Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a herb used in Ayurveda, a popular medicine in India. Its root has a horse-like smell (in Sanskrit, ashva means “horse” and gandha means “smell”) and is said to confer the strength and virility of a horse.
Various sections of the plant are used, but the most common component in supplements is the root extract. It has been dubbed the King of Ayurvedic Herbs.
Limited evidence shows that it works well to relieve stress and anxiety. It can also modestly improve strength efficiency, improve glucose metabolism, and increase testosterone levels, but further research is required to confirm this.
It can be used either in powder form or in tablets. Ensure that the Ashwagandha powder you choose is 100% natural, organic and chemical-free to make the most of it.
The combination of Ashwagandha and other healthy ingredients makes it even more successful. No matter how you choose to have it, you must take at least 5 grams of Ashwagandha a day.
Here are 7 easy tips on how to take Ashwagandha;
TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE ASHWAGANDHA
CRUNCHY SNACKS
This is one great tip on how to take Ashwagandha, especially for kids. Children love their pasta, pizza and noodles, and everything snacky.
Try this safe twist to make everybody happy. Maize flour, ghee, guar gum and ashwagandha powder are mixed together to make noodles, pasta and snacks.
Add 2 teaspoons of ghee to 1⁄4 kg of milled maize flour, add 2-6 per cent of Ashwagandha powder and 0.5-1.5 per cent of guar gum to prepare the dough and give the desired shape.
SHRIKHAND
Shrikhand is a traditional Indian sweet, popular summer dessert. It’s very easy to plan, and it’s just as common with all age groups and an easy tip on how to take Ashwagandha.
Hung the curd, add the herb’s powder and the sugar with the nuts, the cardamom, the nutmeg and the saffronto. Serve it cool for a happy experience.
SWEET AND SALTY COOKIES
Kids will make a full meal of milk and cookies. To bake nutritious cookies, take half a cup of fine flour, 2 teaspoons of Ashwagandha powder, 1⁄4 cup of butter and milk.
Mix the sugar or salt, baking powder and prepare the dough. Bake in the oven at 375 F for 12 minutes.
You can also add shatavari and licorice root powder to make them more nutritious.
CHOCOLATE
If you want to introduce it to your children, this is a great way on how to take Ashwagandha. For chocolate, you need half a cup of Ashwagandha powder, half a cup of maca powder, 1 tablespoon of raw cocoa powder, half a cup of coconut butter, half a cup of ghee and half a cup of honey.
Your guilt-free and delicious homemade chocolate is ready for you.
ASHWAGANDHA TURMERIC MILK
Both Turmeric and Ashwagandha have a high therapeutic value. Add 1 teaspoon of Ashwagandha powder and 1 teaspoon of Turmeric powder in half a cup of milk.
Add the honey as a sweetener and heat the mixture until it is warm. In the end, put some coconut oil. It’s great to take your immunity to the next level.
SMOOTHIE
This is one of the most popular and simple ways on how to take Ashwagandha. Ayurveda suggests drinking up to 2 cups a day to relieve you of tension and exhaustion.
Prepare the tea with your milk recipe, then add 5gms of Ashwagandha powder. As a sweetener, add honey instead of sugar.
TEA
It’s one of the most popular and simple ways to take it. Ayurveda suggests that you drink up to 2 cups a day to rid yourself of tension and exhaustion.
Prepare the tea with your milk, then add the 5gms of Ashwagandha powder. Add the honey to the tea as a sweetener instead of the sugar.
BENEFITS OF ASHWAGANDHA
This is an ancient herb categorized as an adaptogen, which means that it can help the body relieve stress. It also has a variety of other advantages for your body and brain.
For example, it can improve brain activity, reduce blood sugar and cortisol levels, and help combat symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Here are the benefits of ashwagandha that science supports;
It has been used for more than 3,000 years to alleviate stress, increase energy levels and boost concentration. Many of its health benefits are due to its high concentration of withanolides, which have been shown to combat inflammation and tumor growth.
It has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in healthy people and those with diabetes.
It hinders the development of new cancer cells in a variety of ways. Animal studies indicate that it can help to treat many forms of cancer, including breast, lung, colon, brain, and ovarian cancer.
Unfortunately, in some cases, cortisol (stress hormone) levels may become chronically higher, which may lead to elevated blood sugar levels and increased fat accumulation in the abdomen. Studies have shown that ashwagandha can help to reduce cortisol levels
Several controlled human studies have shown that it can minimize symptoms in people with stress and anxiety disorders.
IS IT SAFE TO TAKE ASHWAGANDHA DAILY?
This question is difficult to address since there is currently a shortage of long-term knowledge from clinical trials. Owing to its potential drug-like impact on neurotransmission, it is difficult to rule out unintended side-effects or a long-term loss of potency.
However, what studies we do usually indicate is that the effects of Ashwagandha on stress/anxiety continue to improve for at least two months after the start of daily supplementation.
In addition, studies use it on a regular basis, and if the study finds an effect, the best way to achieve the same effect is to replicate the dosage and dosing schedule in the study.
It is not known whether taking breaks from or taking it any other day would have the same results.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ASHWAGANDHA
This medicinal herb has been found unsafe for pregnant women. There is little evidence that using ashwagandha during pregnancy may lead to miscarriages.
While there is no documented proof of the harmful effects of ashwagandha during breastfeeding, it is best to avoid it due to the pregnancy reports while you are nursing your infant.
People with stomach ulcers should avoid using ashwagandha as it may exacerbate and cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
If you have thyroid issues, or if you take thyroid medicine, you should monitor your intake of ashwagandha.
It would be even better if you could stop taking it altogether, as there is a risk that your thyroid levels may increase due to the use of this herb.
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, etc. are some of the autoimmune disorders, and if you have any of these conditions, stop using ashwagandha.
This is because it will make the auto-immune systems much more aggressive and make auto-immune disease symptoms worse.
CONCLUSION
The advantages of Ashwagandha are truly innumerable and can easily be called a superfood. This Ayurvedic medication serves as a natural energy booster, a hormone balancer, and a cure to insomnia.
Usually, the best time to take the supplement is for breakfast in the morning. For those who want to use Ashwagandha for a peaceful sleep, they can drink it at night before bedtime.
Don’t push for an immediate result, but expect positive improvements in around two weeks’ time.
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