By Beth Martin
Summer Support
While we all like to slow down and spend our summers relaxing, the reality is the majority of our lives stay just as busy during the warm months; they may even ramp up with increased travel, entertaining, and fun plans that can lead to overscheduling and stress.
Summer is an important time to support our bodies and build resilience for the cold months ahead. Many of us are accustomed to ignoring our body’s cries for nutritional support, rest and re-laxation by downing another cup of coffee (or soda!), grabbing a quick muffin, or living on energy bars. Our culture is over caffeinated, over sugared and undernourished. Sugar and caffeine offer a quick lift, but the crash is never far behind.
Adaptogens to the Rescue
Fortunately, nature has provided us with effective resources to support our stressed bodies. Meet the adaptogenic herbs. An adaptogenic herb is one that acts to normalize and regulate the systems of the body. By optimizing adrenal gland function (home of the fight or flight response) they support the body so it can adapt to stress in a healthy way. There are a number of adaptogenic herbs for adrenal support; Holy Basil, Eleuthero, Ashwagandha, Rhodiola and Asian Ginseng, to name a few.
Chris Hayden, MMFC’s resident herbalist and Wellness Buyer says “adaptogens are a great part of returning your body to a healthy stress response, restoring your energy levels without put-ting additional stimulants into your system. They help get you out of the “wired but tired” cycle by basically keeping your adrenals in idle, so your body isn’t as shocked by stressors.”
Our knowledgeable staff at Menomonie Market are on hand to help you find what you need, answer your questions. We welcome every-one, regardless of where you are on your path to wellness.
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