Ashwagandha is typically a favorite among athletes thanks to its energy-boosting qualities, but this Asian superfood also offers some incredible benefits for the skin. From acne to aging, this adaptogenic herb has been shown to help tackle a huge number of skin conditions, to help you glow from the inside out.
What is Ashwagandha?
Packed with anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and antioxidant properties, Ashwagandha offers some incredible unique health benefits. Used for thousands of years as a health-boosting superfood, Ashwagandha can help:
• Improve Concentration
• Help Maintain Good Thyroid Health
• Boost Stamina
• Balance Hormones
Many of these impressive health benefits come courtesy of Ashwagandha's adaptogenic properties, which put it in the same medicinal category as superfoods like Maca, ginseng and rhodiola. Put simply, adaptogens improve the body’s resilience to stress. This makes us better able to cope with natural stressors, whether environmental, psychological or physiological.
Ashwagandha and Skin Health
Ashwagandha works from the inside out to improve skin health. By helping the body cope with stress, free radicals, and hormonal imbalance, it supports the natural repair and renewal of the skin.
Ashwagandha has been proven to help:
Improve Acne
80 per cent of all people suffer from acne between the ages of 11 and 30, so it’s likely that you’ve experienced an outbreak at one time or another. This common problem is characterized by blackheads and whiteheads, caused when hair follicles are blocked and filled with oils and skin cells. It's a difficult condition to treat, but Ashwagandha may offer some support.
- Ashwagandha manages glucose in the blood. Stress results in an increase in glucose and salt levels in the blood – a major cause of acne. Ashwagandha helps bring these under control thanks to the presence of flavonoids possessing hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities.
- Fights bacteria. A 2011 study found that Ashwagandha inhibited S. aureus bacteria, making it a potentially potent topical treatment for acne.
- Reduces inflammation. Acne is closely linked with inflammation, so naturally anti-inflammatory supplements like Ashwagandha can be useful treatment.
Reduce Signs of Aging
Looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots? Ashwagandha might be able to help. This superfood root is packed with antioxidants, which can help minimize the free radicals that cause signs of aging. As well as antioxidants, Ashwagandha also contains many compounds known to stimulate the production of collagen, giving skin a plumper and healthier appearance.
May Help Prevent Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancers, with one in five Americans developing the disease over the course of their lifetime. But luckily, there are many things we can do to minimize the risk of developing skin cancer, including taking skin-protecting supplements like Ashwagandha.
According to a 2002 study investigating the chemoprotective potential of Ashwagandha, the antioxidants in the superfood give it chemoprotective characteristics. While more research needs to be carried out, this means it could potentially be a useful supplement in the fight against skin cancer.
Making the Most of Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is available as a supplement in organic capsules and as a powder, making it easy to add to smoothies, juices or teas. Simply add 1/2-1 tsp of the powder to your favorite drink, to enjoy all of its skin-boosting benefits.
Or why not use Ashwagandha as a topical treatment for skin? For glowing skin, combine 1/2 tsp Ashwagandha powder with 1/2 tsp dried ginger and a squeeze of lemon. Mix to make a paste, then leave on the face for 15 minutes. The anti-inflammatory properties of the ingredients should leave your skin feeling invigorated.
