Magic Adaptogens
Magic Adaptogens and how you can incorporate them into your diet
Adaptogenic powders can be added to so many of your favorite recipes, the list is almost endless!
But first, let’s start with what are adaptogens? And why are they so awesome?
At this point, it’s pretty well known that stress is a serious issue in our society and culture. Chronic stress has a significant effect on the immune system which then manifests as illness. Research even suggests that stress is the number one cause of illness in our society. If you’re interested in reading more about how stress effects our health, linked here is a great study that goes into depth on the topic.
Not only are we exposing ourselves to frequent emotional and mental stress that manifests in our physical bodies, but we are also regularly exposed to toxins - from cleaning products, pesticides, air pollutants, refined sugars, hormones and antibiotics in meats, and even toxins in our clothes and furniture… our bodies are always doing their best to rid themselves of the toxins in our modern environment.
Our bodies can get overwhelmed by all of this, leading to all kinds of additional health problems, including irritability, anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, chronic pain, and other physical illnesses.
Adapotogens help support our bodies as we navigate the toxins and stressors of our modern world.
Seriously, whatever we are going through - adapotgens are there for us. They help the body adapt, adjust, and re-calibrate itself to whatever difficult situation or circumstance our body or mind is going through. For example, if we are stressed, they can help calm us. If we are tired, they can give us energy.
Nourishment from Adaptogens
“An adaptogen must have the four ‘Ns’
Nourishing - bring nutritive strength
Normalising - raise what is low and lower what is high (eg energy, stress)
Non-specific - act on multiple parts of the body at the same time
Non-toxic - be completely safe when used over extended periods of time.”
Thank you Pukka for this great info on adaptogens!
(Pukka is a really great tea company, I’ll talk about why they’re so awesome another time :)
By controlling the release of stress hormones from the adrenal glands, adaptogens not only help us adapt to stress, but also help us feel less stressed.
So many of us have stressed adrenals from the fast-pace our everyday lives. By incorporating adaptogens into our diet, we can help our bodies cope and heal from these effects of the modern world.
Adaptogens are actually called biological response modifiers (BRMs) - because they modify our biological response to stress and toxins. How cool is that ya’ll?
Because adaptogens restore the body’s innate healing mechanisms in the immune system, they work to both prevent, protect, and heal when it comes to compromised immunity.
The nourishment from adaptogens provides a pretty amazing way to maintain and restore vitality, energy levels, and overall well-being.
Some additional health benefits …
Optimized organ function
Reduce stress response
Increase inner strength
Improve blood sugar levels
Optimize protein synthesis
Reduce inflammatory cortisol levels
Improve cholesterol ratios
Regulate the hormonal balance
Using adaptogenic powders actually may be one of the best things you can do for yourself, and we can add them to all kind of yummy treats.
Okay, so how do we do this?
I get my powders from Banyan Botanicals & Mountain Rose Botanicals. <3 The Eleuthero I have is actually from Twisted Thistle, an apothecary in Oakland, CA.
In powder form, right now I currently have Eleuthero, Shatavari, Ashwaganda, Maca, Dong Quai, and Turmeric.
I combine them in different combinations and mix them together in glass jars. I love the taste of maca, so sometimes I add extra maca to my recipes. Do you like the taste of it, too? I’m curious.
My favorite combination is a blend I call…
Liver & Kidney Love.
1 part eleuthero
1 shatavari
2 parts ashwaganda
2 parts maca
*optional - Dong Quai (female ginseng)
*optional - (not an adaptogen) - 1/2 part yellowdock (it’s bitter so go slow with this if you’d like to incorporate it)
For sweet…
1.5 parts cinnamon
For savory….
1.5 parts turmeric
*Dong Quai is especially helpful for women’s health - it can be used to improve and restore healthy hormone function. I found it to be a tremendous help in regulating my cycles when I stopped using hormonal birth control after 8 years of use.
*Yellowdock is not considered an adaptogen, but I’ve found it to be an incredible digestive, liver & kidney ally… all areas I need extra support in.
You can add any other adaptogens of your choosing too! Reishi and other mushroom powders are good ones to include as well.
Add this powdery magic to oatmeal, coffee, matcha lattes, golden milk, pancakes, muffins, chocolate, smoothies, date balls…and more that we will discover together over time (RECIPES COMING SOON…)
Some other adaptogens include
Ginseng
Tulsi Holy Basil (I have lots of tulsi tea from Organic India)
Rhodiola
Gotu Kola
Milk Thistle
Astragulus
Rosemary
Reishi mushroom
Shizandra
Licorice
Baco
Rasa Koffee
I can’t write a post about adaptogens and not mention Rasa Koffee.
They are an absolutely epic adaptogenic alternative coffee. Check out our favorite Rasa Koffee recipe here.
I mean just check out this home page - it has a ton of great information about why adaptogens are so useful for improving our daily functioning.
They also have a ton of AH-MAY-ZING recipes on their blog, including an adaptogenic Coffee Coconut Ice Cream. Um.. yes please!
I’ll be writing some of my favorite adaptogenic recipes soon :) To stay updated - get on the mailing list here.