Best Ashwagandha Supplements: Top Ashwagandha Product Brands on the Market (2024 Top Picks)

For centuries, ashwagandha (an herb) has been a popular remedy in the East as part of ayurvedic medicine. More recently, it has made the journey into the Western world. In fact, when it comes to herbal supplements, this is one of the most popular. Research has shown us that it can improve athletic performance, ease stress and anxiety, relieve insomnia, and so much more. There are many people who take it daily, as part of their supplement regimen. Others are only taking it when they feel extremely stressed or anxious.

Since it is such a popular supplement, there are many manufacturers that have started producing ashwagandha supplements. This is good and bad. While it’s great to have options- too many can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t really know much about it. Hopefully, with this article, we can help.

Our goal is to help you understand more about what ashwagandha is, how it works, and who should take it. Then, we’ll review what we feel are the top 8 ashwagandha supplements on the market. This will give you a place to start if you decide that you want to use this supplement. Finally, we’ll go over the potential advantages associated with ashwagandha as well as the side effects.

Hopefully, we can help you understand this mysterious herb and how it can improve your overall health and wellness. Of course, before you start taking this or any other supplement, it’s important that you discuss it with your medical provider- he or she can help you decide if it’s a good idea.

Ashwagandha: What is it?

First, you must understand what ashwagandha is. It is also known as Withania somnifera, Indian ginseng, or winter cherry. It is an evergreen herb that has been used for centuries in ayurvedic practices. It is said to support health and wellness in a variety of ways, including increasing energy, reducing inflammation, improving sexual health, reducing insomnia, and so much more.

The name, “ashwagandha” is Sanskrit and literally translates to “smell of the horse” and was given this name because of is interesting scent and the fact that it’s believed to make you as strong as a horse. It is found naturally in some areas of the Middle East, as well as in India and Africa.

How does it work?

Studies show that ashwagandha is made of chemicals that can do so much to improve overall health and wellness. It is an adaptogen, which is a chemical that changes the way your body responds to stress, whether physical, mental, or chemical. It stimulates your stress-protection response, which returns you to a state of homeostasis.

When you encounter stress, your body naturally has a “fight or flight” response. This means you can either fight the stress or flee from it. Ashwagandha affects this response, which changes the way you respond to stress.

Studies indicate that ashwagandha controls the mediators of stress in your body, including:

• Hsp70 (heat shock proteins)
• Cortisol
• JNK-1

When you are under stress, these three chemicals increase. Research shows that ashwagandha can reduce these levels, which is why it is believed that it can mitigate anxiety.

Who should take it?

As mentioned, ashwagandha can support overall health and wellness in a variety of ways. Therefore, if any of the following applies to you, then you may benefit from using an ashwagandha supplement:

• You struggle with insomnia- difficulty falling or staying asleep
• You want a natural way to deal with your anxiety and stress
• You want to increase strength and enhance recovery following HIIT sessions
• You want to improve your overall sexual function
• You want to improve cognition, memory, and general brain power
• You want to reduce inflammation in your body

Ashwagandha is believed to be effective for just about anyone. It is a complete health and wellness aid that improves overall health.

8 Best Ashwagandha Reviewed

Now that you’ve learned more about what ashwagandha is, how it works, and who should use it, we’re going to look at what we feel are the 8 best ashwagandha on the market today. If you are considering adding an ashwagandha supplement to your routine, we recommend that you start with one of these. They have been vetted and proven to be safe and effective. If you try one and it doesn’t work like you expect, try another one. The good thing about supplements is, they are natural and you can experiment until you find one that works for you- but you must give it time to work, which is typically 2 to 4 weeks.

XWERKS Ashwa

XWERKS Ashwa is the first product on our list. At this time, it is one of the most popular ashwagandha supplements on the market. XWERKS has been in the industry for some time and is well-known and loved. They bring a variety of high quality health and fitness products to the market:

• Protein powder
• Pre-workouts
• Creatine

Ashwa is a gummy and is formulated to improve male testosterone levels and enhance athletic performance in both male and female athletes. According to the website, it may also improve sleep, neutralize cortisol production, and reduce stress.

If you are looking for an ashwagandha supplement that can increase your testosterone levels and improve your athletic performance, this should be the top of your list. A 30-day supply is $19. XWERKS offers a 100% money back guarantee.

Simple Life Nutrition Ashwagandha

Simple Life Nutrition Ashwagandha is a high-dose formula and is highly popular among those who are interested in increasing immunity, reducing stress, improving cardiovascular health, and more.

