Top 8 Ashwagandha Benefits For Men

By Cecile Kehoe
Chief Scientific Officer
Chemist previously with Pepsi Cola
and The Wrigley Company

 

Ashwagandha is loaded with health benefits for men. This vital herb has a long history, especially in India, where it is also known as Indian ginseng. It is known for calming and rejuvenating properties, as well as supporting the immune system and reducing stress. For over 3000 years, this plant, especially its roots, has provided a natural Ayurvedic medicine against numerous ailments. Read on to learn the vast ashwagandha benefits for men.

 

What Is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, withania somnifera, is an evergreen woody plant that is normally found in Africa and Asia. Ashwagandha, which is classified as an adaptogen, has yellow flowers and red berries which resemble raspberries. Ashwagandha supplements have been known to offer natural stress relief, improving your sleep quality.

The chemicals found in ashwagandha have been found to promote healthy blood pressure, calm the brain, and support the immune system. When taken by mouth, this herb has been found to reduce stress hormones in some people, something that helps to reduce stress-related weight gain.

The most clinically studied ashwagandha available in the market is KSM-66. This is a branded and full-spectrum ashwagandha extract with the highest concentration of all major roots-only extracts available on the market today. It is produced using Green-Chemistry in a unique process of proprietary extraction done without using alcohol or any other chemical solvent. If you want to get nerdy with the science you can read more here.

 

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Ashwagandha Benefits For Men

There are countless ashwagandha benefits for men. These health benefits occur when you use ashwagandha consistently as instructed by your health and nutritionist expert. Here are some of the top benefits of ashwagandha for men. Taking Ashwagandha root or ashwagandha root extract has over 21 clinical studies showing benefits ranging from increased muscle mass to supporting sex, sleep quality, and cortisol levels. You may be interested in supporting testosterone levels, an ashwagandha supplement can do that, too!

1.) Improves VO2 Max

VO2 max is essentially a measurement of how much oxygen your body can take in and deliver to your muscles during exercise. Taking ashwagandha for eight weeks could potentially increase your VO2 max by 16%, improving your ability to adapt to high intensity exercise and activities that require a lot of oxygen intake.

2.) Reduces Cortisol Levels

Feeling stressed out? Ashwagandha may be able to relieve stress and to help you feel calmer. Ashwagandha, an adaptogen, combats the negative effects of stress and reduces cortisol levels. Cortisol, which is also known as the stress hormone, is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress and when the blood sugar levels are too low. Use ashwagandha to drop your cortisol levels, which can then help reduce stress levels.

3.) Boosts Testosterone In Men

Ashwagandha supplements have tremendous effects on the reproductive health of men. This is marked by increased testosterone levels, as men who use ashwagandha have experienced increased sperm count and motility.

Also, antioxidant levels in the blood have been found to increase due to ashwagandha use. Men who take ashwagandha for stress experienced higher antioxidant levels and better sperm quality and male fertility.

4.) Enhances Muscle Mass And Strength

Ashwagandha is known to increase muscle mass, increase strength in men and reduce the body fat percentage, as well as improve body composition.

5.) Improves Sleep Quality

Sleep is your body’s only chance to rebuild and repair muscle tissues and ashwagandha has been shown to help improve sleep quality. A study showed that participants who took ashwagandha achieved better quality sleep and awoke with higher levels of alertness.

6.) Improves Cognitive Function

In an eight week study including 50 healthy adults over 35 researchers found ashwagandha can support improved immediate memory, executive function, information processing speed and attention.

7.) Speed Muscle Recovery

Elevated cortisol levels can decrease your testosterone production, inhibit restorative sleep quality, and ultimately break down muscle mass. Ashwagandha supplements can help speed muscle recovery by balancing this stress hormone.

8.) Sexual Performance

To bring it all home here, the compound effects of the above benefits of ashwagandha for men help support sexual performance. From supporting stress hormone levels, to increasing testosterone levels and aiding in sleep quality and recovery, ashwagandha benefits for men can be seen in the bedroom as well. A double blind 8-week placebo controlled study found that taking 600 mg daily or 300 mg twice a day of ashwagandha root extract increased sexual libido and testosterone levels.

