Day 219: One thing I learned today…
We recently tried out a new meal delivery service in our home - Daily Harvest. Our freezer is stocked. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the foods. I’ve only come across one that I did not like so far (and we ordered out 24).
Anyways, while snacking one night and my husband mentioned it had Ashwagondha. I told him this was a supplement that can help with stress and sleep. I came across a blog post today, little did I know, this is known as one of the most important herbs of Ayurveda ( the traditional system of medicine in India. Uses of Ashwagandha can be traced back to 6000 BC.
Ashwagandha is believed to have a wide range of health benefits. Some benefits include improved brain function, healthy reproductive balance, enhanced stress resilience and improved defense against disease.
A study also reported a significant decrease in blood sugar levels after 1 month of daily intake (400mg) compared to the placebo group. Another study found a decrease in anxiety and insomnia by 69%.
I am not suggestion anyone go out and buy Ashwaganda, I am just bringing awareness to an important herb which may have some healing tones. I encourage you to do your own research and work with your doctor.
Sources:
Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62.
Raut AA, Rege NN, Tadvi FM, Solanki PV, Kene KR, Shirolkar SG, Pandey SN, Vaidya RA, Vaidya AB. Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2012 Jul;3(3):111-4.
Singh, N., Bhalla, M., de Jager, P., & Gilca, M. (2011). An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM, 8(5 Suppl), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9
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