One dose is 2 capsules and contains 1,300 milligrams of pure ashwagandha. This formula also contains 100 milligrams of black pepper extract, which improves absorption, allowing your body to benefit from supplementing with ashwagandha.

Simple Life Nutrition Ashwagandha is vegan friendly. They use high-quality vegan capsules instead of the cheap gelatin ones that many other manufacturers use. If you want a high-quality supplement that doesn’t depend on fancy marketing, this is your best option. A 30-day supply costs $17.99. Simple Life Nutrition supports their products with a 30-day money back guarantee.

Oweli Ashwagandha

Oweli has been in the arena for some time and are well-known for their quality supplements. According to Oweli, their ashwagandha formula supports improved mood and brings stress to a manageable level. This ashwagandha supplement also promises to improve stress response, facilitate better sleep, improve cognition, reduce physical land mental stress, improve body composition, and improve overall wellness.

A single, 2-capsule dose of Oweli Ashwagandha contains 1,300 milligrams of ashwagandha and 100 milligrams of black pepper extract. This means that it is an easily absorbed, high-dose formula. It is third-party tested for quality, potency, and purity.

Each bottle contains 60 capsules, or 30 doses, and costs only $19.99. Plus, you can’t go wrong because they offer a 100-day satisfaction guarantee.

Goli Ashwagandha

Goli is fairly new to the arena but has become quite popular. In fact, their ashwagandha gummies are among the most popular supplements they have to offer. According to the manufacturer, they can help you unwind, relax, and restore.

These gummies are made with Vitamin D and KSM-66 ashwagandha, which work together to support wellness and increase relaxation. Their website promises that these gummies will reduce stress, improve memory/cognition, promote calmness, improve sexual health, help users maintain a healthy body composition, reduce cravings that come with stress, and more.

They have a delicious berry flavor and cost only $19 for a 30-day supply. They offer a subscription plan that allows you to have it automatically shipped to you each month for only $16.15 per bottle. They offer a 100% no-hassle guarantee.

Nutraville Helix-4

Nutraville Helix-4 is formulated to encourage stubborn fat to melt away and improve your overall mood. It is a capsule and taking 2 per day promises to reduce food cravings, mitigate the absorption of fat/carbs, and several other aspects related to weight gain.

The manufacturer also promises that this formula will increase your energy levels. It does cost a bit more than most of the other options on our list, but if weight loss is your goal, it’s your best option.

This formula contains ashwagandha, as well as a lipase inhibitor and other ingredients to encourage rapid, safe weight loss. A 30-day supply costs $49.00, but Nutraville is so confident that you’ll achieve the results you’re looking for that they offer a 365-day money back guarantee.

Zhou Ashwagandha

Zhou Ashwagandha is number six on our list and is formulated to reduce both mental and physical stress. It is one of the best values on our list because you can get a 30-day supply for only $14.96. This formula promises to improve sleep patterns, support cardiovascular health, promote healthy glucose levels, and more.

Each serving offers 1,200 milligrams of ashwagandha, so it ranks up there with the higher-dosed formulas. In addition to the ashwagandha, there is 5 milligrams of black pepper extract for absorption. They do include a proprietary blend, which is made of a variety of ingredients, including Rhodiola Rosea and Reishi Mushroom

Amy Myers MD ZenAdapt

Chances are you’ve heard of Amy Myers MD. It is a brand that was launched by physician, Amy Myers in 2017. She started with a website and also had a blog and a podcast.

ZenAdapt is formulated to limit cortisol production and balance your body’s stress response. In addition to ashwagandha, this formula also contains saffron extract, PEA, Venetron, and other ingredients that work together to soothe your overstimulated nerves.

According to the manufacturer, ZenAdapt balances stress and anxiety levels. It’s one of the few on the market that has a medical doctor behind it and is idea for those who want to find balance. A 30-day supply costs $39.92 and Amy Myers does offer a money-back guarantee.

Longevity Activator

The last of our 8 best ashwagandha supplements is Longevity Activator. It is formulated to help you live longer and avoid the most common aging symptoms:

• Cognitive decline
• Fatigue
• Aches/pains

In addition to ashwagandha, this formula also contains turmeric, resveratrol, taurine, astragalus, ginseng, and more. The best part is the manufacturer is 100% transparent about each and every ingredient and dosage.

It only contains 25 milligrams of ashwagandha, making it one of the weakest options on our list. However, it’s still effective. It’s also one of the more expensive ones, at $49 for a 30-day supply. You can buy in bulk and save some. Their best deal is 6 bottles for $198, which brings the cost to $33/bottle.

What Benefits are Associated with Ashwagandha?

