Adaptogens have been having their moment in the health & wellness and beauty space for some time now. But do you know what they are? And if you should be having them, too?
Let's chat about it, adaptogens, like anything else, they aren't a silver bullet. They aren't the only thing that can help you, but they certainly can be apart of your day-to-day routine. There are many, many, many adaptogens out there and, to be honest, it could be quite overwhelming when you're just starting out. That's why I am breaking down my top 5 favorite, their benefits, and I even share with you my favorite brand to purchase them from.
I've been on my healing journey for some time now. For those that don't know I developed multiple chronic illnesses around October 2020. I was diagnosed with IBS-C, candida, parasites, SIBO and, the worst of all, Breast Implant Illness, which effects every single organ system in your body. I learned shortly after receiving that diagnosis that the breast implants were actually the cause of all the other issues. Anyways, during this time of healing I've learned a lot, I've taken just about every supplement you can possibly imagine, and have come leaps and bounds in my healing. I attribute part of my healing to the adaptogens I introduced. I say this because we see mystery or chronic illnesses popping up all the time now. Honestly, we cannot blame ourselves for getting sick because of this fast-paced, high-stressed society we have grown up in and learned to accept as "normal" or because "that's just how life is." I am on a personal mission, myself, to bring us back to a sustainable way of living -- one where we aren't stuck in our sympathetic/fight or flight state. One that prioritizes health first, "success" second. One that doesn't see rest as needing to be earned, but instead, a prerequisite for offering your best self to the world.
This is why I got into adaptogens. When I look back to before I got sick, I looked at sitting down during the day as "lazy," I was constantly go go go, I never took breaks to check in with my body, I never asked what my body needed and pushed and pushed and pushed. We put so much pressure on our bodies to keep up with the instantaneous pace of modern life, and mine gave out. My nervous system was quite literally stuck in fight or flight. And you cannot heal when you are stuck in fight of flight. I then became hungry for knowledge on how to heal my nervous system -- and among many other things I have done/used/tried I must admit I now keep my own personal arsenal of adaptogens by my side, always.
Whether you are familiar with adaptogens or not, you've probably seen them around -- as an add-in option on coffee shop or smoothie bar menus, in recipes you scroll past on instagram, your favorite influencers adding them to their smoothies, etc. And maybe you've wondered what that is and does it even really work?
Years ago I stumbled past a cute coffee shop in Washington D.C. when I was on a trip and, not to be dramatic, but it changed my life. I went in and was in awe of the products they had on their shelf -- specifically Apothekary. I had never seen so many beautiful and potent ingredients in one blend, not to mention how cute their packaging is. The lady behind the coffee bar made me the most beautiful matcha I have ever had with their Better Than Botox blend consisting of ingredients like camu camu, schisandra berry, sea buckthorne, etc. She explained every single ingredient to me and its benefits and I had to know more. About all of them. From then on I was HOOKED on adaptogens. I started doing everything I could to learn more about them and I started adding them to my coffee, my matcha, my smoothies, my baked goods, my raw treats, basically everything. I noticed such a shift in my mood and my body's ability to adapt to stress.
At this point you may be wondering, "ok, but what even is an adaptogen?" good question! Adaptogens are plant substances (often herbs) that have been found to help our bodies manage stress and maintain balance, or homeostasis. In other words, they help us adapt to external stressors. By strengthening our internal systems, adaptogens can promote vitality, stabilize mood and improve performance and focus. And because I don't believe in gatekeeping I am going to share with you ALL the goods on my top 5 favorite adaptogens.
#1 - REISHI
OH BABY, where to even start with this one? Reishi is my all time favorite mushroom and that's why she is number one. Reishi is something I consume EVERY SINGLE DAY. Here's why: she is literally the QUEEN of mushrooms. For thousands of years, reishi mushrooms have been revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their adaptogenic and healthful qualities. At one time, the esteemed fungi, Ganoderma lucidum, was reserved for the ruling class. And as we are all queens (/kings), how fitting that she is still widely available to us? The benefits or reishi range from: immunity support, anxiety reduction, long-lasting/stable focus, restoring balance and tranquility, evening promoting more restful sleep. She does not have time for stress, allergy symptoms, or an imbalance of hormones.
Perfect to take on a fast-paced, high-stress day. Here is my favorite reishi and blend that contains reishi: Chill The F Out
#2 - CHAGA
Next up, we have my second favorite. Chaga. "The Mushroom of Immortality." Chaga is rich in antioxidants and possesses powerful immune-supporting properties. Chaga helps to support the body’s defense mechanisms against inflammation, and calms oxidative stress by countering free radicals. It also helps to lower cholesterol and blood sugar. They are rich in a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including: B-complex vitamins, Vitamin D, potassium, copper, selenium, zinc, etc!
Perfect to take when you feel a cold coming on, before you travel, or daily to upkeep your immune system. Blends: Mind Over Matter ,You Dew You
#3 - ASHWAGANDHA
Do you struggle with the Sunday scaries? overthinking? anxiety? Ashwagandha aka "Indian Ginseng" is for you. It's been used for centuries to aid in reducing stress. Ashwagandha is also known to: lower blood sugar and fat, increase muscle endurance and strength, improve sexual function in women, boosts fertility and testosterone levels in men, sharpens focus and memory, and supports heart health.
Perfect when are in an overthinking spiral, for your sunday scaries, or just feeling a bit anxious. Here is my favorite: ashwagandha , Chill The F Out, Seal The Deal,
#4 - LIONS MANE
The smart mushroom!!! Honestly another personal fav, I didn't realize how hard it would be to rank my favorite adaptogens because I love them all. Lions mane supports cognitive function and neurological health. Whether you’re looking for ways to supercharge your workday, improve your focus on those days when you can’t remember where you put your car keys (only to find them in your hand), ward off brain fog, promote alertness and a positive mood, or spark creativity and mental clarity, this baby is for you. Lions mane is also antioxidant-rich and boosts the immune system.
I love to take this on the days I have a lot to do to keep me focused, sharp, and need a little mood boost. It's one of my favorites to add to coffee. My favorite: Lions Mane , Mind Over Matter, Chill The F Out
#5 - MUCUNA PRURIENS
The dopa bean!!! Mucuna pruriens contains high levels of naturally occurring L-dopa, which is the precursor to dopamine. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter that is essential for sleep, memory, mood, mental functions, and calming the nervous system. By using this dopa bean supplement, you can support the body’s production of dopamine naturally. It is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to lower stress, improve focus, boost libido and elevate mood.
This is really, really great when I need a mood boost so I love to have it on those days where I feel like I am in need of a little reset. Blend: Do Not Disturb
Some Of My Favorite Recipes
There are endless ways to incorporate adaptogens into your life -- in your smoothies, coffee, oats, tea, baked goods, raw goods, I mean truly the options are unlimited. What I love about Apothekary is that make access to adaptogens more accessible. Adaptogens on their own can be pretty pricey, but these blends are giving you access to many different ones at a great price. I also love that what you see is what you get with them: USDA Organic Certified, Fair-Trade, and Non-GMO. No fillers, chemicals, none of that funky business. They care about getting to root issues, clearing the body of toxins -- not band-aid solutions, which I appreciate so much. Now, if you need some inspiration on how to incorporate adaptogens/Apothekary Blend's here are some of my favorite recipes:
Let me know, have you tried adaptogens? What are your favorites? What benefits have you noticed (if any) since starting?