What Are Adaptogenic Drinks And Why You Must Know How To Make Them
Health drinks are always in trend and the current buzz is around adaptogenic drinks. Learn about these health-boosting drinks in this article.
What Are Adaptogens?
Adaptogens include a wide range of functional herbs, plants, and mushrooms. These ingredients have been in use for centuries in Indian (Ayurvedic) and Chinese medicines. The term adaptogen was coined by Soviet scientist Nikolai Lazarev in 1947.
Adaptogens help you to manage stress by restoring balance in your body. As per experts, they help regulate stress by interacting with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which initiates the body's stress response and plays a vital role in keeping your body in a state of balance.
Do note that not all herbs or plants have adaptogenic properties. As per Lazarev, an adaptogen plant must have the below qualities.
1. Be non-toxic at normal doses.
2. Help the human body resist a wide range of stressors - physical, chemical and biological stress.
3. Assist the body in returning to a stable state.
What Are Adaptogenic Drinks?
Adaptogen drinks are non-alcoholic drinks that contain one or more adaptogenic ingredients. Since different adaptogenic ingredients have different effects on the body and mind, a blend of ingredients in a drink makes it healthier. These drinks are available as mocktails, shakes, lattes, sparkling waters and energy drinks.
Check out recipes for delicious adaptogenic drinks.
Magical Adaptogenic Matcha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
1.5 teaspoon Matcha powder
480 ml brewed Astragalus tea as the base, or hot boiled water
1 heaping tablespoon. Coconut manna or Coconut cream
2 scoops grass-fed Collagen peptides (skip this to make vegetarian latte)
1 teaspoon Maca powder
1 teaspoon Ashwagandha powder
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla powder (optional)
1 teaspoon MCT oil (optional)
Cinnamon powder or Hemp seeds, for garnish
Method
To get the best texture, whisk matcha with 2 tablespoon water or astragalus tea using a bamboo whisk in a small bowl. Add all the ingredients in a high-speed blender. Blend until you get a creamy texture. Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon powder or hemp seeds
Note: For best texture, first whisk matcha with 2 tablespoons of water or astragalus tea using a bamboo whisk in a small round bowl. Then, add all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until creamy. Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon or hemp seeds.
Superfood Chocolate Nut Milk
Ingredients (Serves 6)
480 gm Raw cashews, soaked*
1 litre Filtered water
180 ml Coconut cream OR 90 ml Full-fat Coconut milk
360 gm Unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder
1 tablespoon Maca powder
1 tablespoon Reishi
2 tablespoon Ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground ginger
2 tablespoon Coconut Sugar
1/2 tablespoon pure Maple syrup, or to taste
Method
Take a bowl and soak cashews in room temperature water in it for 6-8 hours. You can also soak cashews in boiled water for 45 minutes to save time. Take a heavy duty food processor or high speed blender and add all the ingredients. Blend for 2-3 minutes. Remove the lid and check the content for sweetness, add more maple syrup to taste if needed. Blend again. Finely strain the content into a large bowl. You can use the pulp that remains as a nut meal for later. Pour the chocolate nut milk into glass jars with a lid. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Cold Brew Coffee Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
120 ml Cold brew concentrate
1 Banana
120 gm Ice
1 tablespoon Cashew butter
300 ml Water or Unsweetened plant milk
1 teaspoon Reishi mushroom powder
1/2 teaspoon Maca powder
Cinnamon, to taste
Method
Take a lender and add the ingredients to the bowl. Blend until you get a smooth, frothy liquid. Top with cinnamon and serve.
