Phosphatidylserine Vs Ashwagandha
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.
With the increasing complexity of busyness in the tech-savvy ultramodern lifestyle, we all are lacking enough time to get our body to restore its balance. Hence, people are turning to look for whether there is any elixir that can actually help de-stress their physical and mental stress. Both phosphatidylserine and ashwagandha are considered proven adaptogens that can help adapt your body to stressful conditions no matter if it is physical, mental, or any other challenges to cope with.
In this article, we’ll discuss the comparison of the properties and benefits of phosphatidylserine vs ashwagandha in a little bit of detail. But before we get into the difference between phosphatidylserine vs ashwagandha, it’s important to understand the basics of adaptogens first. So, let’s get started.
Table of contents
- Understanding stress and adaptogens
- What is phosphatidylserine?
- What is Ashwagandha?
- Phosphatidylserine vs ashwagandha: properties and benefits
- Final words
Understanding stress and adaptogens
Today, stress has been found to be the most prevalent contributor to developing chronic illnesses and autoimmune diseases. Our life is surrounded by numerous stress-causing factors including environmental, dietary, chemical, and psychological among others. We can never get rid of them completely. Thanks to the body’s internal stress management system. We can support it to help with managing and reducing symptoms associated with stress more efficiently. Adaptogens do the same thing for us.
Excessive stress has been linked to various chronic inflammatory, neurological, and autoimmune disorders. Since we cannot remove all the stressors in life, managing stress levels and keeping them in a healthy state is important to heal the body and cope with ongoing stressors.
Adaptogens are substances that support the body’s internal stress management system to help better stabilize and manage stress at a favorable level. As the name suggests, they have been found to be beneficial to help the human body adapt to various stressors as per required depending on the stressful conditions. They impact the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis and help restore its balance so that the body can take necessary actions to repair damage caused by physical, mental, or psychological stressors and heal from within.
Adaptogens are generally considered tonics, rejuvenators, as well as nootropics, taking into consideration their highly beneficial effects on memory and cognitive functions. Phosphatidylserine and ashwagandha both act as potent adaptogens in the body. Though there are many similarities in their properties, each has unique and different adaptogenic actions and so do their uses and benefits as well.
What is phosphatidylserine?
Phosphatidylserine, also popularly known as PS, is a type of fatty substance called phospholipid that is vital for diverse physiological functions in the human body, particularly for the nerve and brain.
Small amounts of phosphatidylserine are found in various food sources such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. The human body can also make it, but most of what the body requires is obtained from foods.
Phosphatidylserine can also be taken as supplements, especially for those who do not get the required amount through their diets. Previously, phosphatidylserine supplements were prepared from the bovine brain, but now they are mostly prepared from plant sources such as soy and cabbage.
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha, scientifically known as Withania somnifera, is an evergreen ancient medicinal shrub that belongs to the nightshade family and is native to India, parts of Africa, and the Middle East. It has historically been valued in the Indian traditional medicine called Ayurveda as a potent adaptogen and also to treat and prevent various diseases for thousands of years.
Other popular names for ashwagandha include “Indian ginseng”, and “winter cherry”, as well as others. Various parts of the ashwagandha plant such as roots, leaves, and berries are used to prepare medicines and supplements that have been found packed with important phytonutrients.
Let’s take a look at how phosphatidylserine vs ashwagandha appears on the basis of properties and health benefits:
Phosphatidylserine vs ashwagandha: properties and benefits
Phosphatidylserine contains several vital minerals, vitamins, and micronutrients that show significant antioxidant effects. One of the key functions of phosphatidylserine in the body is providing protection to different cells, tissues, and organs. This vital phospholipid plays a key role in forming the building blocks of human cell membranes. This means it is required to cover and protect each and every cell in the human body ranging from the cells that line organs such as the liver and the digestive tract to nerve cells to brain cells.
Phosphatidylserine also helps carry message impulses between nerve and brain cells, which is why most of its benefits are brain oriented. It can regulate the production of cortisol, the major stress hormone in the body, and thus help with managing many stress-induced conditions such as insomnia, depression, anxiety as well as others.
Benefits of phosphatidylserine
- Helps keep memory and mind sharp and slow down age-related memory loss and cognitive decline
- Helps regulate stress hormone production and reduces muscle soreness and fatigue, especially during exercise
- Helps reduce inflammation and prevent developing chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and various cardiovascular diseases
- Improves mood and helps treat ADHD
On the other hand, ashwagandha shows tremendous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects on the body. Extract derived from ashwagandha roots and leaves contains several bioactive compounds such as withanolides, withanolides, and withaferin A that have been found to produce many protective and adaptogenic effects on the body.
Benefits of ashwagandha
- Helps reduce stress and relieve anxiety, irritability, and depression
- Protects brain cells from oxidative damage and reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease
- Promotes the nervous system and helps prevent neurological disorders
- Protects the body as well as the brain from various heavy metals and toxins such as aluminum, lead, chloride, and BPA (bisphenol A, a harmful additive commonly used in plastics)
Final words
There is no true contradiction between phosphatidylserine vs ashwagandha since both are adaptogens and can be used interchangeably. But in most cases, phosphatidylserine has often been recommended where stress is related to mental or emotional issues and ashwagandha has been recommended where stress is related to physical issues. But this is not written on the stone. Consider consulting with a professional natural medicine health provider to determine which would be the best for you.
Here you can see Vorst’s pure and natural Phosphatidylserine 100 mg Vegan Capsules (PS - 100)
Here you can see Vorst’s pure and natural Premium Ashwagandha With Black Pepper 1300 mg Vegan Capsules and Ashwagandha 1000mg 60 capsules, also including Ashwagandha 3600mg Raw Herb 60 Vegan Gummies.
Important resources:
- https://drknews.com/protect-brain-body-stress-adrenal-adaptogens-phosphatidylserine/
- https://todayspractitioner.com/sleep/the-day-the-coffee-doesnt-do-it-the-stress-balancing-action-of-adaptogens/#.YvDhYnZBy70
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-ashwagandha/
- https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2021/7/ashwagandha-brain-benefits
- https://drhedberg.com/how-to-cure-insomnia/
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-phosphatidylserine#1