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Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant in the nightshade family with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s considered an adaptogen: A product that might help the body to manage stress, whether that be stress from exercise, or stress from a tough day at the office (1). While it’s currently difficult to work out the ideal dosage, studies have seen positive effects from dosages anywhere between 250 to 600 milligrams (2). A good amount of research suggests that ashwagandha may have anti-anxiety effects, help to manage fatigue, reduce levels of cortisol, and improve athletic performance (3).
So which brands have produced the best supplements? We sifted through the market to account for each supplement’s transparency, label accuracy, and absorption. Here are the ones that stand out from the rest of the field:
Best Ashwagandha Supplements
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice and/or supervision from a medical professional. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. Speak with your physician if you have any concerns or before beginning any new workout regimen.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement
Ashwagandha can be a powerful tool to help you reduce stress and anxiety, as well as provide better sleep — extremely potent at an affordable price point, this powder is our top pick for an ashwagandha supplement.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder is made up of pure organic ashwagandha powder that can provide an effective supplement to potentially aid your recovery (physically and mentally) from your tough workouts. What makes this a favorite for us is the whopping 3.5g of ashwagandha per scoop, one of the higher doses you’ll find, but still under the max recommended dosage of 6g.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
Packed with 3.5 grams of organic ashwagandha powder, this flavorless powder mixes well with drinks, smoothies, and can even be added to baked goods.
You won’t find any other ingredients in this supplement other than pure organic ashwagandha powder, so if you’re looking for uncut ashwagandha, this could be the right choice. The powder is flavorless and blended fine enough to dissolve into coffee, blend into smoothies, or add to baked goods. Plus, it costs just $0.40 per serving, making it an affordable option for ashwagandha supplementation.
Who Should Buy KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
People who want a simple, pure ashwagandha powder without any additives since that’s the only ingredient here.
Anyone who likes to mix their ashwagandha into drinks, smoothies, or baked goods, as this fine, flavorless powder blends easily.
Anyone on a budget should be able to swing this price tag without regret.
Who Shouldn’t Buy KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
People who would prefer a flavored ashwagandha powder should look elsewhere — this powder is currently only offered without any flavor added.
Those who prefer a supplement in gummy form since this only comes as a powder.
Anyone who wants additives like zinc and vitamin D, since this product has zero added vitamins or minerals.
The KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder provides a heavy dose of ashwagandha, which may provide further benefits regarding sleep, relaxation, and better mental health. It mixes with baked goods, hot or cold drinks and smoothies, and at $0.40 a serving, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
If you’re looking for a product that is packed with vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and probiotics on top of your ashwagandha, look no further.
Athletic Greens AG1
Athletic Greens AG1 has every base covered when it comes to micronutrients. This formula is packed with vitamins and minerals from 75 different whole food sources. It also contains mushroom complexes, probiotics, enzymes, and of course — ashwagandha. This formula contains a 5:1 blend of ashwagandha meaning that the concentrate used here is five times more potent than the plant itself would be. Unfortunately, the ashwagandha here is in a proprietary blend, and therefore, is only listed as part of a 2,732 mg blend of a multitude of ingredients.
This supplement comes in a powder form in either a pouch or in to-go travel packs, so you can choose whichever suits your lifestyle best. Although it is on the more expensive side —- the base buying option being $3.30 per serving — we think it’s worth the money for such a stacked greens supplement and a potent dose of ashwagandha. Not to mention, it tastes pretty darn good, if we do say so ourselves.
Athletic Greens
This nutritious greens powder is NSF certified for sport and includes 75 absorbable ingredients and is free of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, and nuts. It is compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo diets.
Who Should Buy Athletic Greens AG1
People who like greens powders for the digestive benefits (probiotics and enzymes) will like this formula.
Folks who want to take their ashwagandha with an array of other ingredients that offer daily nutritional benefits, and may help close some nutritional gaps.
Anyone who likes to have the option of a pouch or packets on the go will be delighted that both options are available here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Athletic Greens AG1
Anyone who wants an ashwagandha supplement that just contains ashwagandha.
Folks working with tighter budgets do not need to pay for this robust ingredients list.
People who want to know the exact amount of ashwagandha in their supplement may want to pick a formula that doesn’t contain a proprietary blend.
If you’re looking for a tasty blend that provides a plethora of greens, micronutrients, probiotics, and some ashwagandha, look no further.
[Related: The Best Types Of Supplements For Performance, Weight Loss, And Health]
Best Pre-Workout With Ashwagandha
Max out the benefits of potentially increased endurance for your toughest workouts with this blend that contains ashwagandha and mushrooms.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Ashwagandha is known for its ability to decrease stress and anxiety and help boost restful sleep, but when paired with the right ingredients, like caffeine, it can help leave you feeling both low-stress and alert. With the synergy of ashwagandha, green tea extract, mushrooms, rhodiola, and methyl b-12, Onnit Tech Shroom Support is a great option for pre-workout focus and stamina (5). This is a proprietary blend that includes ashwagandha, so the exact amount in this formula isn’t known. The ashwagandha is one of four ingredients in the blend that equals 930 mg in total.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport comes in pill form, making it easy to take on the go. With their most expensive option being $3.30 per serving, this isn’t the cheapest pre-workout on the market, but if you’re not worried about the price tag, this pre-workout is well worth the money.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport is a proprietary blend of cordyceps, ashwagandha extract, green tea extract, rhodiola extract, and astragalus extract. These ingredients work to assist aerobic performance, help exercise volume, and provide cellular energy.
Who Should Buy Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
People who appreciate a multifaceted pre-workout will like to see the addition of mushrooms, ashwagandha, and green tea extract in this formula.
Athletes whose main focus is stamina will be happy to know the mushrooms in this blend can help with better endurance.
Folks who prefer pills to powder when they take their supplements — this pill supplement is easy to take anywhere, and at any time.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Anyone who wants an ashwagandha supplement with ashwagandha as the main ingredient may want another supplement, the mushrooms are the main attraction here.
Folks working with tighter budgets should look elsewhere as there are cheaper ashwagandha supplements on the market.
Folks who need to know their specific dosage of ashwagandha will need to find a formula without a proprietary blend.
With the powerful balance of mushrooms and ashwagandha, this is a great pre-workout to provide a potential boost in energy and endurance that won’t override your nervous system.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Testosterone
If you’re looking for ashwagandha with the added benefit of boosting testosterone and helping you sleep, this supplement has everything you may need.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine is serving up an ashwagandha supplement that can help combat anxiety and insomnia, all while boosting testosterone and aiding in gains. This formula includes zinc and magnesium — both of these ingredients can potentially help you decrease anxiety and stress.
The kicker here are the ingredients to aid in sleep and testosterone boosting — 300 mg of ashwagandha, 500 mg of tryptophan, and 100 mg of tongkat and theanine. All of these work synergistically to provide the user with potentially better sleep, as well as higher testosterone levels. This supplement comes in a delicious Orange Dreamsicle flavor, and rings in at $2.16 per serving.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster is made with the intention of promoting high-quality sleep and boosting testosterone levels during that sleep. It's made up of ingredients like magnesium, ashwagandha, and melatonin with your best nights rest in mind.
Who Should Buy Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Folks who want to monopolize on checking several boxes with one supplement will love that this product can possibly help with better sleep, boosted testosterone, and lower anxiety and stress levels.
Athletes looking for an ashwagandha supplement that has a middle ground price tag — this costs $2.16 per serving, making it feasible for most people who want a multifaceted supplement.
Anyone who cares about quality — Swolverine cares about effective dosages, transparency in their ingredients and labeling, and creating a high-quality product.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Anyone who wants more flavor options — this supplement only comes in an Orange Dreamsicle flavor.
Anyone who wants a higher dose of ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
Those who prefer a pill or a gummy may want to look at other available options.
This formula is robust with opportunities for better sleep and an increase in overall testosterone, making this a solid ashwagandha supplement for growth.
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Multivitamins are an important part of many athletes’ routines. The added bonus of ashwagandha in this formula gives it a kick up above the rest.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Transparent Labs’ Vitality provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha extract in every two-capsule serving. Additionally, each serving contains 15 milligrams of zinc, 10 milligrams of black pepper extract, and a handful of other ingredients, all of which are non-GMO and gluten-free. The addition of primavie shilajit provides an extra 40+ minerals making this a micronutrient powerhouse. Black pepper extract is also something we love to see in supplements due to its potential to create better absorption of ingredients in the body. This product is pretty natural as well, as there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives used in this formula.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Each two-capsule serving provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha alongside 15 milligrams of zinc. It is free of artificial sweeteners, colorings, gluten, and GMOs.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Vitality
People looking for a decent addition of zinc to their diets will be happy to see 15 mg in this formula.
Folks who want to up their daily micronutrient intake will love the 40+ minerals present in this supplement,
Those who prefer their supplements to be free of artificial additives will appreciate that Transparent Labs didn’t add any to these pills.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Vitality
Folks who prefer a powder supplement for mixing into drinks and smoothies.
Those who can’t don’t want to reach too deep into their wallets.
With the powder of ashwagandha, zinc, primavie, and black pepper extract, this multivitamin formula delivers all the benefits of ashwagandha, and a plethora of minerals to keep you on your A game, daily.
[Related: Best Macros Calculator For Tracking Muscle Gain And Fat Loss]
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
If you’re a gummy lover, rejoice. Swolverine has created a delicious way to take your ashwagandha supplement in cherry gummy form.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine’s ashwagandha gummies boast 750mg of ashwagandha concentrate —- 30 times the amount you’d get from the plant itself. This non-gmo and vegan gummy is a delicious way to make sure you’re getting your ashwagandha in at home, or on the go. This product comes in a cherry flavor and contains 60 servings per container, which makes this a very affordable option at $0.36 cents per serving. Swolverine also added zinc and vitamin D to their formula, which may possibly assist further sleep benefits.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
These ashwagandha gummies are packed with ashwagandha, zinc, and vitamin D to help support anxiety, stress, and aid in sleep. Theses gummies are cherry flavored and come with 60 pieces per container.
