Mindfulness is a critical part of our lives, and managing stress, improving sleep and calming our nervous systems are really the pinnacle of solid health foundations. Plants that support your body in all of the above, while also strengthening your immunity are called adaptogens - and if you don’t know, now you know.
Intentionally using adaptogens to support and regulate the body’s natural rhythms can be super simple, delicious and easy, but first, you might be asking, what is an adaptogen - exactly?
What are Adaptogens?
It all comes back to our physical, sympathetic nervous system responses.
When we face a stressor, our nervous system reacts with a cascade of physiological responses that affect the immune system, cognitive function, sleep and your circadian rhythm, which can lead to chronic illness.
In an attempt to process this stress, your body goes through what’s called General Adaptation Syndrome or GAS. This is known as a three-stage stress response, moving from alarm to resistance to exhaustion (the crash).
In an attempt to process this stress, your body goes through what’s called General Adaptation Syndrome or GAS. This is known as a three-stage stress response, moving from alarm to resistance to exhaustion (the crash).
Adaptogens work by intercepting the stress response, keeping your body in resistance and avoiding the exhaustion all together.
In fact, many adaptogens, like Tremellea (found in our new Vegan Collagen Creamer), combat fatigue altogether and can even give you an extra oomph in the afternoon — and we love a little extra oomph.
Sure we have our fundamentals in place: Yoga, meditation, journaling, walking, therapy - but every cake needs its icing, and that is where adaptogens really come into play.
The Beauty Mushroom, Tremella - Adaptogen
Tremella Fuciformis, also known as the The Beauty Mushroom, Snow Mushroom or Silver Ear Mushroom, is a super hydrating, nourishing and powerfully anti-inflammatory adaptogen. White, fluffy and resembling snow, this ‘Beauty Mushroom’ works to deeply hydrate and nourish cells with a range of bioactive nutrients, concentrated antioxidants, and B vitamins. Tremella is also widely regarded as nature's most concentrated source of Vitamin D precursors, called pro-Vitamin D.
Adaptogens work by intercepting the stress response, keeping your body in resistance and avoiding exhaustion all together.
Tremella’s abundant antioxidants help remove free radicals, known to cause inflammation and cellular damage, from the body, helping to accelerate cellular repair and skin health. They are also believed to enhance the body’s own antioxidant production, especially superoxide dismutase, the ultimate free radical scavenger!
As far as mushrooms go, Tremella really is superior in the radiant skin health department, so in honour of that, we’ve naturally added it in good doses to our Vegan Collagen to give you the ultimate in skin hydration and stress adaptability.
This blog is based purely on the author's personal experience. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or treatment. The author is neither a medical nor health professional and cannot guarantee that the information in this blog post is accurate, reliable or complete. If you use this information, you do so at your own risk and should consult a qualified medical or health practitioner before relying on any information contained in this blog.
