Ashwagandha is a small shrub that grows in parts of Africa, India, and the Middle East. It’s a medicinal herb that’s been used for over 3000 years as an alternative to traditional medicine. It’s been used historically to relieve stress, improve focus, and increase energy, and it’s been scientifically proven to do those things as well. The many health benefits of Ashwagandha have been attributed to its high concentration of natural steroids, which are known to fight tumor growth and inflammation. Below are just 7 of the many health benefits of Ashwagandha that are able to support the body in countless ways.
1. It helps relieve stress and anxiety
One of the most well-known health benefits of Ashwagandha is that it can reduce stress. It does this by reducing the body’s levels of **cortisol**, which is the main stress hormone. Stress is often closely related to obesity and high blood sugar in many individuals, so reducing long-term heightened cortisol levels is essential to living a healthy lifestyle.
2. It can reduce blood sugar
Studies have shown that Ashwagandha can reduce blood sugar levels at an average of **13.5 mg/dL** compared to a range of 4.5 mg/dL in those taking no supplement at all.[2] It also increases insulin secretion and improves insulin sensitivity in many people, making it extremely beneficial to those suffering from diabetes.
3. It can boost fertility and testosterone in men
Fertility relies heavily on the body’s hormone balance and production. Ashwagandha has been shown to regulate the production of reproductive hormones, which increases **testosterone**, boosts sperm count, and greatly improves male fertility.[3]
4. It can reduce inflammation
Another well-known health benefit of Ashwagandha is its ability to reduce inflammation. It’s able to improve the activity of essential immune cells, which helps your body fight infection. It can also decrease the potency of certain inflammation-marking proteins.
5. It can increase strength and muscle mass
Certain studies have shown that body composition and strength can be improved by using Ashwagandha. With a safe and effective dosage, it’s been proven to increase muscle gains and reduce body fat percentage significantly in many people.[4]
6. It can reduce cholesterol levels
While fighting inflammation is essential to promoting good heart health, lowering cholesterol levels is also important. More research is being done to test the effects of Ashwagandha on cholesterol in humans, but the baseline results show promising markers of success in reducing these levels.
7. It has the potential to slow prostate problems
While Ashwagandha isn’t currently a cure for cancer, it has been shown that it can help protect against and battle cancer cell growth. Not only does it contain a protein that can kill cancer cells, it also is able to disrupt the function of many cancer-causing cells by forming certain chemicals inside the body.[5]
