What on earth are adaptogens?

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Adaptogens have been getting a lot of airtime of late thanks to all those matcha teas, mushroom lattes and turmeric tonics. But what exactly are they? According to Sebastian Pole, Master Herbsmith at Pukka herbs “the clue is in the name”.

“They literally help the body to adapt, adjust and recalibrate itself depending on our emotional and physical surroundings. So, for example, they can help calm in times of stress. They can bring peace to a racing mind in the middle of the night. They can give clarity when everything around is in turmoil. They can give energy when we are tired.”

So if I swap a mocha for a mushroom latte, i’m going to be less stressed? In a word, yes. Unlike sugar and caffeine, “adaptogens modulate the release of stress hormones from the adrenal glands”, explains Pole. “As biological response modifiers (BRMs) they restore the body’s innate immune function and help the body adapt to different stressors”. So if the last few months firefighting at work has left you feeling drained, disconnected and like you’re about to self combust, best to swap that revvy comforting mocha for some cordyceps and lion’s mane. Or you’re on a one way trip to adrenal fatigue.

If you prefer your stress busters in juice form, try Botanic Lab’s Adaptogens program. These three potent, adaptogenic tonics are blended using some of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines most revered ingredients (Siberian Ginseng, Ashwagandha and Schisandra Berry to name a few!) carefully selected for the positive effects they have on balancing stress in the body.

Discover the 4 adaptogens you need in your life according to a nutritionist
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Hettie is the editor and co-founder of DOSE. A keen runner, she’s also partial to a blast of high-intensity and hot yoga. A country girl at heart, she divides her time between London and the lush rolling hills of North Devon. When she’s not jetting off on her next adventure, Hettie can be found in a candle-lit alcove with a laptop, a spaniel and a full bodied Malbec.

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