Here at Powderful, we are obsessed with adaptogens! We’ve been using them for over 10 years and when we say we’ve tried all of them, I mean ALL OF THEM. When we created Powderful we knew which ones we felt worked the best, so we spent almost 2 years testing combinations of them to make a SUPER BLEND. But, what is an adaptogen, and what do they do?
What is an Adaptogen?
An adaptogen is defined as a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. How exactly adaptogens do this is still being studied. The term was coined back in the 1940s when the adaptogen ‘eleuthero’ was being studied in Siberia, and describes its ability to enhance the ability to deal with environmental stress. Adaptogens have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine (Ayurveda, Siberian and Chinese Medicine), as well as being reserved for Chinese royalty, used by Olympic athletes for energy and focus, by astronauts in stressful environments, and consumed by the Vikings before conquests.
How do Adaptogens Work?
Prolonged stress causes changes in the body, including harming the neurological, endocrine, digestive, and immune systems. This in turn can lead to mood changes, issues with skin health, gut health, energy levels, sleep disruption, and brain fog (lack of focus, memory loss). In today’s hustle culture, more of us are pushing ourselves harder, add to that work and social pressure, world events, and trying to keep healthy, and you’ve got a recipe for burnout.
While the research to find the exact mechanisms is ongoing, adaptogens appear to work by regulating a balance in the hypothalamic, pituitary, and adrenal glands involved in the stress response. They work by “hacking” the stress response in the body, increasing our ability to manage stress.
Top 5 Benefits of Adaptogens
Adaptogens have been studied in both animals, and in human brain cells. Researchers have found that adaptogens seem to have:
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neuroprotective elements
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anti-fatigue properties
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mood-enhancing properties
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attention enhancing properties
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anti-stress properties
Click this link to read about one study in more detail. You can also look at our ingredients page to see more studies on each of our ingredients.
What Adaptogens are in Powderful?
Reishi - Reishi is a functional mushroom researched for its effect on the immune system, stress, sleep, and fatigue.
Lions Mane - preclinical studies suggest Lions Mane mushrooms may reduce inflammation and assist with focus and memory
Cordyceps - studies show that Cordyceps mushrooms may have anti-aging and exercise performance benefits,
Chaga - Chaga has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has one of the highest ORAC values in the world (ORAC is the capability of an antioxidant to neutralize a free radical).
Ashwagandha - Ashwagandha is a root that has been studied for its effect on restful sleep, cognitive function, and a feeling of calm
Astragalus - Astragalus is a herb that has been studied for its effect on energy levels and immune function
Eleuthero - Eleuthero is a root that has been studied for its effect on energy levels, focus, and the immune system
Schisandra - Schisandra is a fruiting plant that has been studied for its effect on energy levels, athletic performance, and mood
Holy Basil - Holy Basil has been studied for its high antioxidant content and effects on immune function
Lemon Balm - Lemon Balm has been used traditionally for restful sleep and a feeling of calm
Maca - Maca root was traditionally used for energy levels and sexual function.
Powderful was designed with modern lives in mind. So many of us suffer from burnout, fatigue, focus and memory problems, skin problems, as well as the damage that stress is doing to us on the inside on our digestive, neurological, and immune health. We blended 4 adaptogenic mushrooms, plus 7 well-researched adaptogens (plus spices and zinc!) with the aim of counteracting the damage done by stress. Powderful supports focus and energy, a feeling of calm, restful sleep, skin health and collagen production, immune function, and digestive health. It can be taken with water, smoothies, or as a coffee alternative.
As with all dietary supplements, you should speak to your doctor before adding adaptogens to your daily routine.