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What is Ashwagandha?
Withania somnifera, also called Ashwagandha, is an herb used in traditional African and Indian medicine as an adaptogen. Adaptogens supposedly help your body cope with (or adapt to) all kinds of stress, from mental to physical. Ayurvedic medicine uses the root and berries of Ashwagandha, also known as the winter cherry or Indian ginseng, to treat various health problems. Modern research is finding evidence to support some of these uses, and the supplement has made its way to the Western world—but some people may be waiting to try it out of concern that Ashwagandha may make you gain weight. Ayurvedic medicine uses Ashwagandha, often known as Indian ginseng, as a dietary supplement. Lack of sleep, anxiety, sadness, difficulties during sexual activity, weakness, neurogenerative disease, and arthritis are just a few of the issues it helps with. Ayurveda and Ashwagandha treat various illnesses in Unani, Siddha, African, and homeopathic medicine.
Can Ashwagandha make you gain weight?
You are unlikely to put on weight if you take Ashwagandha. Although weight loss is a complex process, it could aid your efforts. Though Ashwagandha’s potential benefits are unknown, if they do exist, they most likely have to do with your metabolism. We mainly use “metabolism” to discuss how many calories you burn daily. Your metabolism comprises all the chemical processes that keep you alive. Your basal metabolic rate (BMR), the number of calories used by your body during basic techniques like breathing and heartbeat, controls a large portion of your metabolism. The key to weight loss is supporting your BMR or making sure you use as much energy (or more) as you consume.
Your thyroid hormones primarily control this energy expenditure. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your throat, produces a number. Here, we focus on triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Triiodothyronine, or T3, is the more active of the thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism, also called “underactive thyroid hormone,” is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t make or convert hormones at normal levels. This can lead to weight gain.
Weight management in times of stress
It’s no secret that stress can be unkind to the waistline. Psychological stress has been linked to weight gain and obesity. It may seem like a wonder that we don’t gain more weight in times of stress, considering how the cards are stacked against us. Stress may cause us to change the way we eat, making us eat more and reach for sweeter foods when we’re hungry. On top of the increased intake, stress may also make us exercise less. High perceived pressure is also linked to less sleep, which has been shown to make people hungrier by decreasing hormones that make you feel full and increasing hormones that make you feel hungry.
Does Ashwagandha support thyroid hormone levels?
If your thyroid isn’t working well, Ashwagandha may help, which could keep you from gaining weight. A small study looking at the effects of ashwagandha supplements on people with bipolar disorder noted that those who received the supplement had an increase in thyroid hormone levels. Another trial found that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha supplements daily for eight weeks improved blood levels of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in patients with lower thyroid function. While both of these studies suggest that Ashwagandha may affect thyroid hormone levels, which can, in turn, affect weight gain or loss, neither study proves that this supplement will affect how much you weigh.
Stress Relief
In the face of all that, where does Ashwagandha come in? Although far from proven, Ashwagandha’s ability to help with psychological stress may also affect your waistline. Research shows that Ashwagandha may help with anxiety and lower the stress hormone cortisol levels in the blood. The lower pressure may, in turn, affect the things mentioned above. You might sleep better, know when you’re hungry and when you’re entirely better, and eat less out of emotion. But there has yet to be a clear link between Ashwagandha and weight loss.
In a small, double-blind study, researchers looked at how ashwagandha supplements affected adults (and their waistlines) while experiencing chronic stress. The group given Ashwagandha had remarkably lower levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol than the placebo group. By the end of the trial, the group using ashwagandha supplements had reduced their weight on average by roughly 3%, which was twice as much as the control group. Even better, those given the supplement showed a significantly more improvement in emotional eating and uncontrolled eating scores than those not given the Ayurvedic herb. More research is needed to establish whether Ashwagandha can help with weight loss. It’s better to focus on proven strategies such as diet and exercise if weight loss is your goal. There needs to be more proof that Ashwagandha will cause you to gain weight.
Here are seven ways that Ashwagandha can aid in weight loss:
1. Boosts Immunity
When you have weak immunity, your body’s energy is directed toward protecting itself from sickness. Ashwagandha helps strengthen your immune system, which lets you put your energy back into losing weight. The herb also helps fight inflammation due to its antibacterial properties.
2. Rich in Antioxidants
Ashwagandha is full of essential antioxidants for weight loss and overall well-being. Antioxidants speed up your metabolism, reduce inflammation, and help your body burn fat by making your metabolism work faster.
3. Helps in Managing Stress
One of the leading causes of weight gain these days is increased stress or high cortisol levels. One of the leading causes of weight gain these days is increased pressure or high cortisol levels. When people are stressed, they overeat because high levels of cortisol make them hungry by making their bodies produce more glucose. This makes your body crave foods to replenish energy. Ashwagandha helps relieve stress and thus promotes weight loss.
4. Increases Energy Levels
Ashwagandha keeps an eye on the adrenal glands and cortisol levels. This is good for the nervous system in the long run. This gives you more energy overall and supports you during your strenuous workouts. Additionally, Ashwagandha lessens fatigue and boosts stamina. Iron is abundant in it, which enhances blood circulation.
5. Helps in Building Muscle Mass
Muscle mass is necessary for any weight loss program as it boosts metabolism. High muscle mass is also related to excellent and sustained health.
6. Helps you Sleep Better
Inadequate sleep can cause hormonal imbalances and increased stress, leading to weight gain. People with insomnia can benefit from Ashwagandha by getting better sleep.
How to consume Ashwagandha for weight loss:
Even though ashwagandha is sold in capsules, it is better to eat the powder from dried ashwagandha leaves. To improve the flavor, combine a teaspoon with a glass of milk and some honey. You can add cardamom to enhance flavor, boost metabolism, and improve digestion.
Here are the top 5 best Ashwagandha and Shatavari capsules in India
HealthKart HK Vitals Muscle Builder – 100% Natural Blend of Ashwagandha, Shatavari, and Safed Musli – 60 Tablets – for Immunity, Muscle Strength, and Vitality
About this item
- 100% natural: Ashwagandha, Safed Musli, and Shatavari are some of the ayurvedic herbs in HealthKart HK Vitals Muscle Builder. These herbs lessen muscle tissue loss while boosting immunity, vigor, and overall quality of life.
- Muscle strength & recovery: Ashwagandha and Shatavari, two antioxidants found in HK Vitals Muscle Builder, promote muscle protein synthesis to help improve muscle mass, strength, and endurance.
CARMEL ORGANICS Ashwagandha Root Powder(227 Grams)| Helps fight anxiety and stress
About this item
- Carmel Organics will improve customers’ health affordably and sustainably. Our motto is “Healthy Products, Affordable Prices, Sustainable Process.”
- The Food and Drug Administration has not reviewed these assertions. This item is not meant to identify, treat, prevent, or cure any illness.
MuscleBlaze MuscleHerb, Ashwagandha, Shatavari and Safed Musli, For Muscle Gain & Performance, Ayurveda For Performance, Ayush Approved, 60 Tablets
About this item
- Clean & Pure Herbal Supplement: MB MuscleHerb is naturally gluten-free and preservative-free, contains non-GMO ingredients, and has no artificial flavors or sweeteners. This herbal performance booster has standardized values of active ingredients of herbs to reflect the ingredient strength and ensure consistency in every batch. Allergen information: Milk
Organic India Shatavari – 60 Capsules Bottle
About this item
- Manufactured by: Organic India Ltd
- Dosage: – 1-2 capsules twice or as directed by a physician
- Country of Origin: India
HealthyHey Ashwagandha Powder Withania Somnifera | 100% Natural Ashwagandha Capsules – Ashwagandha Rejuvenates Mind & Body-120 Ashwagandha Capsules
About this item
- Exceptional Quality: We bring you organically grown Ashwagandha root powder Withania somnifera that is 100% safe. We do not use any ingredient that has undesirable side effects or unwarranted extract processes.
- Excellent Value For Your Money: We use completely organic supplies. Moreover, It is safe for vegans because it is GMO-free and has no additives or fillers. Our Ashwagandha Capsule Bottle comes at an attractive price. If you want value for money, choose our 120-capsule bottle, which comes with all the goodness of withanolides 7%.
