If you've been researching the compounds and qualities of foods, which is likely what brought you to this blog, you are likely no stranger to the idea of adaptogens. Though, you may not have all the information you need to understand just how powerful adaptogens are, which is why we are here to help.
If you came to this page wondering if adaptogens can heal the body, the short answer is yes. If you want to learn just how powerful they are learn about the positive impact they can have on the mind, body and soul.
First off, what are adaptogens?
Adaptogens occur naturally. They are the active ingredients that you can find in certain foods, such as plants and mushrooms. These non-toxic ingredients, when consumed, can target specific stressors in the body, particularly those related to stress, anxiety, mental clarity and sleep.
When consumed regularly, they can help the body truly relax and wind down. This makes them critical in stressful situations, when you may be struggling to stay afloat and regulate your emotions.
The end target for any adaptogen is to target homeostasis, which is the total state of balance throughout the entire body.
What can adaptogens heal?
The Mood
Have you ever had a really bad day at work? Or maybe you are struggling to regulate your emotions due to significant pressure. There are many things in our lives can knock our mood around, and this is normal. But, what we don't want is to get stuck in these negative states for too long, as this can start impacting other parts of our health and life.
Adaptogens can help regulate emotions to help us restore a level of balance once the initial stress is over. This means we can get back on track and back on focus, so we can continue living our best lives every day.
Balancing Hormones
A feature of adaptogens that is particularly beneficial for women is their ability to help regulate hormones. They do this by working to normalise the hormones and rectifying any imbalances that may exist, occur naturally or come about due to extreme stress. When consumed regularly, this can help to ensure that periods are regular or life events, such as menopause, are a little bit easier to manage.
Some other healing powers they provide for the hormones include managing oxidative stress in your body, lowering cortisol levels, supporting your adrenal system, optimising thyroid function and increasing libido.
Fighting Fatigue
We've said it before, but good gut health is the secret to a happier, healthier you. It's why we are passionate about products like our Nutritional Turmeric Latte, which contains all the good adaptogenic qualities you need to live longer, stronger, happier and healthier every day. After all, if there are imbalances in the gut, your body will eventually start to crave the nutrients and goodness it needs to function.
Fortunately, getting enough adaptogens into your gut is one of the best ways that you can increase your stomach's health and, in turn, improve the way you feel day in and day out. So, it's no surprise that adaptogens are also fantastic at helping us fight off fatigue, especially the kind you feel on a Friday afternoon after a long week of work.
Just like hormones, they do this by increasing cortisol levels, which can help us say goodbye to that afternoon sluggishness.
Boosting Immunity
Whether you're prone to catching colds or you just want to build up your body's natural defences, adaptogens are one of the best ways to do so. To put it simply, they do this through three powerful compounds, carotenoids, flavonoids, and phytosterols. These compounds offer direct protection against our own cells (believe it or not) which when they become exposed to oxidative stress, are usually the cause of failing immunity.
By removing the stress from the body, you have less to fight off internally, which means your body can focus on keeping you healthy, which is a big tick in our books. This also makes adaptogens, like our adaptogenic honey range or Cacao Latte fantastic for those with autoimmune diseases, as they can provide that extra kick of protection. But, as always, we always recommend consulting with your doctor so you are aware of the types of foods you can eat.
Most importantly, what foods are adaptogenic?
There is a range of foods that are high in adaptogens, and fortunately, a lot of them can be easily added to your dinners or daily routine. For example, you can start the day right with a Jomeis Fine Foods Turmeric Latte as it is high in all those feel-good compounds you need to be energetic, happy and most of all, stress-free.
But, turmeric isn't the only product that will have you feeling your best. In fact, ingredients, like Maca Powder are incredibly high in adaptogenic goodness. It's super flavourful too, which makes it great for adding to stocky dishes, such as soups. You can also find it in our Superfood Breakfast Bowls.
Some other adaptogenic foods include Moringa, Liquorice Root, Mushrooms, Nettle, Blueberries and Raspberry Leaf. So whether you're a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth, there's no excuse that you can't get more adaptogens into your diet.
