Health Benefits of Ashwagandha
There are a few ancient Ayurvedic herbs that deserve commendation for their role in enriching people’s health for decades. One such herb is Ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is known to restore and rejuvenate the body to a stress-free and healthful state, and it is considered top on the list of the very powerful herbs in the tradition of Ayurvedic healing. Did you know that Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that can help you in the management of stress? With Ashwagandha, you are sure to kick out stress, or at least bring it down to manageable levels within a relatively short time. And I am sure everyone, including you, will be happy to try this herb out and give testimony to others. That’s not enough; there are several other Ashwagandha benefits you’re sure to enjoy, including…
It is an anti-aging solution
Reduced anxiety, improved memory, lowered stress, better blood sugar, weight-loss, and increased stamina all point to a sound mind and healthier body. As each of your systems improves, you can bet to slow down your aging process dramatically. One sure way of aging quickly is putting oneself under enormous amounts of stress.
It decreases the risk of suffering Alzheimer’s disease
Among the top six leading causes of death in the U.S, Alzheimer’s is one of them 2. Alzheimer’s is one of the Debilitating neurological diseases that not only impact the life of the patient but also that of so many other people including caretakers, family members, and society in general. Studies1 have shown that Ashwagandha improves the synaptic loss and neuritic atrophy which are the main causes of Alzheimer’s disease.
It lowers your stress levels
The stress hormone in your body known as Cortisol is vital in keeping you alive. But too much of it can cause harm to your body. When there’s too much of it, your appetite, sleep, mood and weight become impaired. However, with the intake of Ashwagandha, your body experiences a significant reduction of the stress hormone leading to an overall reduction of stress and stress-related illnesses.
It contains anti-cancer properties
Several studies show that Ashwagandha has cancer-inhibiting properties. For instance, in some studies involving the conduction of lab tests, the properties in Ashwagandha were helpful in inducing the cancer cells’ programmed death (apoptosis). 4 Ashwagandha works by producing Reactive Oxygen species or simply ROS that’s nontoxic to normal cells but toxic to cancerous cells. These properties also make cancer cells develop less resistance to apoptosis.
Ashwagandha helps to increase your stamina
If you can mentally or physically run further, then you are better positioned, and your productivity will definitely increase. In studies6 that involved the use of rats in a swimming competition, rats that were given Ashwagandha were better placed than their counterparts that never had the Ashwagandha extracts. In fact, those that had used Ashwagandha swam twice faster than those that hadn’t.
Improves your memory (cognition)
Your mental capacity starts to decline as your age advances. Therefore, any step geared towards maintaining or improving the current cognitive functioning levels is for sure welcome. One such solution is Ashwagandha. The consumption of this herb cum fruit or its derivatives improves the memory of individuals with impaired memories as a result of old age or head injuries. There are studies that have indicated that Ashwagandha can significantly improve the cognitive and psychomotor performance of a person.
Citations
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
https://www.alz.org/facts/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23439798
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24046237
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26230090
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24497737
https://blog.priceplow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/withania_review.pdf