I know – times are hard. And, now, more than ever, there’s a dire need to care more about your health.

That explains my current obsession with herbs, mostly adaptogens. I never stopped looking into them.

And, well, you know me – I love sharing this knowledge with you. talk of changing the world, one herb at a time!

So, this time round I looked into two herbs which people are having a hard time choosing – Rhodiola and Ashwagandha. I also had the chance to use both of them.

So, what exactly are they? How does each of them work? What are the benefits of each? And then the biggest question of the day – Which among the two is better?

Let’s get to it. Ashwagandha – you go first!

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, also known by its scientific name Withania Sommnifera is a common adaptogen that traces its roots to India.

Yes – the plant has beautiful flowers and a wonderful smell. But, well, its beauty doesn’t end there. It boasts tons of health benefits. It’s mostly known to relieve stress and anxiety.

In case you were wondering – it’s been serving humanity for thousands of years. Yes – more than you and me.

What is Rhodiola?

Also called Rhodiola Rosea, Rhodiola is yet another herb that has taken the herbal world by storm, thanks to its tons of health benefits.

Rhodiola traces its roots to Southern China. It has served for hundreds of years as Chinese traditional medicine.

Its ability to lower stress and anxiety is what makes it stand out. But that’s not all. Rhodiola also boasts exceptional abilities in ensuring psychological wellness and mental clarity.

What are the benefits of Ashwagandha?

So, what does Ashwagandha has to offer? Check out the following;

1. Reduces Stress

This is what Ashwagandha is best at – reducing stress. And, well, it works magic when it comes to calming stress.

According to a 2019 research, taking a 240mg dose of Ashwagandha daily significantly reduces stress levels, even more than Placebo would. Amazing, right?

Well, a 250 or 600gm daily dose wouldn’t hurt, too. But, don’t take my word for it. That’s according to this recent research.

2.      Might Help With Cancer Treatment

Ashwagandha’s anti-cancer properties have also been a relief to cancer patients.

So, how does it help with cancer treatment? Ashwagandha is rich in a compound called Withaferin. The magical compound suppresses cancer by inducing apoptosis – the programmed death of cancerous cells, according to this research.

Remember we called the compound magical? Well, it is. That’s not the only way it suppresses cancer.

The compound also works by promoting Reactive Oxygen species in cancerous cells, consequently disrupting their normal functioning.

3.      Reduced Blood Sugar Levels

Several human studies link Ashwagandha to reduced blood sugar levels.

Are you a diabetes patient? Well, here’s something for you. A study on 6 people with type 2 diabetes showed that taking Ashwagandha for 30 days lowered their blood sugar levels.

4.      Reduced Cortisol Levels

Ever wondered what happens when you’re stressed out? Your adrenal glands respond by releasing cortisol – the known stress hormone.

Ashwagandha reduces cortisol levels to lower stress levels.

5.      May Reduce Depression Symptoms

Feeling depressed? Everything isn’t lost.

According to this study, taking Ashwagandha can help fight depression. However, more research is still needed on the subject.

Enough of Ashwagandha, now. What does Rhodiola have to offer?

What are the benefits of Rhodiola?

Here’s what consuming the roots of Rhodiola Rosea will do to your body;

1. Decreases Stress

I get it – stress is almost inevitable in these uncertain times. What if I tell you there was a way to eliminate it naturally? Actually, there is – consuming Rhodiola roots.

Listen, a study conducted on 101 participants who took 400gm of Rhodiola daily for four weeks showed that their levels of tress reduced significantly.

But that’s not all. The herb also helps reduce burnout which comes with chronic stress levels.

Note: Rhodiola not only helps to reduce stress but also eliminates symptoms of stress such as exhaustion, fatigue, and anxiety.

2. Improved Brain Function

Need a healthy, clear brain to pass that test? Do a better job at work? Or help your kid solve that math homework?

Do this – engage in a productive workout, maintain a nutritious diet, and get enough rest. You’ll be marveled at the results, at least that’s what this research says.

Yes – you guessed right! Those are not the only ways of ensuring brain functionality. Supplementing with Rhodiola can also help.

3. Improved physical performance

If you are a physical workout enthusiast, you’ll enjoy the special power, vigor, and strength that comes with using Rhodiola. I loved the experience. What, you didn’t think I work out, too?

A study on random cyclists showed that those who took Rhodiola had better endurance and performance.

4. May Lower blood sugar levels

If you are a diabetic patient, you already know how crucial it is to normalize your blood sugar levels. Insulin injections and medications help with that, even increasing your insulin sensitivity.

So here’s the thing – Rhodiola helps lower blood sugar levels. Yes, you heard that right!

What are Ashwagandha side effects?

I know – we’ve painted a saint-like picture of Ashwagandha. But, this is worth knowing, too. So, what’s on the other side of the coin?

Ashwagandha is generally safe. However, you might experience such side effects as;

What are Rhodiola side effects?

Yes – you guessed it right. Rhodiola is generally safe. However, you might experience the following side effects;

Ashwagandha vs Rhodiola Rosea cost comparison

Well, there isn’t a big difference in cost between the two. Both Ashwagandha and Rhodiola costs range between $15 to 30. But all that depends on the brand you choose to go with and your retailer. You can also get genuine Ashwagandha products on this site at affordable prices.

Best Ashwagandha Supplements

Best Rhodiola supplements

Here are Rhodiola’s best picks;

What is Ashwagandha best for?

Good question. Let me give you a cocktail of my experience and research.

From improving brain functionality to reducing blood sugar levels and boosting fertility in men, Ashwagandha has tons of health benefits that are science-backed. You can read more about it in this post.

However, Ashwagandha is best known for its exceptional ability to reduce stress and anxiety.

What is Rhodiola best for?

I won’t lie – Ashwagandha and Rhodiola both have exceptional health benefits like we saw earlier on this post. And, they are good at pretty same things, considering they are both adaptogens.

However, give Rhodiola a shot if you intend to relieve stress and anxiety, and boost performance during physical workouts.

Rhodiola and ashwagandha stack

Having trouble choosing between the two? How about you do a cocktail? And don’t get me wrong I’m not saying you are poor at making choices. But, it won’t hurt to get the health benefits of both them at once, would it?

No – we are not done, yet. Let’s answer the million-dollar question;

Verdict: what is better Rhodiola or ashwagandha?

How about you be the judge today? Don’t give me that look. I won’t leave you high and dry.

So here’s the thing – we’ve looked at Ashwagandha and Rhodiola. We know what they are and the best supplements to try out. We’ve also covered their benefits. But let’s do go over that again.

So, which one’s your choice? I would love to hear about it.

FAQs

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