Ashwagandha to Fight Stress
During my younger years I used to be very active and practice sports until I was about 17 years old, but when I started working to pay for my own expenses like my car and later the house, I found myself working really long hours. Then, with time came promotions at work and so came more responsibilities and stress (plus even longer hours). I would sometimes find myself crying on my drive to work, and frequently I would not have time for lunch or would eat at my desk, while always having this weird sensation that felt like twisted knots in my stomach. Yes, that’s how bad the stress felt… The results: at 30 years old I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was not hereditary or genetic. It is what some doctors call “environmentally caused”.
Our bodies are a fantastic machine, but they need care and maintenance for proper functioning. Modern life is so fast, time is so tight, that it is so easy to deprive ourselves from vitamins, minerals and other nutrients we need to maintain healthy tissues and organ function. Often times we abuse our bodies with poor meal choices (fast food), lack of exercise and the stress of our busy lives. Sounds familiar right?
Cumulative stress causes adrenal fatigue and compromises immune and inflammatory responses from the body
Prolonged exposure to stress affects the body’s response to environmental demands and in many cases leads to depression, cardiac diseases and other chronic conditions. Long story short, even when there is more research to be done regarding the relationship between stress and cancer, I am 100% sure it played a big role in my cancer diagnosis.
After I completed my cancer treatments, I had to go back to work to ensure I kept my insurance and my income, but I wanted to find ways to reduce my stress despite having to deal with the same workload I had before my diagnosis. This is how I got to learn about Ashwagandha…
Ashwagandha has been traditionally used in Asian cultures to help reduce stress by maintaining the body’s adrenal glands balance of hormones and cortisol secretion. It is a natural adaptogen that has been used for more than 3000 years in Ayurvedic medicine to help manage stress, anxiety and depression. It also helps increase energy level, focus and concentration.
Known as “Indian Ginseng”, it promotes body’s resilience to external biological stress and helps maintain homeostasis as a natural adaptogen.
It prevents oxidative stress and increases cellular energy levels.
The adaptogen nature of Ashwagandha improves the body’s ability to respond to external stressors, increasing quality of life, energy and mental focus. And best of all, it is a natural alternative to regularly doctor’s prescribed drugs that will not cause secondary effects or addiction.
While Ashwagandha did not solved all my problems, since I have been taking it, the quality of my life has improved. I can handle stress much better and cope through the demands of my work and life. I don’t even remember the last time I cried!