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does ashwagandha increase weight
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Nutrition & Diet
Question #22351
30 days ago
62

does ashwagandha increase weight - #22351

Hriday

I am really confused and honestly a bit stressed about this whole thing with ashwagandha. I started taking ashwagandha like a month ago to help with my anxiety and sleep issues, but now I'm wondering, does ashwagandha increase weight? I mean, I've been trying to keep my diet in check, and I hit the gym a few times a week, but I've noticed my weight creeping up a bit. At first, I thought it was just muscle gain, you know, but now I'm not so sure. Some friends say ashwagandha can increase weight because it messes with your hormones or something. I've even read some stuff online that says it can cause weight gain for some people. Ugh! Like, why is everything so complicated? I seriously don't want to undo all the hard work I've put into losing a few pounds this past year. Could it be the ashwagandha? Or am I just overthinking it? Has anyone here had similar experiences or could help me figure this out? I just need some clarity! Does ashwagandha increase weight for everyone, or is it just a select few?

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Ashwagandha, a popular adaptogenic herb, is sometimes associated with weight changes, but it doesn’t directly cause weight gain for everyone. It’s more accurate to say that its effects can vary from person to person, depending on individual health factors and how your body reacts to it. Ashwagandha is known for potentially helping to reduce stress and anxiety by balancing cortisol levels. High levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone, are linked to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. So, for some people, reducing cortisol might theoretically support better weight management rather than actual weight gain. However, one potential reason you could be experiencing weight gain is that Ashwagandha can sometimes improve appetite as a side effect, possibly leading to increased calorie intake without realizing it. It’s also possible that reduced stress might decrease anxiety-driven calorie restriction, subtly changing eating patterns. On the other hand, Ashwagandha has properties that help build muscle, so if you’re combining it with regular workouts, you might be gaining lean mass. Keeping a food diary might help identify changes in eating habits that could impact weight. Additionally, monitoring your body composition rather than just weight could provide more clarity on whether it’s muscle or fat gain. If you’re finding it particularly concerning, having a healthcare professional review your current health status and overall lifestyle might provide additional personalized insight. They might run tests to make sure everything is chemically fine, like hormone balances including thyroid function, which can impact weight. In your case, since the weight change is stressing you, consulting with a nutritionist or a personal trainer might make sense to tailor specific adjustments to your diet or workout regime while you continue to evaluate how ashwagandha fits into your lifestyle. If discomfort persists, reducing or discontinuing its use while tracking the results could be another approach.

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