Rhodiola Rosea is a perennial flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae. It grows naturally in wild Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Rhodiola has long been known as an adaptogen, a natural substance that increases your body’s resistance to stress in non-specific ways. Consuming adaptogens during stressful times is thought to help you handle stressful situations better. It can help with symptoms of stress, such as fatigue, exhaustion and anxiety. Rhodiola has also been shown to improve symptoms of burnout, which can occur with chronic stress.
Benefits:
- Promotes significant improvements in stress symptoms, fatigue, mood and concentration.
- Can Help To Fight Symptoms Of Depression
It’s thought to occur when chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters become unbalanced. Health professionals commonly prescribe antidepressants to help correct these chemical imbalances. Rhodiola is thought to have anti depressant properties, helping balance the neurotransmitters in your brain. A study compared the effects of rhodiola to the commonly prescribed antidepressant sertraline, 57 people diagnosed with depression to receive rhodiola, sertraline or a placebo pill for 12 weeks.
- Improve Brain Function Promoting Better Sleep
- Balance the brain and its functionality.
- May Help Control Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body develops a reduced ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels.
Interestingly, animal research suggests rhodiola may help improve diabetes control. In fact, it has been shown to lower blood sugar in diabetic rats by increasing the number of glucose transporters in the blood. These transporters lower blood sugar by transporting glucose into the cells.
If you have diabetes and wish to take rhodiola supplements, make sure to speak with your dietitian or doctor first.