Issue #153: Ashwagandha
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, March 22nd. We’ve been adding content to our website - check out the latest release at www.thrive25.com!
Also, the brackets are still open for the 2023 Road to Longevity contest - VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS! Start with the East and navigate to the other regions.
Today’s Quick Win
From the Lab: The Adaptogenic Shrub to Fight Stress
Speed Read: The Dirty Dozen
What We’re Listening To: The Insane Benefits of Hot/Cold
“Pain is neither unbearable nor unending, as long as you keep in mind its limits and don’t magnify them in your imagination.”
The percentage of adults who would take a low paying job they love (compared to a high paying job they hate). This goes up from 40% for 18-25 yr olds to 65% for those 76+ yrs young. (YouGov)
From the Lab
Back when I was having issues with my gut, the tests showed high levels of cortisol - basically too much stress.
I’m not alone in this. Pretty much all of the Thrive25 readers we speak with are balancing a lot on their plate - job, money, kids, parents - you name it.
When I went to the functional medicine doctor - he suggested an effective supplement to safely lower my cortisol and stress.
PRO TIP: Obviously these don’t substitute for lifestyle practices like breathwork, meditation, getting enough sleep, and finding joy in your everyday (remember the advice from Jim Valvano - Issue #150).
Ashwagandha
This herb is actually a shrub found in India and the Middle East that’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
But the benefits appear real - current studies shows this shrub really does normalize cortisol levels and reduce our stress response.
I can tell you as a sample of one (me) that taking this daily for a few months significantly reduced my cortisol results - confirmed by a before/after test with the doctor.
In addition, ashwagandha also has research studies showing it improves VO2 Max and muscle coordination (possibly strength too), as well as reaction times and attention spans.
Need more? You can even find studies showing an increase in testosterone / fertility in men and sexual function for women.
The sex thing may be correlation, not causation - but given the other benefits and lack of side effects - only adds to why it’s on our recommendation list.
Two things to keep in mind:
You shouldn’t take ashwagandha everyday. Take a month off after you’ve been taking it for 1-2 months. Also, seek medical expertise if taking any other medications and avoid if you have autoimmune issues
As with all supplements - you need to be your own guide to purity and safety. We recommend Himalaya (no affiliation) as a high-quality brand for this adaptogen
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
Next Wednesday (March 29th) Dr. Tracy Gapin will be hosting a webinar on High Performance Health.
Learn more about how to take control of your health and to have the energy and health to crush everyday.
To sign up for the Gapin Institute’s free upcoming webinar on March 29th click HERE.
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
The Dirty Dozen: Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out their list of the 12 fruits/veggies with the highest levels of pesticides. Makes sure you absolutely go organic whenever possible and wash these foods when you bring them home (Issue #4 - washing berries with vinegar). (EWG)
Why Exercise Makes Us Stronger: Another study to underscore the value of hormesis. Chronic levels of stress - mind or body, can be harmful, but acute stress, especially through exercise, is valuable by changing the redox state of our cells. (Levels)
Pro Triathlete and Screenwriter: Lesley Paterson is a 5-time off-road triathlon world champion and has completed over 400 triathlons. Her list of accolades is long, and now includes an Academy Award nomination for her film adaptation of the book “All Quiet on the Western Front.” (WSJ)
What We’re Listening To | Dhru Purohit
Back in February we talked about the benefits of hot/cold therapy (Issues #131 and #132). Since then, I’ve been doing my own sauna/plunge routine -
Three Rounds: 15 min in a 160+ degree sauna with 50% humidity + 3 min cold plunge.
It’s been huge to enable me to easily adapt to temperature changes in real life. I’ve also felt more relaxed and life does seem a little easier (maybe placebo, but still). I can’t speak to any fitness-related benefits (since that might be from my triathlon training) - but I highly recommend it.
Check out what the experts say about it.
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.