Ashwagandha Can Reduce Cortisol Levels and Reduce Stress

Cortisol is known as a “stress hormone” because your adrenal glands release it in response to stress and when your blood sugar levels get too low. Unfortunately, in some cases, cortisol levels may become chronically elevated, which can lead to high blood sugar levels and increased fat storage in the abdomen. Studies have shown that ashwagandha may help reduce cortisol levels (3, 14, 15).

In a controlled study of chronically stressed adults, the group that supplemented with ashwagandha had significantly greater reductions in cortisol than the control group. The group taking the highest dose had a 30% reduction, on average (3).

Bottom Line: Ashwagandha supplements may help lower cortisol levels in chronically stressed individuals.

It May Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Ashwagandha is perhaps best known for its ability to reduce stress. Researchers who looked at its effects on rat brains reported that it blocked the stress pathway by regulating chemical signaling in the nervous system (16). Several controlled human studies have shown that it can effectively reduce symptoms in people with stress and anxiety disorders (14, 17, 18).

In a 60-day study of 64 people with chronic stress, those in the ashwagandha group reported a 69% average reduction in anxiety and insomnia, compared to 11% in the placebo group (14). In another study lasting 6 weeks, 88% of people who took ashwagandha reported a reduction in anxiety, compared to 50% who took a placebo (18).

Bottom Line: Ashwagandha has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in both animal and human studies.

It May Reduce Symptoms of Depression

Although it hasn’t been studied much, a couple of studies suggest ashwagandha may help alleviate depression (14, 18). In a controlled 60-day study in stressed adults, those who took 600 mg per day reported a 79% reduction in severe depression. At the same time, the placebo group reported a 10% increase (14).

Bottom Line: The limited research available suggests that ashwagandha may help reduce severe depression. It can reduce anxiety and stress, help fight depression, boost fertility and testosterone in men, and may even boost brain function. Supplementing with ashwagandha may be an easy and effective way to improve your health and quality of life.

Total Body Shine products like Adipo Stress Complex (ASC) contains clinicaly proven dosage of 600mg KSM-66 World’s Best Ashwagandha, the finest Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in the world. This whole ashwagandha root extract sets the high bar for traceability, manufacturing excellence, superior composition, and clinical studies.

PUBLISHED CLINICAL STUDIES on KSM-66 ASHWAGANDHA FOR STRESS AND ANXIETY

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. Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). Indian journal of psychological medicine, 34(3), 255.

Results: The treatment group that was given the high-concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract exhibited a significant reduction (P<0.0001) in scores on all the stress-assessment scales on Day 60, relative to the placebo group. The serum cortisol levels were substantially reduced (P=0.0006) in the Ashwagandha group, relative to the placebo group. The adverse effects were mild in nature and were comparable in both the groups. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that a high-concentration full-spectrum Ashwagandha root extract safely and effectively improves an individual’s resistance towards stress and thereby improves self-assessed quality of life.

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