We have mentioned some of the purported benefits of ashwagandha several times so far, but now we’ll take a closer look at a few of them.

Stress and Anxiety Reduction

Ashwagandha has proven time and again that it’s effective for reducing stress and anxiety. It is an adaptogen, which means it affects your body’s natural stress response. It controls the three chemicals that are in charge of your stress response: cortisol, Hsp70, and JNK-1. There is also some evidence that it reduces activity of your HPA axis, which is also related to regulation of your body’s stress response.

Enhances Athletic Performance

Some of the research on ashwagandha indicates that it can benefit athletes by enhancing their performance on the field and in the gym. This research also indicates that ashwagandha increases muscle strength.

Decreases Symptoms Related to Mental Health Conditions

Some studies have shown ashwagandha can reduce symptoms of mental health conditions, including depression, for some. Though there are some who have experienced positive results from using ashwagandha, if you are on prescription anti-depressants, you should not stop taking them. You should speak with your medical provider about whether or not ashwagandha is appropriate for you or not.

Increases Testosterone in Males & Boosts Fertility

Some research indicates that ashwagandha can improve testosterone levels in men with low-T, as well as increase male fertility. One study showed an improvement in sperm motility, semen volume, and concentration in men with low sperm count. At this time though, there’s not enough research supporting the use of ashwagandha for male infertility.

Decreases Glucose Levels

There are some studies indicating that ashwagandha may help lower glucose levels in those who have high blood sugar or have been diagnosed with diabetes. Research indicates that some of the compounds found in ashwagandha combat diabetic activity and stimulate your cells to pull glucose from your blood. That being said, research is still new in this area, so in order to come up with a clear answer, we need more research.

Reduces Inflammation in the Body

Ashwagandha contains a variety of chemicals and there is some research showing that these chemicals can help reduce inflammation in the body. One of these chemicals, WA, targets inflammatory pathways in your body, including: NF-kB and Nrf2. There are some animal studies showing that it reduces inflammatory proteins in the body, including IL-10 and may do the same for humans. Results of studies on ashwagandha and inflammation are promising, but in order to confirm, we need more high-quality studies.

Improves Cognitive Functioning

Some experts believe that ashwagandha may positively impact cognitive functioning, including tasks such as:

• Memory
• Attention
• Reaction time
• Performance on cognitive tasks
• Executive functioning

These studies show that the compounds in ashwagandha may have an antioxidant effect on your brain- which benefits cognitive health.

Improves Sleep

Finally, if you like to sleep, you’ll be glad to know that ashwagandha may help with insomnia and other sleep issues. There are many people who have taken it and gotten a good night’s rest, However, there are others who use it and don’t experience this or any other benefit.

What Side Effects are Associated with Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha is generally found safe. Most of the study participants and others who have taken it report only a few side effects- if any. If you do have a medical issue, you’ll need to speak with your medical provider to get clearance on taking this supplement or any other one for that matter. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not take ashwagandha because it’s not clear what the effects on the baby can be.

Some of the most common side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Upset stomach

If you have certain medical issues, such as thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, and hormone sensitive prostate cancer., you will want to speak with your medical provider before adding this to your routine.

If your medical provider determines that ashwagandha is appropriate for your condition, you’ll want to make sure to choose one proven safe that offers proof of their third-party testing.

Other Things to Note about Ashwagandha

Once you and your medical provider have determined that ashwagandha is an appropriate treatment for you, choose one that is proven safe and effective. Then, it’s time to consider dosage. Recommendations vary, depending on your condition. You may only need 250 or so milligrams, while someone else may need up to 1,250 milligrams. If you’re not sure, speak with your medical provider.

Also, the effects are not going to show up overnight. It may take a few days or even a few months to notice a difference. You can take ashwagandha with or without food and you can take it all at once or you can spread it out throughout the day.

Conclusion

As we stated, ashwagandha has long been used in ayurvedic treatments in Eastern medicine. Over time, these practices moved to the Western world. It is believed to treat a variety of health conditions, including insomnia, anxiety, inflammation, and stress. There are very few to no side effects. If you are looking to naturally promote health and wellness, ashwagandha may be the perfect supplement for you.

However, there are so many different formulas and brands on the market, it can be so hard to choose the best. That’s why we’ve taken the time to do the 8 best ashwagandha supplements on the market. If you decide that you want to use ashwagandha, start with one of these so you know they’re safe and effective. This will save you a lot of hassle and, if you are not 100% satisfied with your results, you’ll be glad to know that most of the companies offer a money-back guarantee ranging from 30 days to 365 days.

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