While we all know that vegetables and plants are good for our health, there is one specific plant that has some wondrous qualities, which deserve to be known to everyone looking to live a healthy life. Rhodiola, a herb that grows in the cold, especially in the mountain regions of Asia and Europe has proven to have medicinal qualities helping people gain endurance, strength and increased physical and mental capacity.
Essentially, the root is used as a medicine lending Rhodiola the names, Golden Root and the Arctic Root. Potent with salidroside and rosavin, the root has been used since yesteryears to treat anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Scientifically known as the Rhodiola Rosea, adding it to your diet can have numerous health benefits, some of which include:
A quick fix to stress
One should note that Rhodiola is known as an adaptogen, which is a natural substance known to increase the body’s resistance to stress. Various studies have shown that people who consume adaptogen when in immense stress deal with it better, making Rhodiola an effective antidote to stress. Another stress-related issue that Rhodiola can help with is depression.
Rhodiola roots have over 140 active ingredients and some of them are known to act as antidepressants and regulate heartbeat. So, if a person under immense stress, anxiety or feeling depressed consumes Rhodiola, it reduces their fatigue, making them feel better about their condition with fewer side effects compared to antidepressants, as proven in various studies.
Helps Reduce Belly Fat
The active compound, rosavin is known to be a trigger to burning fat. It is also proven to regularize cortisol levels, which can also reduce cravings making it a potentially useful ingredient to lose belly fat.
A Diabetes Controller
When your body’s ability to produce insulin reduces, the sugar levels go up and a person suffers from diabetes. Consuming Rhodiola increases the glucose transporters in the blood, lower the blood sugar levels significantly. NHS has conducted such studies successfully in diabetic mice, but it can be linked to human blood sugar problems as well.
Note: A person with blood sugar consuming Rhodiola supplements should consult their physician before doing so.
May Have Anti Cancer Properties
A prominent element of Rhodiola is salidroside, which has been investigated to have anticancer properties. According to different researches, salidroside is known to inhibit the growth of cancer in the bladder, colon, liver, and breast. Since the research has been conducted in test-tubes, its effects on humans are still to be determined, which is why it is assumed to have anticancer properties.
How To Consume Rhodiola and When
It’s best to consume Rhodiola on an empty stomach in the morning. The optimal dosage of it is 500 mg, two times a day. Taking it before an hour or two before exercise has been known to have performance-enhancing effects.
To sum it up, Rhodiola has been used as a traditional medicine in Scandinavian countries and Russia for centuries now. It increases physical strength and greatly reduces stress, helping you fight fatigue and depression.