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Viewing How you can Boost Health and Performance with AdaptogensHow you can Boost Health and Performance with Adaptogens
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The group of compounds known as adaptogens boosts the operation of important nutrients in the body to produce a powerful tonic and stimulant effect. They can also help to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and important hormones. By Stephen P. Smith The term adaptogen was first used in Russia in the late 1940s to describe a number of herbal compounds which research suggests can act as powerful tonics and stimulants for the body's systems. Adaptogens may help normalize the body's functions in response to stress and provide a powerful boost to the immune system. Adaptogens such as Siberian ginseng can also help to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and important hormones. Adaptogen compounds may be particularly important in assisting the adrenal glands to maintain levels of the hormones it produces, which are the body's principal means of managing various daily stresses. These stresses include heat, cold, excessive noise and vibration, physical exhaustion, viruses, bacteria and pollution, as well as self-inflicted varieties such as poor diet, lack of sleep, overwork, and the excessive consumption of substances or drugs. Obviously, you cannot hope to avoid all of these stresses all the time; at least, not unless you find a way to avoid 21st Century life itself. As attractive as that may sound, it is probably not a realistic option for most of us. Therefore the urgent question is, just how are you going to cope with these stresses? A good diet, eight hours of restful sleep a night, and plenty of fresh air and exercise will help considerably. However, how many of us can honestly claim this as an accurate description of our lifestyle? This is where adaptogens can be so useful. There is evidence that they may increase the production of energy within the body's cells, thereby optimizing the body's response to stress, maximizing the benefits obtained from the nutrients taken in, and helping to maintain peak physical and mental performance. Numerous herbal compounds are now recognized as possessing significant adaptogenic qualities, but amongst the better known are black cohosh, donq quai, ginseng, and yerba mate. Currently, ginseng is perhaps the best known, and Siberian ginseng, or eleuthero, which has long been extensively used in Russia, is rapidly becoming popular in the West. There are good reasons for this. Soviet and Russian scientists have researched ginseng in depth since the early 1960s, and it was approved for human use as far back as 1962. However, the amazing powers of this extraordinary herb have been well known in China for thousands of years, where it is still often taken as a remedy for bronchitis, circulatory problems, rheumatism, and male infertility. Modern Russian studies have confirmed that Siberian ginseng has potential for helping to tackle cardiac and circulatory disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even some cancers. Of course, ginseng cannot cure these diseases, but it may assist by stimulating the body's natural healing processes to restore it to normal function. However, like other adaptogens, ginseng is not just for those suffering from disease or sub-optimal health. In Russia, individuals whose everyday occupations involve higher than average levels of mental and physical stress have used it extensively. Astronauts, divers, military personnel, Olympic athletes and those facing extremes of environment or climate are just a few examples of the types of people who have derived significant benefits. No one is suggesting that Siberian ginseng or any other adaptogen can or should take the place of a healthy diet, because obviously you cannot optimize the functioning of the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes within the body unless they are present in reasonable quantities in the first place. However, adaptogens may be of significant value when stresses have increased the body's demand for these nutrients, or perhaps depressed its ability to absorb those that are present. You should not view adaptogens just as a corrective for use when the body is tending towards sub-optimal performance or even illness. You can also use them when peak mental or physical performance is required, and supplements of Siberian ginseng and the other adaptogens mentioned above are now readily available in most good health food stores. About the Author: Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specializing in direct marketing, with a particular interest in health products. Find out more at http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidN.... Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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