Ashwagandha may be used for body weight management in people who are chronically stressed

Chronic stress is associated with weight gain and obesity. A study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine suggests that people who are chronically stressed should consider using ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to keep a healthy body weight and prevent weight gain.

• Ashwagandha is a common adaptogen and is known for reducing stress and anxiety.
• Researchers in India aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the root extract of ashwagandha in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
• They recruited 52 individuals under chronic stress and gave them either 300 milligrams (mg) of ashwagandha or placebo twice every day for eight weeks.
• The primary outcome measures included Perceived Stress Scale and Food Cravings Questionnaire, while the secondary outcome measures were Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, serum cortisol, body weight, and body mass index (BMI).
• The researchers assessed the participants at the beginning of the study, the fourth week, and the eighth week.
• The treatment with ashwagandha root extract reduced psychological and physiological markers of stress, improved mental well-being, and reduced serum cortisol level.
• It also reduced food cravings and improved eating behaviors.
• Those who took ashwagandha also experienced body weight and BMI reductions.
• Moreover, ashwagandha root extract was also found to be safe and tolerable.

Based on their findings, the researchers suggested that ashwagandha root extract is a safe and effective remedy for managing body weight in people experiencing chronic stress.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

To read more studies on natural ways to manage weight, visit AlternativeMedicine.news.

Journal Reference:

Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Joshi K. BODY WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN ADULTS UNDER CHRONIC STRESS THROUGH TREATMENT WITH ASHWAGANDHA ROOT EXTRACT. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 6 April 2016; 22(1): 96-106. DOI: 10.1177/2156587216641830