Dr. Uma's Mood Foods | Ashwagandha

Hi ,

Are you looking for ways to naturally boost your mood and emotional wellbeing? Are you interested in making healthy choices now that will benefit your health in the future?

Nutritional Psychiatry focuses not only on how specific foods help improve our mood and reduce stress, but also how to use food to impact our cognitive ability and memory as we age.

Simple adjustments can slowly but steadily become habits to incorporate for the rest of your life in order to create lasting mental fitness. Each week, I’ll share recommendations here using foods you can add to your diet to support your mental health.

Mood: Anxiety
Food: Ashwagandha

Research has shown that ashwagandha can help calm the mind by:

Reducing cortisol levels and perceived levels of stress compared to placebo

Supporting more restful sleep to wake up refreshed and focused

Lowering the biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress consistent with anxiety

Add this MOOD FOOD to your diet:
Ashwagandha is a plant that has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine. In our modern world, is it most commonly consumable as a supplement – either as a tablet, capsule or powder – and is sometimes also included in various varieties of calming teas. The tablets and capsules can be taken as they are, while the powder can be mixed into a smoothie or brewed as a tea. It tends to taste bitter so some people prefer the supplement.

Most research studies typically use dosages ranging between 250–1,250 mg, but I recommend always consulting with your doctor before incorporating a new supplement into your routine. Keep in mind that ashwagandha is considered an ‘adaptogen,’ meaning you may have to take it consistently for a period of time before seeing results.

How to buy ashwagandha:
Ashwagandha is available at most retailers and health stores where you purchase supplements. It is not FDA-approved, so it is important to be intentional about where you source this supplement. Always look for products that are 100% ashwagandha root and opt for those that are third party tested to ensure that your supplements are as pure as possible.

Wishing you a joyful & calm week,
Dr. Uma Naidoo, MD