What is Ashwagandha: Health Benefits & Why It’s Such a Big Deal

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The way people talk about Ashwagandha you might think there was some happenstance discovery of a miracle cure for whatever ails you. Its growing popularity isn’t unfounded. It is one of the more significantly studied natural supplements, with increasing evidence that it has multiple beneficial uses. Granted, Ashwagandha has been a part of a traditional medicine system in India for over 3,000 years called Ayurveda. Whether it’s taking ashwagandha gummies, in pill form, or sipping an ashwagandha tea, ashwagandha benefits for men and women are worth your time.

Speaking of time. You may wonder when to take ashwagandha to receive the most benefit. It can be a little misleading to think you will get instant benefits from ashwagandha since it takes a few weeks, and in some cases even 10 weeks, before you can really start feeling the benefits.

As to what time of day is best to take ashwagandha, it’s recommended to take it in the morning and/or even with a meal. Some people report experiencing an upset stomach when taking ashwagandha without food in their belly. Since ashwagandha is more about long term benefits it is best to look at it as part of your overall health and wellness routine, and not as some instant cortisol-balancing, stress-reducing fix. Ashwagandha is not an energy drink or a calming pill. It’s playing the long game.

It’s a small evergreen shrub that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Its botanical name is Withania Somnifera, so let’s just stick with “ashwagandha”. The root and the berry of the plant are primarily what is turned into extract.

As mentioned, for thousands of years it has been used to relieve stress, increase energy levels, and improve concentration. Ashwagandha root extract boosts an individual's resistance towards stress, enhances cardiorespiratory endurance, reduces levels of depression, and physiological markers of anxiety, improving your quality of life. Ashwagandha root extract is a big player in balancing how your body pumps out cortisol during a given day

Ashwagandha can increase testosterone in men. If you are a man over 40 and feeling fatigued on a regular basis, you may look into adding ashwagandha to your routine. It doesn't increase testosterone the way most supplements talk about "increasing your testosterone". Some studies suggest it can increase testosterone simply because it reduces cortisol levels.

Again, if you are over 40, you likely have multiple stressors in your life and this can lead to consistently high cortisol levels. When this cycle of hopping from one stress event to another settle in, living with elevated cortisol sets your body up for systematic failures as your hormones don't get the chance to operate the way they are designed to. One of the big ones to take a hit is testosterone. Balance your cortisol and you may see increases in testosterone.

In essence, ashwagandha makes for a healthy environment in your overall body by reducing a lot of the things that inhibit your body’s ability to thrive.

The ashwagandha benefits for men don’t stop at increased testosterone. One study found an increase in muscle strength and size as well as a reduction in muscle injury when male subjects took 300mg twice a day. You may not be into beefing up to Adonis-size fitness but why would you not want to increase strength and limit injury as you get older? 

When you are looking for ashwagandha supplements it’s best to seek out KSM-66® Ashwagandha as it is the top-shelf in the industry. They have the ongoing scientific research and the production expertise to make sure you are getting the best of the ashwagandha root. There are plenty of supplements that include the leaves from the plant and not just the root, even though there is no benefit associated with the leaves. But it does act as a good filler, even as it dilutes the purity and quality of the product. 

Get it!

If you aren’t feeling the energy you used to have, looking to up your libido, strength, and overall game, then you can’t go wrong with ashwagandha. The evidence supports adding this ancient root extract to your diet can improve health, recovery, immune support, and overall quality of life. Ashwagandha is a small change you can make that will have large, positive cascading effects on your body.  It’s also why we have it as a key ingredient in all of the Rebalance Systems™.