Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Wellness Wednesday-Ashwaganda

Time for another installment of Wellness Wednesday.  Today I researched Ashwaganda, which is another ingredient in my Shakeology

What is Ashwagandha? Ashwaganda is plant.  The root and berry are used to make a variety of medicines and home remedies. Ashwagandha belongs to the tomato family. It is native to India, Northern Africa and the Middle east but can also be grown in mild climates in the United States.
Ashwagandha contains many useful medicinal chemicals, including withanolides (steroidal lactones), alkaloids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids, and a variety of sugars. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
Ashwagandha contains many useful medicinal chemicals, including withanolides (steroidal lactones), alkaloids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids, and a variety of sugars. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
Ashwagandha contains many useful medicinal chemicals, including withanolides (steroidal lactones), alkaloids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids, and a variety of sugars. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf
The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States. - See more at: http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha#sthash.1uNtGtLf.dpuf

How do you take Ashwagandha?  It is most commonly taken in capsule form or used as a powder.

Benefits of Ashwagandha-It has antioxidant properties that allow it to seek and destroy free radicals that are responsible for age related cognitive changes and multiple other diseases.
-Protects the immune system
-Combats the effects of stress
-Improves your memory-  "re-searchers noted that ashwagandha supported significant regeneration of the axons and dendrites of nerve cells. Furthermore, ashwagandha extract supported the reconstruction of synapses, the junctions where nerve cells communicate with other cells. The investigators concluded that ashwagandha extract helps to reconstruct networks of the nervous system, making it a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
In another study at the same institute, researchers found that ashwagandha helped support the growth of nerve cell dendrites, which allow these cells to receive communications from other cells. This finding suggests that ashwagandha could help heal the brain tissue changes that accompany dementia.

In a third published study, the researchers noted that ashwagandha helped promote the growth of both normal and damaged nerve cells, suggesting that the herb may boost healthy brain cell function as well as benefit diseased nerve cells."-Stabilizes blood sugar-this one is HUGE for me! I have a lot of trouble with my blood sugar (no I am not diabetic) and my carb cravings of the past were because of this.  Stabilizing blood sugars prevents a crashwhich then causes you to binge.  Adding Ashwagandha into my diet as well as changing the types of foods I eat and how often has really helped me!
-Reduces anxiety and depression

Sources:
http://www.chopra.com/ccl/ashwagandha
http://www.lef.org/magazine/2006/6/report_ashwa/Page-01
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-953-ashwagandha.aspx?activeingredientid=953&activeingredientname=ashwagandha

*these claims have not been reviewed by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness*

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