Who Should Buy Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Folks who want an ashwagandha supplement that has added ingredients like zinc to possibly boost sleep and stress relief even further.
People who want a delicious form of ashwagandha that they can easily take with them anywhere they go — this is a gummy, which makes it very easy to travel with.
Buyers on a budget who don’t want to drop a lot of money on their ashwagandha will appreciate the price tag here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Customers who don’t enjoy cherry flavored gummies —- this currently is only offered in a cherry flavor.
Those who prefer a capsule or powder supplement rather than a gummy.
Swolverine gummies are an inexpensive, convenient, and delicious way to get your ashwagandha in for potentially lower stress, which could lead you to better sleep.
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
If you want a supplement that provides ashwagandha in a clinical dose that is also easy to take in capsule form —- look no further.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs delivers 600 milligrams of ashwagandha extract per one-capsule serving, which is the ideal clinically studied dose for ashwagandha. An important factor is that it discloses the number of withanolides, the active ingredient in ashwagandha — in this case, it provides five percent total withanolides. The capsule is vegan and free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs' KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplement is about a straightforward as it comes when we're talking about a raw ingredient in supplement form. Each capsule contains 600mg of ashwagandha extract at around $0.33 per serving.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Folks who want a short (but sweet) ingredient list — this product contains only ashwagandha extract.
People who are concerned about withanolides will like that Transparent Labs tells you the number of withanolides (five percent) in this product.
Anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on an ashwagandha supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Anyone who wants a more extensive ingredient list can find ashwagandha products out there that contain additional ingredients.
Anyone who wants a higher dose of Ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
If you’re looking for a supplement that has nothing but a clinical dose of ashwagandha, is convenient to take on the go, and keeps your wallet in check, this is the formula for you.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Sleep
Sleep is an extremely important part of recovery, and being able to make the most of each training session — this supplement is designed with CBD to promote your best night of sleep.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
This supplement was designed with the intention of helping you fall asleep faster, achieve deeper sleep, regulate your sleep cycles, and to repair mental and physical stress. With 300 mg of ashwagandha at the forefront and support from CBD (which is shown to improve sleep and reduce anxiety), this formula leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing you with a potentially better night of rest (6).
There is no THC present in this supplement, and won’t cause any “high” with taking it. With 30 servings per container, this vegan supplement rings in at $1.63 per serving, putting it at a middle ground price overall. This is also a great option for vegetarians and vegans as it is cruelty-free and vegan.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement was designed with ashwagandha, CBD, and other botanics to aid you in your best night of rest. This product is vegan, cruelty-free, Non-GMO, and THC free --- meaning you won't get high from it.
Who Should Buy FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
Folks who want the benefits of ashwagandha and the added boost of CBD to potentially assist in better sleep and decreased anxiety.
People who are concerned about animal welfare — this product is cruelty-free and vegan, making it the perfect option for better sleep without compromising your ethics.
Anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on an ashwagandha supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Buy FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
Anyone who prefers a flavored supplement may want to opt for a powdered form of ashwagandha.
Anyone who wants a higher dose of Ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
With better sleep at the forefront of this supplement, FOCL has included both CBD and ashwagandha to help you get the most out of your nighttime supp and help promote relaxation.
Best Ashwagandha Powder
This is a no-frills ashwagandha powder with two ingredients — 450g of ashwagandha and dextrin to deliver a potent powder for potentially better sleep and improved mood.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
This powder provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract in each of its 222 servings per container. This product comes in a plethora of buying options for the powder version including 100 grams, 250 grams, 500 grams, one kilogram, five kilograms, and 25 kilograms. Made without any additional ingredients, this supplement is free of soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, sugar, and additives. Each batch is third-party tested for purity and made in current GMP standards. The pouch is resealable for easier storage and it is on the much more affordable end of the market.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
Each serving provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract. There are no additional ingredients used and it is free of soy, gluten, dairy, yeast, sugar, and additives. Each pouch includes 222 servings.
Who Should Buy BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
People who want a powder supplement free of any additional ingredients.
Those who appreciate third-party testing for purity.
Anyone looking to save some money.
Who Shouldn’t Buy BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
Folks without access to a scoop or other tool to measure a serving.
People who prefer a stacked ashwagandha supplement should look elsewhere — the only ingredients in this are ashwagandha and dextrin.
This product delivers 450 mg of ashwagandha and contains no added sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, or additives making it a great addition to your supplement line up if you’re looking for a straightforward powder.
[Related: Nutrition For Bulking: 10 Tips For Intelligent Muscle Gain]
How We Decide the Best Ashwagandha
A good amount of evidence suggests that ashwagandha can be useful for helping to manage fatigue, improve focus and mindset, reduce anxiety, and maybe even help with sports performance. (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) After reading the studies and following the science, how does one land on the best ashwagandha supplement? Here is what we focused on.
Ashwagandha Content
How much ashwagandha should you demand from your supplements? The truth is that there’s currently no real consensus on the ideal dosage. Some studies have seen benefits with lower doses. The most potent product we found delivered 2,100 milligrams per serving. Many reasonable competitors’ supplements contain well under 1,000 milligrams.
Withanolide Content
This is the name for metabolites found in ashwagandha and other members of the nightshade family. Research suggests that they’re the primary active ingredient in ashwagandha, and they’ve been linked to the plant’s myriad benefits. Very few companies put this on the label, so we didn’t penalize too harshly. However, bonus points to the options that did print that information on their label.
Image via Shutterstock/Eskymaks
[Related: The Lifter’s Guide To Magnesium: What This Nutrient Does For Strength]
Most of these products contain black pepper extract (sometimes called piperine or BioPerine®, a trademarked variant), as it may help to increase absorption. Research published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, and Planta Medica found that the addition of piperine can help the intestines to uptake anti-inflammatory compounds. (14)15)(16)
Third-Party Testing
The FDA doesn’t really monitor nutritional supplements, so consumers have taken it in faith that the label is accurate. Not everyone is happy with the system, so many top-tier products have an external company test the product to ensure accuracy of the label and make sure there are no heavy metals or other contaminants present.
Organic Certification
It’s unlikely that this affects the product’s potency, but it’s clear that a large portion of customers prefer their ashwagandha to be certified organic, so we made sure to include it as a feature. There are a variety of different certifications, though — many feel the USDA is the gold standard. Still, there’s also Organic Certifiers, and there’s the “made with organic ingredients” label, which means at least 70 percent of the ingredients need to be produced per organic standards.
What are the Benefits of Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha offers many benefits to the user including potential for better mental health, better sleep, anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to be useful to help those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (17). Read more about each individual benefit below.
Mental Health Benefits
Ashwagandha is what is known as an adaptogen which means it is an herb that is used to combat stress (1). It has been shown in various studies to be an effective way to deal with stress and anxiety, as well as calming the nervous system. Because of these benefits, it is often used as a sleep aid (18). Although the FDA hasn’t regulated ashwagandha or other adaptogens yet, it has been around in ancient Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The ancient Indian practice of Ayurvedic medicine used ashwagandha as a medicine to deal with a multitude of health issues including being an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-stress medicine. It was also used as a neuro-protector, cardio-protector and as a cure for insomnia (1).
Performance Enhancement
There have been many studies done on how ashwagandha can improve performance in athletes. One study found that there was a significant difference in physical performance for both healthy men and women compared to the results from the placebo group (19). Another study found improvements on cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy adults and also found that it improved their quality of life with no adverse side effects (3). Again, although this isn’t regulated by the FDA, all the claims here about performance enhancement potential came from well-researched studies that found these results. It is important to remember that no supplement on its own will get you to your end goals and you should always pair supplementation with physical activity.
Image via Shutterstock/Elena Eryomenko
[Related: IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros): Your Ultimate Guide To This Diet]
How Much is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha varies in price depending on the supplement and the ingredient list. There are a lot of options on the market and the least expensive supplement on our list is $0.36 cents per serving making it an extremely affordable option. If budget isn’t an issue for you and you’re willing to splurge a bit on your supplement, some of the options on our list boast huge benefits such as an extensive list of greens, whole foods, and micronutrients, and that will cost $3.30 cents on the lower end of purchasing options.
There is an ashwagandha supplement for every person and every budget out there, it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what benefits you’d like to gain from your supplement.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement Overall
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
$48.00
Per Serving: $0.40
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
Athletic Greens AG1
$99
Per serving: $3.30
Best Pre-Workout with Ashwagandha
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
$59.95
Per serving: $2
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Testosterone Growth
Swolverine ZMT
$64.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs Vitality
$54.99
Per serving: $1.80
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
$21.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
$19.99
Per serving: $0.33
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Sleep
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
$49
Per serving: $1.63
Best Ashwagandha Powder
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
$11.96
Per serving: $0.05
What To Consider Before Buying Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is not a necessary supplement for overall health, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have tons of potential benefits that could assist in your healthiest self. It is most well-known for its help to your nervous system —- anti-anxiety, anti-stress, and aid in curbing insomnia (1). There are several things to take into consideration before you add an ashwagandha supplement to your line up. Read on for a few pro tips on this well-researched, yet sometimes misunderstood product.
Ashwagandha supplements are extremely diverse. They range from being 100 percent ashwagandha, to ashwagandha being a component of an extensive ingredient list. It’s important to determine why you’re choosing to add ashwagandha to your supplement stack, and to pick a formula that best suits your needs.
For example, do you want an ashwagandha supplement that’s 100 percent ashwagandha to potentially help with sleep, or do you want your ashwagandha within a much larger greens supplement that’s packed with all sorts of vitamins and minerals? Make sure you take a look at the full ingredient list, and take into consideration what other factors you may want —- no artificial ingredients, any allergies, or a vegan or vegetarian ingredient list if that’s what you need.
