Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera, is an herb that grows in India and Nepal. While Ashwagandha has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine, it’s recently started to grow in popularity among athletes and fitness enthusiasts as well. Read on to learn five reasons why this supplement may be perfect for you!

What is ashwagandha?

It is a medicinal herb, also known as Indian ginseng. It’s derived from the plant Withania somnifera and it can be used to relieve stress and maintain general well-being. The active ingredients are alkaloids and these provide significant anti-inflammatory properties to help with various diseases. This plant belongs to the Solanaceae family, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, tobacco plants and petunias. Its long-standing history in India (7000 years!) makes ashwagandha an important herbal remedy in Ayurvedic medicine where it’s typically used to treat fatigue and weakness in both men and women as well as children with physiological or psychological weaknesses.

Why ashwagandha improves recovery time

This herb offers tremendous potential to help you recover from workouts. It’s been shown to reduce cortisol, lower inflammation and improve sleep quality- all of which contribute to a speedy recovery time. Sleep improves because it helps activate natural growth hormone production in your body during periods of rest, leading to faster muscle growth and lower levels of soreness.

1) Promotes a Quicker Recovery Time

Research indicates that this herb helps reduce cortisol (a hormone related to stress) as well as lowers inflammation after exercise, which can lead to less pain and swelling following intense workouts like high-intensity interval training or Olympic weightlifting.

How to take ashwagandha

Studies have shown that it can offer a variety of benefits. One study found that taking 300 milligrams of ashwagandha root extract every day helped decrease anxiety levels, while another found that using 575-650 milligrams daily improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue during daytime activities. If you want to incorporate it into your diet, try taking about 350-375 milligrams daily with food or as a tea before bed.

How ashwagandha prevents overtraining

Overtraining occurs when you go beyond your body’s ability to recover from workouts. Overtraining has been linked to decreases in testosterone, oxidative stress, and decreases in natural killer cells. The stress associated with overtraining can also cause a decrease in immunity and release of cortisol. With so many negative effects associated with overtraining, it’s important to limit intense workouts to reduce the risk of getting hurt or depleting energy stores. Luckily, there are several ways that ashwagandha can help prevent overtraining, one of which includes reducing our cortisol levels by raising our endorphins instead.

How to combine ingredients with ashwagandha

The way that ashwagandha balances out cortisol levels can also help with weight loss and body composition. Weight lifting or any exercise that puts stress on your muscles can trigger cortisol release which then breaks down muscle tissue and stores fat. Cortisol also increases appetite which may lead to overeating, binging, and increased cravings. With ashwagandha in your supplement stack, you don’t have to worry about this process happening as much because it will lower your levels of cortisol while aiding in healthy hormone production like testosterone which is linked to improved muscular strength and performance, among other things. Ashwagandha can also be combined with another common workout staple, protein powder.

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