{"id":29430,"date":"2023-09-22T17:19:20","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T22:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/?p=29430"},"modified":"2024-07-23T18:55:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T23:55:13","slug":"7-potential-health-benefits-of-ashwagandha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/7-potential-health-benefits-of-ashwagandha\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Potential Health Benefits of Ashwagandha"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In the traditional alternative medicine of India, commonly known as Ayurveda, the benefits of Ashwagandha are frequently used as a natural means of healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the many benefits of Ashwagandha, traditional medicine relies on this herb\u2019s ability to reduce stress, boost energy, and sharpen focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Native from Southeast Asia and India, Ashwagandha is a tiny shrub with yellow blooms, which extract is commonly used to treat a variety of conditions, including <strong>anxiety and fertility<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be interested in: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/top-7-ginger-tea-benefits\/\">Top 7 Ginger Tea Benefits: Boost your immune system<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is the benefits of Ashwagandha continue to both amaze and intrigue many. At this point there are still many studies pending, as per the potential of this herb, yet this mythical natural source has been a key part of traditional medicine for thousands of years. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the potential benefits of Ashwagandha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Keep reading to find:<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#top-7-potential-benefits-of-ashwagandha\">Top 7 potential benefits of Ashwagandha<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-might-lessen-tension-and-anxiety\">1. Might lessen tension and anxiety<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-might-improve-athletes-performance\">2. Might improve athletes\u2019 performance<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-might-lessen-the-symptoms-of-some-mental-health-issues\">3. Might lessen the symptoms of some mental health issues<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-might-increase-testosterone-and-male-fertility\">4. Might increase testosterone and male fertility<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-potentially-lower-blood-sugar-levels\">5. Potentially lower blood sugar levels<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-might-lessen-inflammation\">6. Might lessen inflammation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#7-might-enhance-mental-function-including-memory\">7. Might enhance mental function, including memory<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#safety-and-side-effects\">Safety and side effects<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-7-potential-benefits-of-ashwagandha\">Top 7 potential benefits of Ashwagandha<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-might-lessen-tension-and-anxiety\">1. Might lessen tension and anxiety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the potential benefits of Ashwagandha is related to stress and anxiety. This is probably its most common use and it is all due to a specific component \u2014adaptogen, a chemical that <strong>aids the body in overcoming stress.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6979308\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">research<\/a>, Ashwagandha may be useful in controlling stress, as it can help regulate heat shock proteins (Hsp70), cortisol, and stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK-1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some studies have also revealed it could potentially lessen the activity of your body\u2019s HPA axis, which controls the way your body reacts to stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These findings have led researchers to believe one of the benefits of Ashwagandha is indeed potentially <strong>reducing both tension and anxiety.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although some previous research has put Ashwagandha to the test, further investigation still needs to be performed in order to prove the many benefits of Ashwagandha.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A previous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6979308\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> revealed some sort of improvement in anxiety symptoms in subjects who were given from 250 to 600 mg of Ashwagandha. Compared to subjects who were only given a placebo, the evidence suggested the herb was indeed beneficial in this scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-might-improve-athletes-performance\">2. Might improve athletes\u2019 performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another of the most well-known benefits of Ashwagandha has to do with the athletic performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some research suggests Ashwagandha is potentially quite a suitable supplement for athletes. In several studies, the herb has proven to be beneficial for athletes as it has the quality of <strong>improving physical performance.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8006238\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Research<\/a> revealed it is particularly advantageous as it might potentially boost muscle strength and oxygen uptake during exercise, when consumed in doses ranging from 120 mg to 1,250 mg per day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, ashwagandha has been shown to considerably increase maximum oxygen consumption (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7230697\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">VO2 max<\/a>), a critical indicator of cardiovascular fitness, in both healthy persons and athletes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially important because higher VO2 max levels are linked to a <strong>lower risk of developing heart disease.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may also be interested in: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/top-10-turmeric-tea-benefits\/\">Top 10 Turmeric Tea Benefits: Preparation and How Much To Drink Per Day<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-might-lessen-the-symptoms-of-some-mental-health-issues\">3. Might lessen the symptoms of some mental health issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another of the benefits of Ashwagandha is potentially alleviating symptoms of various mental health conditions, including depression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In one <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31046033\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> that included 66 schizophrenia patients who suffered both depression and anxiety, those who took 1,000 mg of ashwagandha extract daily for 12 weeks saw higher decreases in these symptoms than those in the placebo group.