7 Herbs to help you get energized for spring
It’s springtime! Let’s shake off those layers of winter lethargy with a hearty dose of energizing herbs to ready your body and mind for the sprouting season.
Consider adding some of the following herbs to your diet in the coming months if winter has left you feeling a little flat.
1. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is believed to naturally (and legally) aid the performance of sportspeople, so imagine what it could do for your day-to-day use. I’m not planning on running any marathons this year (not yet, anyway), but I know that a dose of ashwagandha twice a day helps me with my busy schedule.
Whether you’re a business person, a stay-at-home parent, a student, or anyone in between, the properties of ashwagandha will energize you, especially if you’re feeling a little sluggish after winter.
This great allrounder also helps reduce stress and anxiety and improves cognitive performance.
Ashwagandha can be taken in capsule or powder form and is best divided into two equal-sized portions, morning and evening.
2. Ginseng
If you felt like hibernating this past winter, ginseng’s energy-boosting properties may be just what you need. It is popularly reported that ginseng contains compounds that can help boost alertness and concentration as well as fight tiredness and up those energy levels.
Apart from its brain-boosting and body-revitalizing properties, ginseng is believed to reduce inflammation, contain antioxidants that help your body fight cancer, boost your immune system, lower blood sugar, and more.
Ginseng is easy to add to your diet because it can be ingested in capsule form, or you can eat it raw, steamed, steeped to make tea, or added to soups, stews, or stir-fries.
3. Sage
As a supplement, sage is believed to improve alertness, attention, memory, mood, and overall cognitive function. It may also be associated with reduced fatigue in adults. Sage has many other benefits apart from helping your body rise ‘n shine after winter. These include using sage essential oils to ease muscular pain (good to know in case that marathon becomes a thing), relieve digestive complaints, and reduce skin complaints like dermatitis and athlete’s foot.
Sage is another herb that can be sprinkled into your diet. It has an earthy flavor and strong aroma, so use small amounts and adjust accordingly as you learn to cook with it. Chop sage leaves finely and add them to eggs when making an omelet or scrambled eggs; mix it into stuffing; blend it with butter to make sage butter; or add the leaves to sauces or soups.
4. Peppermint
Inhaling peppermint essential oil can boost alertness, athletic performance (really?—marathon vibes again), energy, and mood. It is also useful in treating colds that are prevalent with the change of season. In topical use, peppermint oil is believed to ease headaches, itchiness, joint pain, and muscle aches.
Peppermint can also be included in your diet by adding leaves to green salads, smoothies, tea, and drinking water. The health benefits of ingesting peppermint leaves have not been as widely studied as those of peppermint essential oils, but the refreshing flavor of peppermint is the epitome of spring!
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, so be sure to add this herb to your menu this spring. You can add sprigs of rosemary to roast meat, potato, and vegetable dishes. Fresh rosemary tea is known to improve digestive health and relieve headaches and fatigue.
Rosemary essential oil is believed to wake up your brain and could improve performance on cognitive tasks when inhaled. It can also boost alertness and focus, helping you clear those winter cobwebs.
6. Tumeric and its active ingredient Curcumin
The extensive list of turmeric’s health benefits makes it a must-have all-year-round herb, so if you haven’t been using it, now is the perfect time to start. It benefits your body and brain. If you’re feeling a little glum after the long winter, you’ll be happy to know that curcumin is showing promise as a natural antidepressant.
It is loaded with anti-inflammatories, which help your body fight cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and various degenerative conditions. To learn more about this powerhouse herb, read our blog about turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin.
The most effective way to add turmeric to your diet is through supplements, especially those with added black pepper because that aids in the absorption of the active ingredient, curcumin. However, there are tremendous health benefits to cooking with turmeric. It is the herb that gives curry dishes their rich, yellow color.
7. Ginger
If you were using ginger throughout winter to help your body fight colds and flu, don’t stop now. The vitamin C in ginger will help aid in preventing the usual sniffles that arrive with the change of season. Gingerol, the active ingredient in ginger, gives it its medicinal properties, which include regulating blood sugar, soothing an upset stomach and menstrual pain, improving digestion, and reducing the risk of heart disease.
It’s quite easy to add ginger to your diet, but be careful in the beginning—a little goes a long way. Fresh ginger can be peeled and shredded or sliced to use in recipes and added to teas or drinking water. Dried and powdered ginger can be used the same way, but fresh ginger contains more gingerol. You can also take ginger capsules if you prefer a regular daily dose or don’t enjoy the flavor of ginger. To find out more about this versatile herb, read our blog dedicated to unpacking the value of ginger.
In summary
Use these herbs to energize and renew your body and mind as we take March by the hand and dance our way into spring, but remember to consult your healthcare practitioner before trying any new supplements. Certain herbs and plants may react with one another or other medications. Always buy your supplements from a reputable supplier and follow the correct dosage on the packaging or given to you by your medical provider.