Ashwagandha VS Gaba
Disclaimer: This content has been produced purely for informational and educational purposes only and is never intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical guidelines including diagnosis, advice, and treatment.
Ashwagandha and GABA are two famous dietary supplements that have a calming effect on your brain, and people use them to manage insomnia, stress, and anxiety.
However, both these supplements can also be incorporated into your daily routine to avail different health benefits such as controlled blood pressure and blood sugar levels, improved brain functions, and increased physical strength.
Follow the article below to learn more about ashwagandha and GABA and how they can benefit when used regularly as dietary supplements.
ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha (Botanical name: Withania somnifera) is a small shrub with a yellow flower that is popularly known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry. It is considered as one of the most important ingredients in ayurvedic medicine, which is based on the principles of natural healing.
Although the ashwagandha plant is native to India and Southeast Asia, it is readily available worldwide in the form of dietary supplements so that everyone can avail its benefits.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that enables it to calm your mind and help you effectively manage stress and anxiety. It may also reduce inflammation and blood sugar levels and can boost fertility in men.
Below is a brief explanation of health benefits associated with regular consumption of ashwagandha supplements:
REDUCE INFLAMMATION
Ashwagandha supplements contain a compound called withaferin A (WA) which helps to fight inflammation by targeting inflammatory pathways in your body. It targets signaling molecules involved in inflammation such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-KB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).
Withaferin A in ashwagandha is also associated with reduced levels of inflammatory markers, including interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
BOOST PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE
When you exercise or indulge in any other kind of intense physical activity, your cells need more oxygen. Ashwagandha supplements significantly increase VO2 max, i.e., the maximum amount of oxygen that can be consumed by a person during intense physical activity.
This increased VO2 max not only improves your athletic performance but is also associated with better heart and lung fitness and decreases your risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
LOWER BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
The compound withaferin A present in ashwagandha possesses potent antidiabetic activity and may stimulate the movement of glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.
Routine intake of ashwagandha is not only associated with reduced blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) but also reduce blood lipids and oxidative stress markers.
IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS
Ashwagandha consumption may boost brain function and improves your attention span, memory, reaction time, and performance on cognitive tasks. According to research, all these effects of ashwagandha can be linked with the antioxidant activity of the compound withaferin A.
Research has also demonstrated that regularly consuming ashwagandha may help you combat symptoms of different mental conditions, including depression.
GABA (GAMMA AMINOBUTYRIC ACID)
Gamma aminobutytic acid or more commonly known as GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid that acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system. Its function is to block or inhibit specific brain signals and decrease the activity of the nervous system.
There are proteins present in your brain known as GABA receptors; when GABA binds with these receptors, a calming effect is produced that helps you fight stress and anxiety. GABA can also come in handy in the management of insomnia and may prevent seizures as well.
GABA is naturally found in a variety of food items such as fish, whole grains, fava beans, almonds, sunflower seeds, and tea. However to obtain sufficient amount of GABA to gain maximum health benefits dietary supplements containing gamma aminobutyric acid may be a better fit.
Below you can find a detailed description of how GABA supplementation can affect your body and mind in a positive manner and allow you to function more efficiently:
PROVIDE BETTER SLEEP QUALITY
Being an inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA enables your mind to relax and sleep easily. Research has linked reduced GABA activity with disrupted sleep and insomnia; hence it makes sense to take GABA supplements to promote sleep.
GABA supplementation improves sleep quality, increases your total sleep time, and decreases the time it takes for you to fall asleep. All these effects of GABA ensure that you have a pleasant sleeping experience, and as a result, you also feel more energetic the following day.
MANAGE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure or hypertension is an extremely common medical condition that affects millions of people worldwide and puts them at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
There are various ways to manage hypertension, but in case you are looking for a dietary supplement, then your quest might come to an end, as research has demonstrated that GABA-containing products may significantly lower your blood pressure
RELIEVE STRESS AND ANXIETY
Regular consumption of GABA supplements helps to manage stress and anxiety as GABA diminishes the activity of neurons in the brain and puts your body in a state of relaxation, relieving all the physical and mental stress.
One of the reasons behind the constant stress and anxiety is disrupted sleep, and GABA can also promote sleep which means GABA doesn't only help you relieve stress and anxiety but also allow you to fight the root cause.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ashwagandha and GABA are known for their healing properties and, therefore, are getting quite popular in the world of dietary supplements. They relax your mind and body and take away all the stress, boosting your energy levels.
Additionally, ashwagandha helps you manage high blood sugar levels, reduces inflammation, improves cognitive functions, and boosts male fertility.
GABA, on the other hand, acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system, helping you fight stress and anxiety and manage conditions like hypertension and sleep disorders.
It is recommended that you speak with your healthcare provider before starting ashwagandha or GABA supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications for any underlying health conditions.
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REFERENCES
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7696210/