 

How Much Ashwagandha Should I Take?

Ashwagandha supplements are in a class known as adaptogens. Adaptogens work against the harmful effects of stress by lowering cortisol levels. Adaptogens also have anti-inflammatory properties which also help in stress reduction. For ages, ashwagandha has been known to soothe the effects of occasional stress such as irritability, inability to concentrate, and sleeplessness.

Daily doses of 125 mg – 5 grams for 1-3 months have been found to tremendously lower the cortisol levels by 11-32%. While using 500-600 mg of ashwagandha every day for 6-12 weeks, has been found to reduce anxiety and reduce the possibility of insomnia for people with anxiety and stress disorders.

How To Take Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a widely available supplement, but how should you take it? Some people prefer to add it to a meal in its raw form; others prefer a pill or powder. No matter how you take it, you still get the same benefits—it's a matter of preference.

Side-Effects of Ashwagandha

Some people have reported experiencing side effects of taking ashwagandha including drowsiness and an upset stomach.

How Long Does Ashwagandha Take To Work For Men?

Everyone will react differently to ingredients due to varying health and fitness levels. You should notice the energy benefits within a few days. On average you should see the other results after 1 to 2 weeks but it may take up to 8 to 12 weeks. 

Ashwagandha Supplements

People have taken ashwagandha for thousands of years because of its many health benefits. Its effect on stress levels can leave you feeling calmer and help you get a better night's rest. It can also increase T-levels, muscle mass, and strength, making it your key to better physical performance. You can find it in a variety of forms, such as its raw form, or as supplement pills and powders. Ready to experience all the health benefits of ashwagandha? Get started with Mdrive.

Mdrive is dedicated to helping men keep their health and well-being at their peak. Our products are everyday supplements for driven men, providing more energy, strength, and drive.

Not sure which supplement is right for you? Take the Mdrive Quiz or contact us anytime for more information.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be really active to take ashwagandha?

No. You will get benefits no matter what level of activity you do. But research shows that to maximize benefits some form of exercise is recommended.

Will ashwagandha increase my energy and boost my testosterone levels?

Yes. Energy will definitely increase as your body better adapts to stress. Testosterone levels will increase depending on what is normal for your age. Ashwagandha works by bringing the body back to its normal hormonal levels. It will not artificially inflate testosterone levels above what is normal for you.

Will ashwagandha support sexual stamina?

Ashwagandha root extract has clinical studies showing it supports sexual stamina and health. Stress is detrimental for male sexual wellness. Adaptogens like ashwagandha have the ability to modulate the stress response which has been shown to improve sexual function in men. One of our star ingredients, KSM-66 Ashwagandha, has a clinical trial showing that the study subjects had significant improvement in arousal, orgasm and sexual drive over 8 weeks of product use.

Is ashwagandha dairy free?

A very small amount of milk is used through the extraction process of the KSM-66 Ashwagandha root extract.

KSM-66's extraction process entails pre-treating the ashwagandha roots with milk. For this reason, it contains milk constituents. Such pre-treatment is consistent with the process described by traditional Ayurveda healers and texts. However, the traditional process does not scale up very well. KSM-66 has taken this traditional method and refined it greatly so that it produces high quality ashwagandha in a scalable manner, combining the traditional with the modern. Therein lies KSM-66's "secret sauce", a highly proprietary process that took 14 years to develop and implement. The milk pre-treatment is important in our extraction process because this is in fact what leads to retention of both hydrophilic components and lipophilic components of the raw root, which in turn leads to a full-spectrum extract of such high-potency.

Are there ashwagandha benefits for women?

Yes, women can take ashwagandha daily for health benefits, too. This powerful adaptogen has many health benefits for both men and women. The same benefits to reducing stress, cognitive function, increased libido, increased energy levels and improved sleep quality can all be potential health benefits of taking ashwagandha.

Should I take ashwagandha in the morning or at night?

The benefits of ashwagandha are not immediate, so consistency should be a priority. If you prefer taking ashwagandha in the morning with a capsule or protein because it fits with your morning schedule, go for it! Otherwise you can see the same benefits by taking it at night.