Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, also known as Indian Ginseng, is a root traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to help reduce stress, improve mood (1), and increase energy levels. Native to India and North Africa, this small, shrub-like plant with yellow flowers is considered a Rasayana in ayurvedic medicine, meaning ‘path of essence.’ Rasayana refers to the science of increasing longevity, and ashwagandha is known to help increase longevity due to its powerful compounds. The herb’s adaptogenic properties help the body adapt to stress and become more resilient to life’s challenges, while supporting overall mind-body balance. Here’s how it can help you on your path to wellness: 1. Helps balance mood Ashwagandha helps to reduce oxidative degradation (2) that causes cellular tissue damage to the thyroid. Since the thyroid is responsible for many of our emotional hormones, a balanced thyroid creates a positive effect on our mood. Ashwagandha can also help to soothe the hypothalamus, which can increase our feelings of happiness and well-being. 2. Supports a healthy immune system Ashwagandha’s antioxidants help to protect cells from free radical damage, which can catalyze illness, aging, inflammation, and autoimmunity. The herb’s’ antioxidant properties boost the immune system to promote longevity, help to prevent disease, and even support slowing the aging process. 3. Helps reduce anxiety When we’re stressed, or when our blood sugar levels get low, our adrenal glands produce a stress hormone called cortisol. Studies (3) show that this herb helps calm anxiety by reducing cortisol levels and soothing the central nervous system. 4. May curb food cravings Ashwagandha can balance the thyroid, which helps control your metabolism and promote the maintenance of a healthy weight. It’s also been linked to balancing blood sugar levels which can help minimize blood sugar fluctuations and energy spikes. A recent study (4) showed how ashwagandha can even help reduce food cravings and decrease excessive food consumption linked to stress. 5. Can improve memory and brain function In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is used for mind-rejuvenation. The herb’s many antioxidants and anti-microbial properties are shown to benefit cognitive function (5), such as focus, memory, and concentration. Try our Ashwagandha capsules or our Mood Organic Ashwagandha Powder to improve your mood, energy, and resistance to stress.

Want to start your mornings off on the right foot? Nothing beats a healthy and delicious breakfast! Even more so with a dash of mood-balancing, brain-boosting Ashwagandha. Try it out in this super easy overnight oats recipe from Meg De Jong. Chia & Ashwagandha Overnight Oats Ingredients 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 1 ripe banana (frozen works well) 1/3 cup whole rolled oats 1 Tbsp. chia seeds 1.5 tsp. Organika “Mood” Ashwaganda Powder ½ tsp. cinnamon 1/3 cup strawberries (fresh or frozen will work) Instructions Place almond milk and banana in a blender and mix until well combined Place the oats, chia, Organika “Mood” Ashwaganda powder, and cinnamon in a 500mL mason jar Add the almond milk/banana mixture to the mason jar, place lid on, and shake well Put the mason jar with the lid on in the fridge for a minimum of 1 hour. The mixture should be thick and the chia seeds should appear gelatinized before you remove from fridge. When you are ready to eat, add fresh strawberries Mix and enjoy NOTE: Letting this recipe sit in the fridge overnight works really well if you want to enjoy this for breakfast the next morning Meg De Jong is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist located on Salt Spring Island. She has a passion for growing, cooking and baking delicious food! Follow Meg on Instagram, or check out her website.

Indulge the healthy way with our delicious Chocolate Chip Banana Collagen Protein Cookies recipe! Healthy eating is all about finding balance. Sometimes that means saying no to deprivation and yes to cookies. Healthy collagen protein cookies to be exact. The trick to staying healthy while still being able to enjoy the occasional treat or dessert is in making healthy swaps. So today, we’re giving you a healthier swap for chocolate chip cookies! We took all the goodness of grandma’s oatmeal chocolate cookies, swapped out the sugar for a banana, and added a boost of protein to leave you feeling satisfied and full. You can take these cookies to work, or even grab one as a post-workout snack. They’re also a great option for on-the-go activities like hiking or camping. We used Organika's Enhanced Collagen to help energize whatever adventures you may take. Recovery-friendly and easily made gluten-free, these healthy collagen protein cookies are sure to be a crowd pleaser! Chocolate Chip Banana Vegan Protein Cookies Yields 12 cookies Ingredients: Wet ingredients: 1 ripe banana 1/4 cup unsalted almond butter 2 tbsp almond milk 1 tbsp Organika® Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 chia egg (1 tbsp chia seeds combined with 3 tbsp water) or regular egg Dry Ingredients: 1/4 cup almond flour 2 tbsp Organika's Enhanced Collagen Powder 3/4 cup rolled oats 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp cinnamon pinch of salt 1/4 cup chocolate chips Directions: Preheat your oven to 350°F Combine all of the wet ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until mixed. Add all of the dry ingredients, except for the chocolate chips, and process until combined thoroughly into cookie dough. Stir in the chocolate chips. Shape cookies on to a parchment lined baking tray. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned Remove from the oven, and cool before eating. Indulge! How to make a chia egg: Chia eggs are a gelatinous mixture that can be used to replace an egg in baking. It’s rich in fibre and calcium. All you need is 1 tbsp of chia seeds and 3 tbsp of water. Mix the two ingredients in a small bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes or until it becomes a gel-like mix, and voila! You’re done! This gelly mixture will help bind your baked goods just like an egg normally would! What's your favourite healthy treat?