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatrist.com\/jcp\/bipolar\/randomized-placebo-controlled-adjunctive-study-extract\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> from 2013 points to possible advantages in treating bipolar illness patients\u2019 cognitive impairment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8762185\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Research<\/a> has also proven among the benefits of Ashwagandha is the potential <strong>improvement in neurological and behavioral health conditions<\/strong> like <strong>depression, anxiety, and insomnia<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the scientific community is still investigating the benefits of Ashwagandha, and therefore further study is needed to properly comprehend and validate these potential uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-might-increase-testosterone-and-male-fertility\">4. Might increase testosterone and male fertility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Previous research has revealed one of the potential benefits of Ashwagandha supplements is actually linked to male fertility and testosterone levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6438434\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> that lasted 8 weeks, 43 overweight or moderately fatigued men aged 40 to 70 took Ashwagandha extract tablets or a placebo every day. The results were promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DHEA-S, a sex hormone involved in the creation of testosterone, increased by 18% throughout treatment. Compared to those who were given placebo, those who had Ashwagandha extract, experienced an increase that surpassed others by 14.7%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A review of four <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30466985\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">trials<\/a> also revealed that among the potential benefits of Ashwagandha is an <strong>increase in sperm concentration, semen volume, and sperm motility<\/strong> in men with low sperm counts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-potentially-lower-blood-sugar-levels\">5. Potentially lower blood sugar levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some evidence suggests that Ashwagandha may help those with diabetes or high blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An analysis of 24 <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31975514\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">studies<\/a> concluded Ashwagandha medication effectively <strong>lowered blood sugar<\/strong>, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, blood lipids, and indicators of oxidative stress in 5 clinical investigations on diabetic patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason behind this could be that some chemicals present in Ashwagandha \u2014such as withaferin A (WA)\u2014 have potent <strong>anti-diabetic properties <\/strong>and may encourage cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In any case, to further support this and other benefits of Ashwagandha, research must continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-might-lessen-inflammation\">6. Might lessen inflammation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another of the potential benefits of Ashwagandha, is related to certain compounds in the herb, such as WA, which may <strong>aid in lowering inflammation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7696210\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">studies<\/a> conducted in animals have found interesting evidence regarding certain inflammatory proteins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, interleukin-10 (IL-10), an inflammatory protein, experienced a decrease when there was Ashwagandha consumption. This suggests humans could also benefit from Ashwagandha in a similar way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in pandemic times, researchers administered \u2014among other medications\u2014 an Ayurvedic medication including 0.5 grams of ashwagandha and other herbs twice daily for seven days to participants with COVID-19 in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7857981\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">trial<\/a> from 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Patients who were given Ashwagandha experienced a <strong>decrease in their inflammatory markers<\/strong>, different from those who were only given a placebo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-might-enhance-mental-function-including-memory\">7. Might enhance mental function, including memory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most intriguing benefits of Ashwagandha supplementation is the <strong>strengthening of cognitive function<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31742775\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">analysis<\/a> from five clinical investigations, including those on schizophrenia patients and older persons with mild cognitive impairment, suggests that ashwagandha may enhance cognitive functioning in these populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It may enhance several cognitive processes, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Executive ability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Response time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Performance on mental tasks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31742775\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> conducted on 50 adults, who consumed 600 mg of Ashwagandha extract daily for eight weeks significantly improved the following parameters when compared to taking a placebo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both recent and overall memory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speed of information processing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the researchers, the benefits of Ashwagandha are related to its components, especially WA, which have antioxidant effects on the brain that may improve cognitive function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"safety-and-side-effects\">Safety and side effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are several studies surrounding the benefits of Ashwagandha, it is key to understand further<strong> investigations still need to be conducted.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Evidence suggests when used for up to three months, Ashwagandha is typically regarded as safe for the majority of people, but its <strong>long-term consequences are yet unknown.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind Ashwagandha <strong>may not be safe for some people<\/strong>, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, people with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, people taking certain medications \u2014such as benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, or barbiturates\u2014, people getting ready for surgery, people with autoimmune or thyroid disorders, and people with liver issues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As far as side effects, Ahwagandha pills have been linked to unpleasant upper gastrointestinal symptoms, sleepiness, diarrhea, and vomiting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s crucial to remember that although there are some potential benefits of Ashwagandha waiting out there, the side effects of its consumption might not appear right away, therefore, make sure to always reach for <strong>medical consultation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The information within this article was mainly taken from the National Library of Medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/top-10-high-protein-foods\/\">Top 10 High Protein Foods, Healthy and Nutritious<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The benefits of Ashwagandha are subject for discussion. Keep reading to see what science has found out about Ashwagandha and its properties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58959,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_focus_keyword":"benefits of ashwagandha","rank_math_title":"7 Potential Health Benefits of Ashwagandha","rank_math_description":"The benefits of Ashwagandha are subject for discussion. Keep reading to see what science has found out about Ashwagandha and its properties.","rank_math_primary_category":"767","footnotes":""},"categories":[767],"tags":[776],"mc_distribution":[688],"class_list":["post-29430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-article","mc_distribution-ninguna"],"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29430\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29430"},{"taxonomy":"mc_distribution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mascolombia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mc_distribution?post=29430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}