The Truth About Ashwagandha for Weight Loss: What the Ayurveda Says
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve stress and anxiety. In recent years, it has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, including weight loss. However, the evidence supporting the use of ashwagandha for weight loss is limited and not strong enough to suggest that it is effective for this purpose.
Does Ashwagandha help for losing weight?
The short answer is no. While ashwagandha may have some health benefits, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that it can help with weight loss.
Some people may try using ashwagandha as a supplement to lose weight, but it is not a proven method for weight loss and may not be effective.
According to Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is believed to have properties that may help to increase weight. Therefore, Ashwagandha may not help you to lose weight.
Ashwagandha is believed to increase the Rasa Dhatu, consequently, increases and strengthens all Dhatus in the body.
However, it does pacify Kapha dosha, but its effects on Kapha reduction are very minimal, which nullifies its effects on reducing weight. Instead, it may strengthen and increase the body tissues and muscles.
Why is it promoted for weight loss?
There is the only reason Ashwagandha has been promoted by marketing agencies for weight loss that Ashwagandha may help to reduce stress-related food cravings by decreasing the production of stress hormones and promoting relaxation.
Stress and anxiety can sometimes lead to unhealthy food cravings. Ashwagandha may help to reduce these cravings by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. This is the only way it may work to reduce food intake, but it is not considered an ideal herb for purpose of weight loss. Its effects are not significant when compared to its effects on weight gain. There are several other herbs available to reduce food cravings. It is not considered an ideal herb for purpose of weight loss.
Does Ashwagandha increase fat?
Ashwagandha may also have a positive effect on muscle mass, strength, and endurance, but Ashwagandha does not directly cause an increase in fat. Instead, it may have an indirect effect on fat by increasing whole body mass, which can increase the overall weight of the body. These effects increase especially when it is taken with any Kapha increasing food or adjuvant like milk.
However, if you are taking Ashwagandha and consuming a high-fat diet, it is possible that the combination of these two factors may result in an increase in fat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Ashwagandha has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to improve stress and anxiety, there is limited scientific evidence to support its use for weight loss. According to ayurveda, Ashwagandha does not reduce body weight, instead it may increase overall body weight by increasing all tissues in the body.
Ashwagandha may have some positive effects on muscle mass, strength, and endurance, but it does not directly cause an increase in fat. Instead, it may have an indirect effect on fat by increasing muscle mass and whole-body mass.
However, if Ashwagandha is taken with a high-fat diet or adjuvant like milk or ghee, it is possible that it may contribute to an increase in fat.
It is important to maintain a healthy diet (e.g., ayurvedic diet plan) and exercise regularly in order to maintain a healthy weight and overall health.
