Adaptogens have landed at Molecule….

Enjoyed by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Alicia Keys, Adaptogens are a great way to get the body and mind functioning at its best.

But what are they?

Mainly derived from herbs and roots, adaptogens are plant-based compounds that modulate the body’s stress responses, promote healthy immune function and stimulate energy. Long celebrated in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, their benefits are now being recognised more in the West. 

With traditional and natural medicines making a comeback, it's clear to see why adaptogens are becoming so popular. Adaptogens help the body to adapt and recalibrate itself depending on our emotional and physical surroundings. So if you’re tired, adaptogens will help with energy. If you’re anxious, they’ll help you calm down, and can also help soothe a racing mind in the middle of the night. Adaptogens optimise the body’s adrenal functions, thus enabling it to better cope with everyday life, bringing peace and clarity to the hectic world surrounding us. 

Daily life, pandemic or no pandemic can be laden with stress. Work, relationships, family, and finance, all can come with added stress factors. Adaptogens are known as 'stress-response modifiers' - that increase an organism’s nonspecific resistance to stress by increasing its ability to adapt and survive. In short, adaptogens help your body cope – or adapt – helping to promote more balance.

“We’re all about creating a more balanced life here at Molecule, so bringing adaptogens to our community seemed like a no brainer” - Molecule’s Store Manager, Kyle

Our health bar now serves a range of adaptogens in a tasty latté format - that can be enjoyed hot or cold. The menu includes: 

Ashwagandha - Known to have 'Brain Boosting' benefits, also helps to lower blood sugar and cortisol levels, and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Reishi - Contains anti-ageing properties, and is said to help boost the immune system, working to prevent infections. Reishi is also known to be used to fight cancers such as Prostate Cancer.

Maca - Perfect for boosting energy. This South American root is used to improve energy levels and stamina. It is also known to enhance fertility and increase sex drive.

Chaga - Similar to Reishi in terms of anti-bacterial properties. Chaga (Birchwood Cancer) is a nutrient-dense superfood, helping promote your immune system.

Plus we have a wide variety of organic plant-based milks.

Our trained barristers are here to guide you to the right adaptogens for your needs. The Adaptogens are blended into a delicious latté, which can be enjoyed in our relaxing health bar, or have to go - let the power of nature work with your body to make you feel your very best!

We know the benefits that CBD can have on wellbeing and we’re excited to be adding adaptogens to the mix too.

“CBD and adaptogens make sense together because they both have similar functions: They’re believed to help the body maintain balance when we’re on the brink of burnout. When stress occurs…our systems become interrupted and our vitality diminishes... Both CBD and adaptogens help mitigate our response to these stressors, making it easier to reach homeostasis and therefore better wellbeing.”

CBD reportedly fights stress and its numerous side-effects by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate lots of bodily functions and maintain balance in the body. It has links to our nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, all of which are impacted by stress. Some adaptogens, like maca, are also believed to affect the ECS, but for the most part, they’re thought to have a more direct effect on the adrenal system, playing a major role in the body’s stress response.

If you’d like to find out more about the Molecule Adaptogen range, please get in touch - or call in and see us in Westbourne Grove and let our team create you the perfect blend to add to your day.

Resources: 

https://www.pukkaherbs.com/uk/en/wellbeing-articles/what-are-adaptogen-herbs.html

https://www.trivita.com/celebrities-on-adaptogens/

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/best-adaptogens-for-stress

https://www.wmagazine.com/story/adaptogens-wellness-obsession-goop-amanda-chantal-bacon/