Dosage
Ashwagandha studies have seen positive effects from dosages anywhere between 250 to 600 milligrams (2). Although the clinical dosage hasn’t been solidified, it’s good to keep in mind that dosages between 250 and 600 have been noted as significant for best results. There are many dosage options available on the market including proprietary blends —- meaning that ashwagandha isn’t listed as a specific milligram, but as part of a blend of ingredients that have their total weight recorded. If your main goal is to get the most out of ashwagandha specifically, it’s best to choose a supplement that discloses the ashwagandha content in milligrams that are above 250.
Goals
One of the biggest factors to consider is what you want to take ashwagandha for. It is especially helpful for those who suffer from chronic anxiety, stress, or inflammation. Most studies around ashwagandha have been done around its adaptogenic properties, and most results find that it has use for helping treat those mental and physical disruptions. It’s also used widely for insomnia and sleeping problems — if you are affected by trouble with sleeping, a dedicated ashwagandha may be helpful for you.
It also has been studied for its effectiveness in performance enhancement. It is safe for most people to use for potentially better cardiovascular endurance, as well as for athletes who need ample recovery. It was used in ayurvedic communities for its anti-inflammatory properties and therefore can be helpful for people whose bodies are under a lot of stress from intense workouts or sports. If you fall into this category, a greens supplement or pre-workout with ashwagandha could be the right fit.
Final Word
Ashwagandha may be helpful for athletes, gymgoers, and even lay people for its potential ability to lessen anxiety and stress of the body and mind, improve endurance performance, and aid in recovering stressed and inflamed muscles. It can also be a helpful supplement for anyone looking for better sleep.
Ashwagandha is a fascinating supplement with a wealth of research supporting it as a means to help the body combat stress and fatigue. We should emphasize that the scientific community isn’t unanimous here — we need more research — but if you’re convinced that this Ayurvedic plant is worth experimenting with, we think we’ve landed on the best products for your needs.
FAQs
Is ashwagandha worth the money?Ashwagandha supplements vary in price and dosages meaning there is a supplement out there for almost any budget. This article ranges from $0.36 cents per serving to over $3.00 per serving, and there is a lot of variance in the middle ground as well. Ashwagandha can be a very powerful aid for some people and we believe that is an effective and worthwhile supplement for those who are looking for relaxation.
Is ashwagandha safe to use?Ashwagandha is not FDA approved, but has been used for centuries as an adaptogen in ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It is always important to check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about adding supplements to your current lineup, but overall, ashwagandha has proven safe for the majority of users.
Will ashwagandha help me reach my fitness goals?No supplement is a foolproof way to get you to your goals. It still requires hard work, dedication, and thoughtfulness around your lifestyle. Ashwagandha has been studied thoroughly for its potential effectiveness as a natural performance enhancing supplement, and results are favorable that it can aid in better cardiovascular endurance, and can be a really helpful tool in the recovery process due to its anti-inflammatory nature.
What is the best ashwagandha supplement? When it comes to ashwagandha supplements, there are plenty of options on the market, from gummies and capsules to powders. But for our money, the best on the market is KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder. It contains no additives, just pure organic ashwagandha in a high dosage. Plus, it’s flavorless, mixes well into hot drinks and smoothies, and at about $0.40 per serving, the price is more than fair.
References
Mandlik Ingawale DS, Namdeo AG. Pharmacological evaluation of Ashwagandha highlighting its healthcare claims, safety, and toxicity aspects. J Diet Suppl. 2021;18(2):183-226. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2020.1741484. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32242751.
Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6466. PMID: 32021735; PMCID: PMC6979308.
Tiwari S, Gupta SK, Pathak AK. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera dunal.) root extract in improving cardiorespiratory endurance and recovery in healthy athletic adults. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 May 23;272:113929. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113929. Epub 2021 Feb 15. PMID: 33600918.
Okereke OI, Singh A. The role of vitamin D in the prevention of late-life depression. J Affect Disord. 2016 Jul 1;198:1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.022. Epub 2016 Mar 9. PMID: 26998791; PMCID: PMC4844780.
Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. J Diet Suppl. 2017 Jan 2;14(1):42-53. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386. Epub 2016 Jul 13. PMID: 27408987; PMCID: PMC5236007.
Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. doi: 10.7812/TPP/18-041. PMID: 30624194; PMCID: PMC6326553.
Chandrasekhar K, et al. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62.
Cooley K, Szczurko O, Perri D, Mills EJ, Bernhardt B, Zhou Q, Seely D. Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. PLoS One. 2009 Aug 31;4(8):e6628. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006628. PMID: 19718255; PMCID: PMC2729375.
Andrade C, Aswath A, Chaturvedi SK, Srinivasa M, Raguram R. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy ff an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera. Indian J Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;42(3):295-301. PMID: 21407960; PMCID: PMC2958355.
Khyati, S et al. A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE BLIND PLACEBO CONTROLLED STUDY OF ASHWAGANDHA ON GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER. IAMJ. 2013 Sep-Oct;1(5):1-7
Sandhu JS, Shah B, Shenoy S, Chauhan S, Lavekar GS, Padhi MM. Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010 Jul;1(3):144-9. doi: 10.4103/0974-7788.72485. PMID: 21170205; PMCID: PMC2996571.
Wankhede S, Langade D, Joshi K, Sinha SR, Bhattacharyya S. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Nov 25;12:43. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0104-9. PMID: 26609282; PMCID: PMC4658772.
Raut AA, Rege NN, Tadvi FM, Solanki PV, Kene KR, Shirolkar SG, Pandey SN, Vaidya RA, Vaidya AB. Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2012 Jul;3(3):111-4. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.100168. PMID: 23125505; PMCID: PMC3487234.
Srinivasan K. Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: a review of diverse physiological effects. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2007;47(8):735-48. doi: 10.1080/10408390601062054. PMID: 17987447.
Han HK. The effects of black pepper on the intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism of drugs. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2011 Jun;7(6):721-9. doi: 10.1517/17425255.2011.570332. Epub 2011 Mar 24. PMID: 21434835.
Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):353-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957450. PMID: 9619120.
Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208-13. doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9. Epub 2011 Jul 3. PMID: 22754076; PMCID: PMC3252722.
Cheah KL, Norhayati MN, Husniati Yaacob L, Abdul Rahman R. Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 24;16(9):e0257843. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257843. PMID: 34559859; PMCID: PMC8462692.
Bonilla DA, Moreno Y, Gho C, Petro JL, Odriozola-Martínez A, Kreider RB. Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Feb 11;6(1):20. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6010020. PMID: 33670194; PMCID: PMC8006238.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant in the nightshade family with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s considered an adaptogen: A product that might help the body to manage stress, whether that be stress from exercise, or stress from a tough day at the office (1). While it’s currently difficult to work out the ideal dosage, studies have seen positive effects from dosages anywhere between 250 to 600 milligrams (2). A good amount of research suggests that ashwagandha may have anti-anxiety effects, help to manage fatigue, reduce levels of cortisol, and improve athletic performance (3).
So which brands have produced the best supplements? We sifted through the market to account for each supplement’s transparency, label accuracy, and absorption. Here are the ones that stand out from the rest of the field:
Best Ashwagandha Supplements
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice and/or supervision from a medical professional. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. Speak with your physician if you have any concerns or before beginning any new workout regimen.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement
Ashwagandha can be a powerful tool to help you reduce stress and anxiety, as well as provide better sleep — extremely potent at an affordable price point, this powder is our top pick for an ashwagandha supplement.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder is made up of pure organic ashwagandha powder that can provide an effective supplement to potentially aid your recovery (physically and mentally) from your tough workouts. What makes this a favorite for us is the whopping 3.5g of ashwagandha per scoop, one of the higher doses you’ll find, but still under the max recommended dosage of 6g.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
Packed with 3.5 grams of organic ashwagandha powder, this flavorless powder mixes well with drinks, smoothies, and can even be added to baked goods.
You won’t find any other ingredients in this supplement other than pure organic ashwagandha powder, so if you’re looking for uncut ashwagandha, this could be the right choice. The powder is flavorless and blended fine enough to dissolve into coffee, blend into smoothies, or add to baked goods. Plus, it costs just $0.40 per serving, making it an affordable option for ashwagandha supplementation.
Who Should Buy KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
If you’re looking for a product that is packed with vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and probiotics on top of your ashwagandha, look no further.
Athletic Greens AG1
Athletic Greens AG1 has every base covered when it comes to micronutrients. This formula is packed with vitamins and minerals from 75 different whole food sources. It also contains mushroom complexes, probiotics, enzymes, and of course — ashwagandha. This formula contains a 5:1 blend of ashwagandha meaning that the concentrate used here is five times more potent than the plant itself would be. Unfortunately, the ashwagandha here is in a proprietary blend, and therefore, is only listed as part of a 2,732 mg blend of a multitude of ingredients.
This supplement comes in a powder form in either a pouch or in to-go travel packs, so you can choose whichever suits your lifestyle best. Although it is on the more expensive side —- the base buying option being $3.30 per serving — we think it’s worth the money for such a stacked greens supplement and a potent dose of ashwagandha. Not to mention, it tastes pretty darn good, if we do say so ourselves.
Athletic Greens
This nutritious greens powder is NSF certified for sport and includes 75 absorbable ingredients and is free of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, and nuts. It is compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo diets.
