Ashwagandha and Weight Loss

Ashwagandha is an amazing adaptogen and it can be used effectively for many conditions. Here we discuss in detail how ashwagandha works for weight loss.

Note** 2 popular search terms on ashwagandha are, “ashwagandha for weight loss” and “ashwagandha for weight gain”. We will decipher this and explain how this is possible.

A recent scientific study was published showing that ashwagandha was effective in overall weight loss, and in overall fat loss in particular.

This research was done on specifically on KSM-66 ashwagandha. Learn more about KSM-66 ashwagandha.

Many “weight loss” supplements “burn fat” by simply raising the temperature of the body (thermogenisis.) These thermogenic supplements will cause a person to burn calories even while they are sitting around and doing nothing because a higher body temperature requires more energy to operate. One drawback of thermogenics, however, is that they will also burn muscle and other tissue indiscriminately. They unfortunately won’t just target the fat you want to lose in the places you want to lose it.

Ashwagandha works by balancing and optimizing hormones. Hormones are key in understanding fat loss.

The study:

This was a study on a group of 50 healthy men who didn’t smoke or drink. They divided the group into 2, the ashwagandhda group and the control (placebo) group. The experiment was properly done and was double blind.

**Remember, this study was on KSM-66 ashwaganda**

Both groups exercised for 8 weeks on the same program. They measured the bench press max and leg extension max (as well as other exercises and number of reps) for each group at the start and end of the study.

They also measured body composition, and determined that the ashwagandha group burned significantly more fat than the control group.

The ashwagandha group also increased their strength, their lean muscle size, decreased their recovery time, and increased their overall athletic performance.

How does ashwagandha burn fat and help with weight loss?

Ashwagandha’s mechanisms of action are quite complex. Let’s break this down. In men who exercise, ashwagandha can increase testosterone by 17% and decrease cortisol by 28%. This is well documented in scientific literature.

In females, the cortisol levels are also decreased substantially (Women don’t need to worry about the testosterone aspect as it doesn’t apply to them. Ashwagandha is also a great supplement for women)

Increasing testosterone and/or decreasing cortisol both help increase muscle mass and decrease body fat percentage. These also help burn fat in the right places (stomach and mid section, the butt, the upper thighs).
Ashwagandha is often studied in conjunction with exercise as it’s often used as a supplement to improve athletic performance.

So if a person is looking to take ashwagandha supplements for fat loss, they should first make sure they are getting KSM-66 ashwagandha and also that they are on an exercise program.

Remember, ashwagandha is an adaptogen and not a thermogenic, so it’s very possible you won’t burn a bunch of weight if you just sit around and hope that it happens magically like one of those “miracle fat burners” you may see on TV. It is an excellent fat burner, but you must be looking to exercise and probably eat well too while you are taking it.

Ashwagandha for gaining weight:

It’s also possible to gain weight while taking ashwagandha. It all depends on what you do while taking it and how you live.

Increasing testosterone in men is “anabolic”, that means that it can help with not only building muscle, but also has the potential to “build mass” or weight in general. If you were to supplement with ashwagandha and then work out a lot and eat a lot of food for the purpose of gaining mass, strength, and weight, you could likely be successful.

So during a healthy diet and exercise cycle, ashwagandha can help both men and women substantially lose unwanted body fat.

It’s also possible it could help you gain weight if you “pig out” and try to gain weight while supplementing with ashwagandha. It all depends on your purpose and lifestyle choices.

Hormones are very complex, and ashwagandha helps restore hormonal balance. Then it is all up to you how you want to work with your own hormones by your own lifestyle choices.