contains compounds called hericenones and erinacines, which have been shown to help stimulate the growth of nerve cells and improve cognitive function. ⁽⁷⁾

Get Your Daily Dose of Adaptogens

With adaptogenic blends conveniently available in supplement form, you can experience the full range of benefits they offer without the hassle of searching for individual ingredients.

Stonehenge Health® Dynamic Mushrooms™ combines the five most studied and proven functional mushrooms – Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Maitake, and Shiitake. Each one is considered adaptogenic; collectively, they help boost cognitive brain performance, relieve stress, reduce the adverse effects of stress on your body, help you sleep better, and support your immune system.

Sources:
1. Panossian, A. & H. Wagner. 2011. Adaptogens. A review of their history, biological activity, and clinical benefits. HerbalGram 90: 52–63. l nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nyas.13399
2. Panossian, Alexander, and Georg Wikman. 2010. “Effects Of Adaptogens On The Central Nervous System And The Molecular Mechanisms Associated With Their Stress—Protective Activity”. Pharmaceuticals 3 (1): 188-224. doi:10.3390/ph3010188 l mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/1/188
3. Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, et al. (December 25, 2019) Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus 11(12): e6466. DOI 10.7759/cureus.6466 l assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/25730/1612429507-1612429503-20210204-18590-tdgx00.pdf
4. Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of the standardised extract shr-5 of the roots of Rhodiola rosea in the treatment of subjects with stress-related fatigue. Planta Med. 2009 Feb;75(2):105-12. doi: 10.1055/s-0028-1088346. Epub 2008 Nov 18. PMID: 19016404
5. Patel, Seema, and Abdur Rauf. 2017. “Adaptogenic Herb Ginseng (Panax) As Medical Food: Status Quo And Future Prospects”. Biomedicine &Amp; Pharmacotherapy 85: 120-127. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.11.112.
6. Frljak, Jasna, Asmira Husić Mulabećirović, Senita Isaković, Enver Karahmet, and Almir Toroman. 2021. “Biological Active Components Of Selected Medical Fungi”. Open Journal Of Preventive Medicine 11 (01): 9-22. doi:10.4236/ojpm.2021.111002.
7. Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, Wong KH, David RP, Kuppusamy UR, Abdullah N, Malek SN. Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539-54. doi: 10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30. PMID: 24266378.