5 Ways to Add Adaptogens to Your Diet
Last week we talked all about how adaptogens are foods that naturally help your body manage stress. We all encounter daily stressors, and depending on how we handle them, that constant stress load can have a negative effect on longterm health and wellness. Your diet can prove a powerful tool in building resilience to stress, which can improve your health in the longterm. That’s where adaptogens come in!
If you read our last post on adaptogens — which touched on things like ashwaghanda, tulsi, and reishi — you might be wondering how you can find them in the first place, how to add them to your normal diet, and how to make them taste good. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
How to add adaptogens to your diet
Adaptogens are widely available in health food stores — so that’s always you’re best starting point. They generally come in a powder or supplement form and can easily be added to recipes for a nutritional and flavor boost!
Before starting with any supplements, it’s always a good idea to check them with your healthcare provider. They may have specific recommendations or restrictions that might be helpful for you to know based on your unique health profile to ensure they won’t have any interactions with other medications you may be taking.
When it comes to figuring out how much you should consume, it’s always best to start with one herb at a time in a small amount so you can listen to your body and adjust overtime. The packaging should have proper dosing instructions labeled, but if you have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider as well. This way you can learn how your body responds to different herbs and supplements and find out what works best for you.
5 ways to add adaptogens to your meals
Most adaptogens aren’t very palatable on their own, but you can get creative in the kitchen and add some of our favorite adaptogens to these simple meals.
Include them in a chocolate-based dessert! — Many mushrooms fall into the adaptogen category, including cordyceps and reishi, and they can pair really well with chocolate! You’ll love our recipe for chocolate cordyceps mousse found in the Nourish section on the app — it’s quickly become a team-favorite! This particular recipe will help fight fatigue and can even give a boost to your libido.
Add a pop of powder to your smoothie — Most adaptogens can be found in powder form and can easily added to a smoothie. Try adding turmeric or ashwaghanda to your next smoothie!
Take them with a cup of tea — Clear out the stress from the day by preparing a tulsi tea around bedtime by boiling and straining the leaves to help melt a way the stress from the day.
Use them as a base for soups & stews — Reishi mushrooms are a great addition to soups, and if you can find them whole, you can boil and strain them yourself to get the beneficial properties.
Include them in your baking — Give your favorite muffin recipe a boost by adding some ginseng or the adaptogen powder of your choice!
Have you tried adding adaptogens into your wellness routine? Let us know if they’ve made a difference for you in the comments below!