Who Should Buy Athletic Greens AG1
[Related: The Best Types Of Supplements For Performance, Weight Loss, And Health]
Best Pre-Workout With Ashwagandha
Max out the benefits of potentially increased endurance for your toughest workouts with this blend that contains ashwagandha and mushrooms.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Ashwagandha is known for its ability to decrease stress and anxiety and help boost restful sleep, but when paired with the right ingredients, like caffeine, it can help leave you feeling both low-stress and alert. With the synergy of ashwagandha, green tea extract, mushrooms, rhodiola, and methyl b-12, Onnit Tech Shroom Support is a great option for pre-workout focus and stamina (5). This is a proprietary blend that includes ashwagandha, so the exact amount in this formula isn’t known. The ashwagandha is one of four ingredients in the blend that equals 930 mg in total.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport comes in pill form, making it easy to take on the go. With their most expensive option being $3.30 per serving, this isn’t the cheapest pre-workout on the market, but if you’re not worried about the price tag, this pre-workout is well worth the money.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport is a proprietary blend of cordyceps, ashwagandha extract, green tea extract, rhodiola extract, and astragalus extract. These ingredients work to assist aerobic performance, help exercise volume, and provide cellular energy.
Who Should Buy Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Testosterone
If you’re looking for ashwagandha with the added benefit of boosting testosterone and helping you sleep, this supplement has everything you may need.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine is serving up an ashwagandha supplement that can help combat anxiety and insomnia, all while boosting testosterone and aiding in gains. This formula includes zinc and magnesium — both of these ingredients can potentially help you decrease anxiety and stress.
The kicker here are the ingredients to aid in sleep and testosterone boosting — 300 mg of ashwagandha, 500 mg of tryptophan, and 100 mg of tongkat and theanine. All of these work synergistically to provide the user with potentially better sleep, as well as higher testosterone levels. This supplement comes in a delicious Orange Dreamsicle flavor, and rings in at $2.16 per serving.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster is made with the intention of promoting high-quality sleep and boosting testosterone levels during that sleep. It's made up of ingredients like magnesium, ashwagandha, and melatonin with your best nights rest in mind.
Who Should Buy Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Multivitamins are an important part of many athletes’ routines. The added bonus of ashwagandha in this formula gives it a kick up above the rest.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Transparent Labs’ Vitality provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha extract in every two-capsule serving. Additionally, each serving contains 15 milligrams of zinc, 10 milligrams of black pepper extract, and a handful of other ingredients, all of which are non-GMO and gluten-free. The addition of primavie shilajit provides an extra 40+ minerals making this a micronutrient powerhouse. Black pepper extract is also something we love to see in supplements due to its potential to create better absorption of ingredients in the body. This product is pretty natural as well, as there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives used in this formula.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Each two-capsule serving provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha alongside 15 milligrams of zinc. It is free of artificial sweeteners, colorings, gluten, and GMOs.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Vitality
[Related: Best Macros Calculator For Tracking Muscle Gain And Fat Loss]
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
If you’re a gummy lover, rejoice. Swolverine has created a delicious way to take your ashwagandha supplement in cherry gummy form.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine’s ashwagandha gummies boast 750mg of ashwagandha concentrate —- 30 times the amount you’d get from the plant itself. This non-gmo and vegan gummy is a delicious way to make sure you’re getting your ashwagandha in at home, or on the go. This product comes in a cherry flavor and contains 60 servings per container, which makes this a very affordable option at $0.36 cents per serving. Swolverine also added zinc and vitamin D to their formula, which may possibly assist further sleep benefits.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
These ashwagandha gummies are packed with ashwagandha, zinc, and vitamin D to help support anxiety, stress, and aid in sleep. Theses gummies are cherry flavored and come with 60 pieces per container.
Who Should Buy Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
If you want a supplement that provides ashwagandha in a clinical dose that is also easy to take in capsule form —- look no further.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs delivers 600 milligrams of ashwagandha extract per one-capsule serving, which is the ideal clinically studied dose for ashwagandha. An important factor is that it discloses the number of withanolides, the active ingredient in ashwagandha — in this case, it provides five percent total withanolides. The capsule is vegan and free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs' KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplement is about a straightforward as it comes when we're talking about a raw ingredient in supplement form. Each capsule contains 600mg of ashwagandha extract at around $0.33 per serving.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Sleep
Sleep is an extremely important part of recovery, and being able to make the most of each training session — this supplement is designed with CBD to promote your best night of sleep.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
This supplement was designed with the intention of helping you fall asleep faster, achieve deeper sleep, regulate your sleep cycles, and to repair mental and physical stress. With 300 mg of ashwagandha at the forefront and support from CBD (which is shown to improve sleep and reduce anxiety), this formula leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing you with a potentially better night of rest (6).
There is no THC present in this supplement, and won’t cause any “high” with taking it. With 30 servings per container, this vegan supplement rings in at $1.63 per serving, putting it at a middle ground price overall. This is also a great option for vegetarians and vegans as it is cruelty-free and vegan.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement was designed with ashwagandha, CBD, and other botanics to aid you in your best night of rest. This product is vegan, cruelty-free, Non-GMO, and THC free --- meaning you won't get high from it.
Who Should Buy FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
Best Ashwagandha Powder
This is a no-frills ashwagandha powder with two ingredients — 450g of ashwagandha and dextrin to deliver a potent powder for potentially better sleep and improved mood.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
This powder provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract in each of its 222 servings per container. This product comes in a plethora of buying options for the powder version including 100 grams, 250 grams, 500 grams, one kilogram, five kilograms, and 25 kilograms. Made without any additional ingredients, this supplement is free of soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, sugar, and additives. Each batch is third-party tested for purity and made in current GMP standards. The pouch is resealable for easier storage and it is on the much more affordable end of the market.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
Each serving provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract. There are no additional ingredients used and it is free of soy, gluten, dairy, yeast, sugar, and additives. Each pouch includes 222 servings.
Who Should Buy BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
[Related: Nutrition For Bulking: 10 Tips For Intelligent Muscle Gain]
How We Decide the Best Ashwagandha
A good amount of evidence suggests that ashwagandha can be useful for helping to manage fatigue, improve focus and mindset, reduce anxiety, and maybe even help with sports performance. (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) After reading the studies and following the science, how does one land on the best ashwagandha supplement? Here is what we focused on.
Ashwagandha Content
How much ashwagandha should you demand from your supplements? The truth is that there’s currently no real consensus on the ideal dosage. Some studies have seen benefits with lower doses. The most potent product we found delivered 2,100 milligrams per serving. Many reasonable competitors’ supplements contain well under 1,000 milligrams.
Withanolide Content
This is the name for metabolites found in ashwagandha and other members of the nightshade family. Research suggests that they’re the primary active ingredient in ashwagandha, and they’ve been linked to the plant’s myriad benefits. Very few companies put this on the label, so we didn’t penalize too harshly. However, bonus points to the options that did print that information on their label.
Image via Shutterstock/Eskymaks
[Related: The Lifter’s Guide To Magnesium: What This Nutrient Does For Strength]
Most of these products contain black pepper extract (sometimes called piperine or BioPerine®, a trademarked variant), as it may help to increase absorption. Research published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, and Planta Medica found that the addition of piperine can help the intestines to uptake anti-inflammatory compounds. (14)15)(16)
Third-Party Testing
The FDA doesn’t really monitor nutritional supplements, so consumers have taken it in faith that the label is accurate. Not everyone is happy with the system, so many top-tier products have an external company test the product to ensure accuracy of the label and make sure there are no heavy metals or other contaminants present.
Organic Certification
It’s unlikely that this affects the product’s potency, but it’s clear that a large portion of customers prefer their ashwagandha to be certified organic, so we made sure to include it as a feature. There are a variety of different certifications, though — many feel the USDA is the gold standard. Still, there’s also Organic Certifiers, and there’s the “made with organic ingredients” label, which means at least 70 percent of the ingredients need to be produced per organic standards.
What are the Benefits of Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha offers many benefits to the user including potential for better mental health, better sleep, anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to be useful to help those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (17). Read more about each individual benefit below.
Mental Health Benefits
Ashwagandha is what is known as an adaptogen which means it is an herb that is used to combat stress (1). It has been shown in various studies to be an effective way to deal with stress and anxiety, as well as calming the nervous system. Because of these benefits, it is often used as a sleep aid (18). Although the FDA hasn’t regulated ashwagandha or other adaptogens yet, it has been around in ancient Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The ancient Indian practice of Ayurvedic medicine used ashwagandha as a medicine to deal with a multitude of health issues including being an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-stress medicine. It was also used as a neuro-protector, cardio-protector and as a cure for insomnia (1).
Performance Enhancement
There have been many studies done on how ashwagandha can improve performance in athletes. One study found that there was a significant difference in physical performance for both healthy men and women compared to the results from the placebo group (19). Another study found improvements on cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy adults and also found that it improved their quality of life with no adverse side effects (3). Again, although this isn’t regulated by the FDA, all the claims here about performance enhancement potential came from well-researched studies that found these results. It is important to remember that no supplement on its own will get you to your end goals and you should always pair supplementation with physical activity.
Image via Shutterstock/Elena Eryomenko
[Related: IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros): Your Ultimate Guide To This Diet]
How Much is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha varies in price depending on the supplement and the ingredient list. There are a lot of options on the market and the least expensive supplement on our list is $0.36 cents per serving making it an extremely affordable option. If budget isn’t an issue for you and you’re willing to splurge a bit on your supplement, some of the options on our list boast huge benefits such as an extensive list of greens, whole foods, and micronutrients, and that will cost $3.30 cents on the lower end of purchasing options.
There is an ashwagandha supplement for every person and every budget out there, it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what benefits you’d like to gain from your supplement.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement Overall
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
$48.00
Per Serving: $0.40
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
Athletic Greens AG1
$99
Per serving: $3.30
Best Pre-Workout with Ashwagandha
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
$59.95
Per serving: $2
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Testosterone Growth
Swolverine ZMT
$64.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs Vitality
$54.99
Per serving: $1.80
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
$21.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
$19.99
Per serving: $0.33
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Sleep
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
$49
Per serving: $1.63
Best Ashwagandha Powder
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
$11.96
Per serving: $0.05
What To Consider Before Buying Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is not a necessary supplement for overall health, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have tons of potential benefits that could assist in your healthiest self. It is most well-known for its help to your nervous system —- anti-anxiety, anti-stress, and aid in curbing insomnia (1). There are several things to take into consideration before you add an ashwagandha supplement to your line up. Read on for a few pro tips on this well-researched, yet sometimes misunderstood product.
Ashwagandha supplements are extremely diverse. They range from being 100 percent ashwagandha, to ashwagandha...
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So which brands have produced the best supplements? We sifted through the market to account for each supplement’s transparency, label accuracy, and absorption. Here are the ones that stand out from the rest of the field:
Best Ashwagandha Supplements
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice and/or supervision from a medical professional. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. Speak with your physician if you have any concerns or before beginning any new workout regimen.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement
Ashwagandha can be a powerful tool to help you reduce stress and anxiety, as well as provide better sleep — extremely potent at an affordable price point, this powder is our top pick for an ashwagandha supplement.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder is made up of pure organic ashwagandha powder that can provide an effective supplement to potentially aid your recovery (physically and mentally) from your tough workouts. What makes this a favorite for us is the whopping 3.5g of ashwagandha per scoop, one of the higher doses you’ll find, but still under the max recommended dosage of 6g.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
Packed with 3.5 grams of organic ashwagandha powder, this flavorless powder mixes well with drinks, smoothies, and can even be added to baked goods.
You won’t find any other ingredients in this supplement other than pure organic ashwagandha powder, so if you’re looking for uncut ashwagandha, this could be the right choice. The powder is flavorless and blended fine enough to dissolve into coffee, blend into smoothies, or add to baked goods. Plus, it costs just $0.40 per serving, making it an affordable option for ashwagandha supplementation.
Who Should Buy KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
People who want a simple, pure ashwagandha powder without any additives since that’s the only ingredient here.
Anyone who likes to mix their ashwagandha into drinks, smoothies, or baked goods, as this fine, flavorless powder blends easily.
Anyone on a budget should be able to swing this price tag without regret.
Who Shouldn’t Buy KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
People who would prefer a flavored ashwagandha powder should look elsewhere — this powder is currently only offered without any flavor added.
Those who prefer a supplement in gummy form since this only comes as a powder.
Anyone who wants additives like zinc and vitamin D, since this product has zero added vitamins or minerals.
The KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder provides a heavy dose of ashwagandha, which may provide further benefits regarding sleep, relaxation, and better mental health. It mixes with baked goods, hot or cold drinks and smoothies, and at $0.40 a serving, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
If you’re looking for a product that is packed with vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and probiotics on top of your ashwagandha, look no further.
Athletic Greens AG1
Athletic Greens AG1 has every base covered when it comes to micronutrients. This formula is packed with vitamins and minerals from 75 different whole food sources. It also contains mushroom complexes, probiotics, enzymes, and of course — ashwagandha. This formula contains a 5:1 blend of ashwagandha meaning that the concentrate used here is five times more potent than the plant itself would be. Unfortunately, the ashwagandha here is in a proprietary blend, and therefore, is only listed as part of a 2,732 mg blend of a multitude of ingredients.
This supplement comes in a powder form in either a pouch or in to-go travel packs, so you can choose whichever suits your lifestyle best. Although it is on the more expensive side —- the base buying option being $3.30 per serving — we think it’s worth the money for such a stacked greens supplement and a potent dose of ashwagandha. Not to mention, it tastes pretty darn good, if we do say so ourselves.
Athletic Greens
This nutritious greens powder is NSF certified for sport and includes 75 absorbable ingredients and is free of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, and nuts. It is compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo diets.
Who Should Buy Athletic Greens AG1
People who like greens powders for the digestive benefits (probiotics and enzymes) will like this formula.
Folks who want to take their ashwagandha with an array of other ingredients that offer daily nutritional benefits, and may help close some nutritional gaps.
Anyone who likes to have the option of a pouch or packets on the go will be delighted that both options are available here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Athletic Greens AG1
Anyone who wants an ashwagandha supplement that just contains ashwagandha.
Folks working with tighter budgets do not need to pay for this robust ingredients list.
People who want to know the exact amount of ashwagandha in their supplement may want to pick a formula that doesn’t contain a proprietary blend.
If you’re looking for a tasty blend that provides a plethora of greens, micronutrients, probiotics, and some ashwagandha, look no further.
[Related: The Best Types Of Supplements For Performance, Weight Loss, And Health]
Best Pre-Workout With Ashwagandha
Max out the benefits of potentially increased endurance for your toughest workouts with this blend that contains ashwagandha and mushrooms.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Ashwagandha is known for its ability to decrease stress and anxiety and help boost restful sleep, but when paired with the right ingredients, like caffeine, it can help leave you feeling both low-stress and alert. With the synergy of ashwagandha, green tea extract, mushrooms, rhodiola, and methyl b-12, Onnit Tech Shroom Support is a great option for pre-workout focus and stamina (5). This is a proprietary blend that includes ashwagandha, so the exact amount in this formula isn’t known. The ashwagandha is one of four ingredients in the blend that equals 930 mg in total.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport comes in pill form, making it easy to take on the go. With their most expensive option being $3.30 per serving, this isn’t the cheapest pre-workout on the market, but if you’re not worried about the price tag, this pre-workout is well worth the money.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport is a proprietary blend of cordyceps, ashwagandha extract, green tea extract, rhodiola extract, and astragalus extract. These ingredients work to assist aerobic performance, help exercise volume, and provide cellular energy.
Who Should Buy Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
People who appreciate a multifaceted pre-workout will like to see the addition of mushrooms, ashwagandha, and green tea extract in this formula.
Athletes whose main focus is stamina will be happy to know the mushrooms in this blend can help with better endurance.
Folks who prefer pills to powder when they take their supplements — this pill supplement is easy to take anywhere, and at any time.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Anyone who wants an ashwagandha supplement with ashwagandha as the main ingredient may want another supplement, the mushrooms are the main attraction here.
Folks working with tighter budgets should look elsewhere as there are cheaper ashwagandha supplements on the market.
Folks who need to know their specific dosage of ashwagandha will need to find a formula without a proprietary blend.
With the powerful balance of mushrooms and ashwagandha, this is a great pre-workout to provide a potential boost in energy and endurance that won’t override your nervous system.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Testosterone
If you’re looking for ashwagandha with the added benefit of boosting testosterone and helping you sleep, this supplement has everything you may need.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine is serving up an ashwagandha supplement that can help combat anxiety and insomnia, all while boosting testosterone and aiding in gains. This formula includes zinc and magnesium — both of these ingredients can potentially help you decrease anxiety and stress.
The kicker here are the ingredients to aid in sleep and testosterone boosting — 300 mg of ashwagandha, 500 mg of tryptophan, and 100 mg of tongkat and theanine. All of these work synergistically to provide the user with potentially better sleep, as well as higher testosterone levels. This supplement comes in a delicious Orange Dreamsicle flavor, and rings in at $2.16 per serving.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster is made with the intention of promoting high-quality sleep and boosting testosterone levels during that sleep. It's made up of ingredients like magnesium, ashwagandha, and melatonin with your best nights rest in mind.
Who Should Buy Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Folks who want to monopolize on checking several boxes with one supplement will love that this product can possibly help with better sleep, boosted testosterone, and lower anxiety and stress levels.
Athletes looking for an ashwagandha supplement that has a middle ground price tag — this costs $2.16 per serving, making it feasible for most people who want a multifaceted supplement.
Anyone who cares about quality — Swolverine cares about effective dosages, transparency in their ingredients and labeling, and creating a high-quality product.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Anyone who wants more flavor options — this supplement only comes in an Orange Dreamsicle flavor.
Anyone who wants a higher dose of ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
Those who prefer a pill or a gummy may want to look at other available options.
This formula is robust with opportunities for better sleep and an increase in overall testosterone, making this a solid ashwagandha supplement for growth.
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Multivitamins are an important part of many athletes’ routines. The added bonus of ashwagandha in this formula gives it a kick up above the rest.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Transparent Labs’ Vitality provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha extract in every two-capsule serving. Additionally, each serving contains 15 milligrams of zinc, 10 milligrams of black pepper extract, and a handful of other ingredients, all of which are non-GMO and gluten-free. The addition of primavie shilajit provides an extra 40+ minerals making this a micronutrient powerhouse. Black pepper extract is also something we love to see in supplements due to its potential to create better absorption of ingredients in the body. This product is pretty natural as well, as there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives used in this formula.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Each two-capsule serving provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha alongside 15 milligrams of zinc. It is free of artificial sweeteners, colorings, gluten, and GMOs.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Vitality
People looking for a decent addition of zinc to their diets will be happy to see 15 mg in this formula.
Folks who want to up their daily micronutrient intake will love the 40+ minerals present in this supplement,
Those who prefer their supplements to be free of artificial additives will appreciate that Transparent Labs didn’t add any to these pills.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Vitality
Folks who prefer a powder supplement for mixing into drinks and smoothies.
Those who can’t don’t want to reach too deep into their wallets.
With the powder of ashwagandha, zinc, primavie, and black pepper extract, this multivitamin formula delivers all the benefits of ashwagandha, and a plethora of minerals to keep you on your A game, daily.
[Related: Best Macros Calculator For Tracking Muscle Gain And Fat Loss]
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
If you’re a gummy lover, rejoice. Swolverine has created a delicious way to take your ashwagandha supplement in cherry gummy form.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine’s ashwagandha gummies boast 750mg of ashwagandha concentrate —- 30 times the amount you’d get from the plant itself. This non-gmo and vegan gummy is a delicious way to make sure you’re getting your ashwagandha in at home, or on the go. This product comes in a cherry flavor and contains 60 servings per container, which makes this a very affordable option at $0.36 cents per serving. Swolverine also added zinc and vitamin D to their formula, which may possibly assist further sleep benefits.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
These ashwagandha gummies are packed with ashwagandha, zinc, and vitamin D to help support anxiety, stress, and aid in sleep. Theses gummies are cherry flavored and come with 60 pieces per container.
Who Should Buy Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Folks who want an ashwagandha supplement that has added ingredients like zinc to possibly boost sleep and stress relief even further.
People who want a delicious form of ashwagandha that they can easily take with them anywhere they go — this is a gummy, which makes it very easy to travel with.
Buyers on a budget who don’t want to drop a lot of money on their ashwagandha will appreciate the price tag here.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Customers who don’t enjoy cherry flavored gummies —- this currently is only offered in a cherry flavor.
Those who prefer a capsule or powder supplement rather than a gummy.
Swolverine gummies are an inexpensive, convenient, and delicious way to get your ashwagandha in for potentially lower stress, which could lead you to better sleep.
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
If you want a supplement that provides ashwagandha in a clinical dose that is also easy to take in capsule form —- look no further.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs delivers 600 milligrams of ashwagandha extract per one-capsule serving, which is the ideal clinically studied dose for ashwagandha. An important factor is that it discloses the number of withanolides, the active ingredient in ashwagandha — in this case, it provides five percent total withanolides. The capsule is vegan and free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs' KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplement is about a straightforward as it comes when we're talking about a raw ingredient in supplement form. Each capsule contains 600mg of ashwagandha extract at around $0.33 per serving.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Folks who want a short (but sweet) ingredient list — this product contains only ashwagandha extract.
People who are concerned about withanolides will like that Transparent Labs tells you the number of withanolides (five percent) in this product.
Anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on an ashwagandha supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Anyone who wants a more extensive ingredient list can find ashwagandha products out there that contain additional ingredients.
Anyone who wants a higher dose of Ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
If you’re looking for a supplement that has nothing but a clinical dose of ashwagandha, is convenient to take on the go, and keeps your wallet in check, this is the formula for you.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Sleep
Sleep is an extremely important part of recovery, and being able to make the most of each training session — this supplement is designed with CBD to promote your best night of sleep.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
This supplement was designed with the intention of helping you fall asleep faster, achieve deeper sleep, regulate your sleep cycles, and to repair mental and physical stress. With 300 mg of ashwagandha at the forefront and support from CBD (which is shown to improve sleep and reduce anxiety), this formula leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing you with a potentially better night of rest (6).
There is no THC present in this supplement, and won’t cause any “high” with taking it. With 30 servings per container, this vegan supplement rings in at $1.63 per serving, putting it at a middle ground price overall. This is also a great option for vegetarians and vegans as it is cruelty-free and vegan.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement was designed with ashwagandha, CBD, and other botanics to aid you in your best night of rest. This product is vegan, cruelty-free, Non-GMO, and THC free --- meaning you won't get high from it.
Who Should Buy FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
Folks who want the benefits of ashwagandha and the added boost of CBD to potentially assist in better sleep and decreased anxiety.
People who are concerned about animal welfare — this product is cruelty-free and vegan, making it the perfect option for better sleep without compromising your ethics.
Anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on an ashwagandha supplement.
Who Shouldn’t Buy FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
Anyone who prefers a flavored supplement may want to opt for a powdered form of ashwagandha.
Anyone who wants a higher dose of Ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
With better sleep at the forefront of this supplement, FOCL has included both CBD and ashwagandha to help you get the most out of your nighttime supp and help promote relaxation.
Best Ashwagandha Powder
This is a no-frills ashwagandha powder with two ingredients — 450g of ashwagandha and dextrin to deliver a potent powder for potentially better sleep and improved mood.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
This powder provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract in each of its 222 servings per container. This product comes in a plethora of buying options for the powder version including 100 grams, 250 grams, 500 grams, one kilogram, five kilograms, and 25 kilograms. Made without any additional ingredients, this supplement is free of soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, sugar, and additives. Each batch is third-party tested for purity and made in current GMP standards. The pouch is resealable for easier storage and it is on the much more affordable end of the market.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
Each serving provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract. There are no additional ingredients used and it is free of soy, gluten, dairy, yeast, sugar, and additives. Each pouch includes 222 servings.
Who Should Buy BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
People who want a powder supplement free of any additional ingredients.
Those who appreciate third-party testing for purity.
Anyone looking to save some money.
Who Shouldn’t Buy BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
Folks without access to a scoop or other tool to measure a serving.
People who prefer a stacked ashwagandha supplement should look elsewhere — the only ingredients in this are ashwagandha and dextrin.
This product delivers 450 mg of ashwagandha and contains no added sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, or additives making it a great addition to your supplement line up if you’re looking for a straightforward powder.
[Related: Nutrition For Bulking: 10 Tips For Intelligent Muscle Gain]
How We Decide the Best Ashwagandha
A good amount of evidence suggests that ashwagandha can be useful for helping to manage fatigue, improve focus and mindset, reduce anxiety, and maybe even help with sports performance. (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) After reading the studies and following the science, how does one land on the best ashwagandha supplement? Here is what we focused on.
Ashwagandha Content
How much ashwagandha should you demand from your supplements? The truth is that there’s currently no real consensus on the ideal dosage. Some studies have seen benefits with lower doses. The most potent product we found delivered 2,100 milligrams per serving. Many reasonable competitors’ supplements contain well under 1,000 milligrams.
Withanolide Content
This is the name for metabolites found in ashwagandha and other members of the nightshade family. Research suggests that they’re the primary active ingredient in ashwagandha, and they’ve been linked to the plant’s myriad benefits. Very few companies put this on the label, so we didn’t penalize too harshly. However, bonus points to the options that did print that information on their label.
Image via Shutterstock/Eskymaks
[Related: The Lifter’s Guide To Magnesium: What This Nutrient Does For Strength]
Most of these products contain black pepper extract (sometimes called piperine or BioPerine®, a trademarked variant), as it may help to increase absorption. Research published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, and Planta Medica found that the addition of piperine can help the intestines to uptake anti-inflammatory compounds. (14)15)(16)
Third-Party Testing
The FDA doesn’t really monitor nutritional supplements, so consumers have taken it in faith that the label is accurate. Not everyone is happy with the system, so many top-tier products have an external company test the product to ensure accuracy of the label and make sure there are no heavy metals or other contaminants present.
Organic Certification
It’s unlikely that this affects the product’s potency, but it’s clear that a large portion of customers prefer their ashwagandha to be certified organic, so we made sure to include it as a feature. There are a variety of different certifications, though — many feel the USDA is the gold standard. Still, there’s also Organic Certifiers, and there’s the “made with organic ingredients” label, which means at least 70 percent of the ingredients need to be produced per organic standards.
What are the Benefits of Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha offers many benefits to the user including potential for better mental health, better sleep, anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to be useful to help those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (17). Read more about each individual benefit below.
Mental Health Benefits
Ashwagandha is what is known as an adaptogen which means it is an herb that is used to combat stress (1). It has been shown in various studies to be an effective way to deal with stress and anxiety, as well as calming the nervous system. Because of these benefits, it is often used as a sleep aid (18). Although the FDA hasn’t regulated ashwagandha or other adaptogens yet, it has been around in ancient Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The ancient Indian practice of Ayurvedic medicine used ashwagandha as a medicine to deal with a multitude of health issues including being an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-stress medicine. It was also used as a neuro-protector, cardio-protector and as a cure for insomnia (1).
Performance Enhancement
There have been many studies done on how ashwagandha can improve performance in athletes. One study found that there was a significant difference in physical performance for both healthy men and women compared to the results from the placebo group (19). Another study found improvements on cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy adults and also found that it improved their quality of life with no adverse side effects (3). Again, although this isn’t regulated by the FDA, all the claims here about performance enhancement potential came from well-researched studies that found these results. It is important to remember that no supplement on its own will get you to your end goals and you should always pair supplementation with physical activity.
Image via Shutterstock/Elena Eryomenko
[Related: IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros): Your Ultimate Guide To This Diet]
How Much is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha varies in price depending on the supplement and the ingredient list. There are a lot of options on the market and the least expensive supplement on our list is $0.36 cents per serving making it an extremely affordable option. If budget isn’t an issue for you and you’re willing to splurge a bit on your supplement, some of the options on our list boast huge benefits such as an extensive list of greens, whole foods, and micronutrients, and that will cost $3.30 cents on the lower end of purchasing options.
There is an ashwagandha supplement for every person and every budget out there, it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what benefits you’d like to gain from your supplement.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement Overall
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
$48.00
Per Serving: $0.40
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
Athletic Greens AG1
$99
Per serving: $3.30
Best Pre-Workout with Ashwagandha
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
$59.95
Per serving: $2
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Testosterone Growth
Swolverine ZMT
$64.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs Vitality
$54.99
Per serving: $1.80
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
$21.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
$19.99
Per serving: $0.33
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Sleep
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
$49
Per serving: $1.63
Best Ashwagandha Powder
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
$11.96
Per serving: $0.05
What To Consider Before Buying Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is not a necessary supplement for overall health, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have tons of potential benefits that could assist in your healthiest self. It is most well-known for its help to your nervous system —- anti-anxiety, anti-stress, and aid in curbing insomnia (1). There are several things to take into consideration before you add an ashwagandha supplement to your line up. Read on for a few pro tips on this well-researched, yet sometimes misunderstood product.
Ashwagandha supplements are extremely diverse. They range from being 100 percent ashwagandha, to ashwagandha being a component of an extensive ingredient list. It’s important to determine why you’re choosing to add ashwagandha to your supplement stack, and to pick a formula that best suits your needs.
For example, do you want an ashwagandha supplement that’s 100 percent ashwagandha to potentially help with sleep, or do you want your ashwagandha within a much larger greens supplement that’s packed with all sorts of vitamins and minerals? Make sure you take a look at the full ingredient list, and take into consideration what other factors you may want —- no artificial ingredients, any allergies, or a vegan or vegetarian ingredient list if that’s what you need.
Dosage
Ashwagandha studies have seen positive effects from dosages anywhere between 250 to 600 milligrams (2). Although the clinical dosage hasn’t been solidified, it’s good to keep in mind that dosages between 250 and 600 have been noted as significant for best results. There are many dosage options available on the market including proprietary blends —- meaning that ashwagandha isn’t listed as a specific milligram, but as part of a blend of ingredients that have their total weight recorded. If your main goal is to get the most out of ashwagandha specifically, it’s best to choose a supplement that discloses the ashwagandha content in milligrams that are above 250.
Goals
One of the biggest factors to consider is what you want to take ashwagandha for. It is especially helpful for those who suffer from chronic anxiety, stress, or inflammation. Most studies around ashwagandha have been done around its adaptogenic properties, and most results find that it has use for helping treat those mental and physical disruptions. It’s also used widely for insomnia and sleeping problems — if you are affected by trouble with sleeping, a dedicated ashwagandha may be helpful for you.
It also has been studied for its effectiveness in performance enhancement. It is safe for most people to use for potentially better cardiovascular endurance, as well as for athletes who need ample recovery. It was used in ayurvedic communities for its anti-inflammatory properties and therefore can be helpful for people whose bodies are under a lot of stress from intense workouts or sports. If you fall into this category, a greens supplement or pre-workout with ashwagandha could be the right fit.
Final Word
Ashwagandha may be helpful for athletes, gymgoers, and even lay people for its potential ability to lessen anxiety and stress of the body and mind, improve endurance performance, and aid in recovering stressed and inflamed muscles. It can also be a helpful supplement for anyone looking for better sleep.
Ashwagandha is a fascinating supplement with a wealth of research supporting it as a means to help the body combat stress and fatigue. We should emphasize that the scientific community isn’t unanimous here — we need more research — but if you’re convinced that this Ayurvedic plant is worth experimenting with, we think we’ve landed on the best products for your needs.
FAQs
Is ashwagandha worth the money?Ashwagandha supplements vary in price and dosages meaning there is a supplement out there for almost any budget. This article ranges from $0.36 cents per serving to over $3.00 per serving, and there is a lot of variance in the middle ground as well. Ashwagandha can be a very powerful aid for some people and we believe that is an effective and worthwhile supplement for those who are looking for relaxation.
Is ashwagandha safe to use?Ashwagandha is not FDA approved, but has been used for centuries as an adaptogen in ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It is always important to check with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about adding supplements to your current lineup, but overall, ashwagandha has proven safe for the majority of users.
Will ashwagandha help me reach my fitness goals?No supplement is a foolproof way to get you to your goals. It still requires hard work, dedication, and thoughtfulness around your lifestyle. Ashwagandha has been studied thoroughly for its potential effectiveness as a natural performance enhancing supplement, and results are favorable that it can aid in better cardiovascular endurance, and can be a really helpful tool in the recovery process due to its anti-inflammatory nature.
What is the best ashwagandha supplement? When it comes to ashwagandha supplements, there are plenty of options on the market, from gummies and capsules to powders. But for our money, the best on the market is KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder. It contains no additives, just pure organic ashwagandha in a high dosage. Plus, it’s flavorless, mixes well into hot drinks and smoothies, and at about $0.40 per serving, the price is more than fair.
References
Mandlik Ingawale DS, Namdeo AG. Pharmacological evaluation of Ashwagandha highlighting its healthcare claims, safety, and toxicity aspects. J Diet Suppl. 2021;18(2):183-226. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2020.1741484. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32242751.
Salve J, Pate S, Debnath K, Langade D. Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. 2019 Dec 25;11(12):e6466. doi: 10.7759/cureus.6466. PMID: 32021735; PMCID: PMC6979308.
Tiwari S, Gupta SK, Pathak AK. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera dunal.) root extract in improving cardiorespiratory endurance and recovery in healthy athletic adults. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 May 23;272:113929. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113929. Epub 2021 Feb 15. PMID: 33600918.
Okereke OI, Singh A. The role of vitamin D in the prevention of late-life depression. J Affect Disord. 2016 Jul 1;198:1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.03.022. Epub 2016 Mar 9. PMID: 26998791; PMCID: PMC4844780.
Hirsch KR, Smith-Ryan AE, Roelofs EJ, Trexler ET, Mock MG. Cordyceps militaris Improves Tolerance to High-Intensity Exercise After Acute and Chronic Supplementation. J Diet Suppl. 2017 Jan 2;14(1):42-53. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2016.1203386. Epub 2016 Jul 13. PMID: 27408987; PMCID: PMC5236007.
Shannon S, Lewis N, Lee H, Hughes S. Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. Perm J. 2019;23:18-041. doi: 10.7812/TPP/18-041. PMID: 30624194; PMCID: PMC6326553.
Chandrasekhar K, et al. A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul;34(3):255-62.
Cooley K, Szczurko O, Perri D, Mills EJ, Bernhardt B, Zhou Q, Seely D. Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. PLoS One. 2009 Aug 31;4(8):e6628. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006628. PMID: 19718255; PMCID: PMC2729375.
Andrade C, Aswath A, Chaturvedi SK, Srinivasa M, Raguram R. A double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the anxiolytic efficacy ff an ethanolic extract of withania somnifera. Indian J Psychiatry. 2000 Jul;42(3):295-301. PMID: 21407960; PMCID: PMC2958355.
Khyati, S et al. A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE BLIND PLACEBO CONTROLLED STUDY OF ASHWAGANDHA ON GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER. IAMJ. 2013 Sep-Oct;1(5):1-7
Sandhu JS, Shah B, Shenoy S, Chauhan S, Lavekar GS, Padhi MM. Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010 Jul;1(3):144-9. doi: 10.4103/0974-7788.72485. PMID: 21170205; PMCID: PMC2996571.
Wankhede S, Langade D, Joshi K, Sinha SR, Bhattacharyya S. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Nov 25;12:43. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0104-9. PMID: 26609282; PMCID: PMC4658772.
Raut AA, Rege NN, Tadvi FM, Solanki PV, Kene KR, Shirolkar SG, Pandey SN, Vaidya RA, Vaidya AB. Exploratory study to evaluate tolerability, safety, and activity of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in healthy volunteers. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2012 Jul;3(3):111-4. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.100168. PMID: 23125505; PMCID: PMC3487234.
Srinivasan K. Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: a review of diverse physiological effects. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2007;47(8):735-48. doi: 10.1080/10408390601062054. PMID: 17987447.
Han HK. The effects of black pepper on the intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism of drugs. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2011 Jun;7(6):721-9. doi: 10.1517/17425255.2011.570332. Epub 2011 Mar 24. PMID: 21434835.
Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):353-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957450. PMID: 9619120.
Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208-13. doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5S.9. Epub 2011 Jul 3. PMID: 22754076; PMCID: PMC3252722.
Cheah KL, Norhayati MN, Husniati Yaacob L, Abdul Rahman R. Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract on sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 24;16(9):e0257843. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257843. PMID: 34559859; PMCID: PMC8462692.
Bonilla DA, Moreno Y, Gho C, Petro JL, Odriozola-Martínez A, Kreider RB. Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on Physical Performance: Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-Analysis. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Feb 11;6(1):20. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6010020. PMID: 33670194; PMCID: PMC8006238.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant in the nightshade family with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. It’s considered an adaptogen: A product that might help the body to manage stress, whether that be stress from exercise, or stress from a tough day at the office (1). While it’s currently difficult to work out the ideal dosage, studies have seen positive effects from dosages anywhere between 250 to 600 milligrams (2). A good amount of research suggests that ashwagandha may have anti-anxiety effects, help to manage fatigue, reduce levels of cortisol, and improve athletic performance (3).
So which brands have produced the best supplements? We sifted through the market to account for each supplement’s transparency, label accuracy, and absorption. Here are the ones that stand out from the rest of the field:
Best Ashwagandha Supplements
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t take the place of advice and/or supervision from a medical professional. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. Speak with your physician if you have any concerns or before beginning any new workout regimen.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement
Ashwagandha can be a powerful tool to help you reduce stress and anxiety, as well as provide better sleep — extremely potent at an affordable price point, this powder is our top pick for an ashwagandha supplement.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder is made up of pure organic ashwagandha powder that can provide an effective supplement to potentially aid your recovery (physically and mentally) from your tough workouts. What makes this a favorite for us is the whopping 3.5g of ashwagandha per scoop, one of the higher doses you’ll find, but still under the max recommended dosage of 6g.
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
Packed with 3.5 grams of organic ashwagandha powder, this flavorless powder mixes well with drinks, smoothies, and can even be added to baked goods.
You won’t find any other ingredients in this supplement other than pure organic ashwagandha powder, so if you’re looking for uncut ashwagandha, this could be the right choice. The powder is flavorless and blended fine enough to dissolve into coffee, blend into smoothies, or add to baked goods. Plus, it costs just $0.40 per serving, making it an affordable option for ashwagandha supplementation.
Who Should Buy KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
- People who want a simple, pure ashwagandha powder without any additives since that’s the only ingredient here.
- Anyone who likes to mix their ashwagandha into drinks, smoothies, or baked goods, as this fine, flavorless powder blends easily.
- Anyone on a budget should be able to swing this price tag without regret.
- People who would prefer a flavored ashwagandha powder should look elsewhere — this powder is currently only offered without any flavor added.
- Those who prefer a supplement in gummy form since this only comes as a powder.
- Anyone who wants additives like zinc and vitamin D, since this product has zero added vitamins or minerals.
[Related: Could Baking Soda Be The Best Workout Supplement You’ve Never Tried?]
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
If you’re looking for a product that is packed with vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and probiotics on top of your ashwagandha, look no further.
Athletic Greens AG1
Athletic Greens AG1 has every base covered when it comes to micronutrients. This formula is packed with vitamins and minerals from 75 different whole food sources. It also contains mushroom complexes, probiotics, enzymes, and of course — ashwagandha. This formula contains a 5:1 blend of ashwagandha meaning that the concentrate used here is five times more potent than the plant itself would be. Unfortunately, the ashwagandha here is in a proprietary blend, and therefore, is only listed as part of a 2,732 mg blend of a multitude of ingredients.
This supplement comes in a powder form in either a pouch or in to-go travel packs, so you can choose whichever suits your lifestyle best. Although it is on the more expensive side —- the base buying option being $3.30 per serving — we think it’s worth the money for such a stacked greens supplement and a potent dose of ashwagandha. Not to mention, it tastes pretty darn good, if we do say so ourselves.
Athletic Greens
This nutritious greens powder is NSF certified for sport and includes 75 absorbable ingredients and is free of gluten, sugar, dairy, eggs, and nuts. It is compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo diets.
Who Should Buy Athletic Greens AG1
- People who like greens powders for the digestive benefits (probiotics and enzymes) will like this formula.
- Folks who want to take their ashwagandha with an array of other ingredients that offer daily nutritional benefits, and may help close some nutritional gaps.
- Anyone who likes to have the option of a pouch or packets on the go will be delighted that both options are available here.
- Anyone who wants an ashwagandha supplement that just contains ashwagandha.
- Folks working with tighter budgets do not need to pay for this robust ingredients list.
- People who want to know the exact amount of ashwagandha in their supplement may want to pick a formula that doesn’t contain a proprietary blend.
[Related: The Best Types Of Supplements For Performance, Weight Loss, And Health]
Best Pre-Workout With Ashwagandha
Max out the benefits of potentially increased endurance for your toughest workouts with this blend that contains ashwagandha and mushrooms.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Ashwagandha is known for its ability to decrease stress and anxiety and help boost restful sleep, but when paired with the right ingredients, like caffeine, it can help leave you feeling both low-stress and alert. With the synergy of ashwagandha, green tea extract, mushrooms, rhodiola, and methyl b-12, Onnit Tech Shroom Support is a great option for pre-workout focus and stamina (5). This is a proprietary blend that includes ashwagandha, so the exact amount in this formula isn’t known. The ashwagandha is one of four ingredients in the blend that equals 930 mg in total.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport comes in pill form, making it easy to take on the go. With their most expensive option being $3.30 per serving, this isn’t the cheapest pre-workout on the market, but if you’re not worried about the price tag, this pre-workout is well worth the money.
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport is a proprietary blend of cordyceps, ashwagandha extract, green tea extract, rhodiola extract, and astragalus extract. These ingredients work to assist aerobic performance, help exercise volume, and provide cellular energy.
Who Should Buy Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
- People who appreciate a multifaceted pre-workout will like to see the addition of mushrooms, ashwagandha, and green tea extract in this formula.
- Athletes whose main focus is stamina will be happy to know the mushrooms in this blend can help with better endurance.
- Folks who prefer pills to powder when they take their supplements — this pill supplement is easy to take anywhere, and at any time.
- Anyone who wants an ashwagandha supplement with ashwagandha as the main ingredient may want another supplement, the mushrooms are the main attraction here.
- Folks working with tighter budgets should look elsewhere as there are cheaper ashwagandha supplements on the market.
- Folks who need to know their specific dosage of ashwagandha will need to find a formula without a proprietary blend.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Testosterone
If you’re looking for ashwagandha with the added benefit of boosting testosterone and helping you sleep, this supplement has everything you may need.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine is serving up an ashwagandha supplement that can help combat anxiety and insomnia, all while boosting testosterone and aiding in gains. This formula includes zinc and magnesium — both of these ingredients can potentially help you decrease anxiety and stress.
The kicker here are the ingredients to aid in sleep and testosterone boosting — 300 mg of ashwagandha, 500 mg of tryptophan, and 100 mg of tongkat and theanine. All of these work synergistically to provide the user with potentially better sleep, as well as higher testosterone levels. This supplement comes in a delicious Orange Dreamsicle flavor, and rings in at $2.16 per serving.
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster is made with the intention of promoting high-quality sleep and boosting testosterone levels during that sleep. It's made up of ingredients like magnesium, ashwagandha, and melatonin with your best nights rest in mind.
Who Should Buy Swolverine ZMT Testosterone Booster
- Folks who want to monopolize on checking several boxes with one supplement will love that this product can possibly help with better sleep, boosted testosterone, and lower anxiety and stress levels.
- Athletes looking for an ashwagandha supplement that has a middle ground price tag — this costs $2.16 per serving, making it feasible for most people who want a multifaceted supplement.
- Anyone who cares about quality — Swolverine cares about effective dosages, transparency in their ingredients and labeling, and creating a high-quality product.
- Anyone who wants more flavor options — this supplement only comes in an Orange Dreamsicle flavor.
- Anyone who wants a higher dose of ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
- Those who prefer a pill or a gummy may want to look at other available options.
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Multivitamins are an important part of many athletes’ routines. The added bonus of ashwagandha in this formula gives it a kick up above the rest.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Transparent Labs’ Vitality provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha extract in every two-capsule serving. Additionally, each serving contains 15 milligrams of zinc, 10 milligrams of black pepper extract, and a handful of other ingredients, all of which are non-GMO and gluten-free. The addition of primavie shilajit provides an extra 40+ minerals making this a micronutrient powerhouse. Black pepper extract is also something we love to see in supplements due to its potential to create better absorption of ingredients in the body. This product is pretty natural as well, as there are no artificial sweeteners, colorings, or preservatives used in this formula.
Transparent Labs Vitality
Each two-capsule serving provides 600 milligrams of organic ashwagandha alongside 15 milligrams of zinc. It is free of artificial sweeteners, colorings, gluten, and GMOs.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Vitality
- People looking for a decent addition of zinc to their diets will be happy to see 15 mg in this formula.
- Folks who want to up their daily micronutrient intake will love the 40+ minerals present in this supplement,
- Those who prefer their supplements to be free of artificial additives will appreciate that Transparent Labs didn’t add any to these pills.
- Folks who prefer a powder supplement for mixing into drinks and smoothies.
- Those who can’t don’t want to reach too deep into their wallets.
[Related: Best Macros Calculator For Tracking Muscle Gain And Fat Loss]
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
If you’re a gummy lover, rejoice. Swolverine has created a delicious way to take your ashwagandha supplement in cherry gummy form.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine’s ashwagandha gummies boast 750mg of ashwagandha concentrate —- 30 times the amount you’d get from the plant itself. This non-gmo and vegan gummy is a delicious way to make sure you’re getting your ashwagandha in at home, or on the go. This product comes in a cherry flavor and contains 60 servings per container, which makes this a very affordable option at $0.36 cents per serving. Swolverine also added zinc and vitamin D to their formula, which may possibly assist further sleep benefits.
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
These ashwagandha gummies are packed with ashwagandha, zinc, and vitamin D to help support anxiety, stress, and aid in sleep. Theses gummies are cherry flavored and come with 60 pieces per container.
Who Should Buy Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
- Folks who want an ashwagandha supplement that has added ingredients like zinc to possibly boost sleep and stress relief even further.
- People who want a delicious form of ashwagandha that they can easily take with them anywhere they go — this is a gummy, which makes it very easy to travel with.
- Buyers on a budget who don’t want to drop a lot of money on their ashwagandha will appreciate the price tag here.
- Customers who don’t enjoy cherry flavored gummies —- this currently is only offered in a cherry flavor.
- Those who prefer a capsule or powder supplement rather than a gummy.
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
If you want a supplement that provides ashwagandha in a clinical dose that is also easy to take in capsule form —- look no further.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs delivers 600 milligrams of ashwagandha extract per one-capsule serving, which is the ideal clinically studied dose for ashwagandha. An important factor is that it discloses the number of withanolides, the active ingredient in ashwagandha — in this case, it provides five percent total withanolides. The capsule is vegan and free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives.
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs' KSM-66 Ashwagandha supplement is about a straightforward as it comes when we're talking about a raw ingredient in supplement form. Each capsule contains 600mg of ashwagandha extract at around $0.33 per serving.
Who Should Buy Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
- Folks who want a short (but sweet) ingredient list — this product contains only ashwagandha extract.
- People who are concerned about withanolides will like that Transparent Labs tells you the number of withanolides (five percent) in this product.
- Anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on an ashwagandha supplement.
- Anyone who wants a more extensive ingredient list can find ashwagandha products out there that contain additional ingredients.
- Anyone who wants a higher dose of Ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement For Sleep
Sleep is an extremely important part of recovery, and being able to make the most of each training session — this supplement is designed with CBD to promote your best night of sleep.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
This supplement was designed with the intention of helping you fall asleep faster, achieve deeper sleep, regulate your sleep cycles, and to repair mental and physical stress. With 300 mg of ashwagandha at the forefront and support from CBD (which is shown to improve sleep and reduce anxiety), this formula leaves no stone unturned when it comes to providing you with a potentially better night of rest (6).
There is no THC present in this supplement, and won’t cause any “high” with taking it. With 30 servings per container, this vegan supplement rings in at $1.63 per serving, putting it at a middle ground price overall. This is also a great option for vegetarians and vegans as it is cruelty-free and vegan.
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement was designed with ashwagandha, CBD, and other botanics to aid you in your best night of rest. This product is vegan, cruelty-free, Non-GMO, and THC free --- meaning you won't get high from it.
Who Should Buy FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
- Folks who want the benefits of ashwagandha and the added boost of CBD to potentially assist in better sleep and decreased anxiety.
- People who are concerned about animal welfare — this product is cruelty-free and vegan, making it the perfect option for better sleep without compromising your ethics.
- Anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much money on an ashwagandha supplement.
- Anyone who prefers a flavored supplement may want to opt for a powdered form of ashwagandha.
- