5 adaptogens for women

There are foods and herbs that have adaptogenic properties in the body and that are especially beneficial for women, since we know that men and women react differently to different stressors.

Adaptogens are substances that might improve the body’s resistance to certain physical stress situations and emotional. As their name says, they help our body to better adapt to the different factors or situations to which we are exposed every day and can alter our health.

According to researcher Israel Brekhman, a plant must meet four requirements to be considered an adaptogen:

That it is innocuous or harmless to the person. That it has an effect on the person. That it increases the person’s resistance to different physical, chemical or biological stressors. That it acts as a stabilizer.

The 5 adaptogens that best help you against stress

Adaptogens, in addition to helping us adapt to stress factors, they are also invigoratingimmunostimulants (improve defenses) and increase the general feeling of well-being.

1.Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a adaptogenic and rejuvenating toner, especially according to Ayurvedic medicine. This root increases resistance to environmental stressors, is very good for pain relief, has antioxidant effects, reduces inflammation, stimulates thyroid function, helps regulate stress since it modulates cortisol levels and also stimulates respiratory and immune function.

In a double-blind study (one of the best to verify results) carried out by the neuropsychiatry department of the Asha Hospital in Hyderabad, India, they evaluated people with chronic stress who took ashwagandha and it was seen that they had significant reductions in anxiety, serum cortisol, protein C reactive (indicator of inflammation), pulse rate and blood pressure, compared to the placebo group.

2. Siberian ginseng

Siberian ginseng, also known as eleutherococcus, has been used for centuries in countries such as China and Russia as an adaptogen, since it increases the ability to adapt to adverse physical conditions and improves mental performance.

This adaptogen lowers testosterone levels. It also helps lower cortisol levels, as well as improve heart rate that speeds up in response to a particular stressor. It is excellent for lowering stress levels.

He premenstrual syndrome and menopause These are two stressful factors that all women are exposed to and this can cause fatigue. Ginseng can help us counteract it.

Estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and the thyroid interact with neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, all of which benefit from ginseng consumption. Thus reduces chronic fatigue and improves mental and physical performance.

3. Maca

Maca is another root that is commonly consumed in powder form and can be added to smoothies or natural juices for various health effects. One of its most common uses is as an energy tonic, since it maca helps increase energy and decrease fatigue.

Other beneficial effects of maca on health have been related to the endocrine and reproductive systems, since it can be used to treat infertility and to improve the hormonal balance and its adaptation in the different cycles of women, such as menopause. It also helps improve sleep quality and mood.

Various investigations have discovered that the therapeutic effects of maca are due to the plant sterols it contains and that stimulate the hypothalamusthe pituitary, adrenal and ovarian glands, and therefore also affect the thyroid and pineal glands (which regulate the production of hormones and other substances involved in many physiological processes in the body).

4. Rhodiola

Rhodiola (Rodhiola rosea), also known as golden root and arctic roothas been classified as an adaptogen due to its ability to stimulate the nervous system, decrease depression, increase performance, improve sleep and eliminate fatigue.

It helps the body adapt to stress by altering the levels and activity of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Rhodiola has a very positive effect on stresssince it helps to achieve a state of relaxation and to reduce anxiety in stressful periods.

This adaptogen also can increase fertility and some scientific studies have pointed out that it can improve thyroid function.

5. Reishi mushroom

The reishi mushroom is used in some countries (in China, for example) as a form of natural medicine and adaptogensince it helps the proper functioning of the immune system, improves mood, acts as an antihistamine (so it is good in allergy season) and is anti-inflammatory.

this fungus can be helpful in people with cancer since it decreases the fatigue caused by the disease and improves its recovery in some patients, as shown by a study carried out by the University of Medicine of Puerto Rico, which verified its effects on breast cancer, one of the most common types of cancer. more common in women.

Most of these adaptogens can be found in powder to add to our food or in capsules to be used as supplementation.

Remember that herbs and plants used as medicines do work and should be used with caution and without abuse, because even if they are natural, in excess it could cause toxicity or harm health. It is always good to consult a specialist when you want to use a new supplement.