Hormones play a significant role in maintaining your well-being. Research shows that taking adaptogens appears to be a great way to keep hormones in balance. Hormones determine how you feel, what your mood is like and whether you will gain or lose weight easily. Hormones are crucial to almost every process taking place within your body.
The brain communicates with certain parts of the body via hormonal signals. It all begins when the brain signals the endocrine system to instruct it as to what to do. The endocrine system is composed of many parts. The individual parts of the endocrine system are represented by the:
thyroid
parathyroid
adrenals
pancreas
gastrointestinal tract
testicles & ovaries
What are the symptoms of hormonal imbalance?
As with many other crucial processes in the body, the hormonal system requires balance. Hormonal dis-regulation can wreak havoc on the body and the mind. Should the body produce too much or too little hormones, the result will be a cascade of symptoms that lead you to the state of disease. It is not uncommon for individuals to complain of the following symptoms when a hormonal imbalance is present:
weight gain
chronic fatigue
digestive disorder
hair loss
low libido
skin issues
depression
suicidal thoughts
anxiety
either cold or hot flashes
Allopathic medicine is still trying to understand hormonal imbalance and how to measure it via blood tests. Most lab tests prescribed by Allopathic physicians are not sensitive enough to accurately detect hormonal irregularities. As a result, patients are often told that their biomarkers for various hormones fall within the normal range, despite raging symptoms. And physicians will not tinker with anything that appears to be categorized by blood tests as normal, even if patients continue to complain about one or more ongoing symptoms.
Balancing your hormones requires expert guidance.
Numerous factors play a role in hormonal dis-regulation. As a result, it is hard to address hormonal imbalances with the use of targeted medications typically prescribed by doctors. A patient’s hormone imbalance may be the result of:
chronic stress
dysfunction of the gut-brain axis
genetic impairments with the Methylation processes: MTHFR & COMT
nutritional deficiencies
Whole Body Toxin overload
chronic inflammation within the body
There is a natural way to address a hormonal imbalance that is backed by scientific research. And it happens to involve the use of adaptogenic herbs. If you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about adaptogens, well, numerous clinical studies demonstrate that adaptogens may be our best ally in the fight to tame raging hormones, reduce chronic stress, alleviate depression, regenerate our brain cells and heal mitochondrial dysfunction.
Adaptogens offer a more holistic way to restore hormonal balance in the body.
Adaptogens are a special class of herbs, roots, mushrooms, and spices that lower stress response, confer healing, energizing, detoxifying, balancing and tonifying effects on the mind, body, and breath. Adaptogens have been shown to reduce inflammation, balance hormones and harmonize brain chemistry. Breakthrough research into adaptogenic compounds prove that adaptogens are able to :
Reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels
Improve brain function by regenerating brain cells
Reduce anxiety and alleviate depression and anxiety
reduce inflammation by restoring the balance of the immune system
restore energy by eliminating chronic fatigue symptoms
A list of adaptogens and the evidenced-based benefits exhibited by each is cited below. Although this list of adaptogens is comprised of the well-known adaptogens, as research continues, more tonic herbs and plant medicine will be categorized as adaptogenic in the coming future.
List of adaptogens and their benefits
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): Improves working memory, reaction time, imparts calm, and boost immune system
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera): Alleviates stress and reduces anxiety
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus): Boost Energy and combat fatigue
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris): Increases stamina
Goji berry (Lycium barbarum)Sustains energy, the sense of well-being, and sleep patterns.
Eleuthero root (Eleutherococcus senticosus): Boost focus and reduces mental fatigue
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma Pentaphyllum)Alleviates stress and increases endurance
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)Minimize stress
Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea)Improves oxygen utilization, eliminates fatigue
Schisandra berry/Magnolia berry (Schisandra chinensis)Improves endurance, mental performance, and stamina
Tulsi/Holy basil (Ocimum sanctum)Combat mental stress, stress-related anxiety, and alleviates depression
Turmeric (Curcuma longa)may prevent Alzheimer’s, improves brain function
The best way to take Adaptogens is in a superfood blend like Yogi Granola
There are Innovative foods and snacks like Yogi Granola's Superfood Granola that make it very easy to get an active daily dose of adaptogenic herbs, and adaptogenic mushrooms as part of an overall superfood blend.
Yogi Granola contains adaptogens like holy basil (tulsi), Ginseng, schizandra, maca, ashwagandha, chaga, and lion’s mane
We recommend eating superfood blends like Yogi Granola, a Granola made from sprouted nuts and seeds, other superfoods, adaptogens, tonic herbs and medicinal mushrooms. Yogi Granola is Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Low Glycemic, contains No refined sugar, is Paleo friendly, Keto friendly and Vegan.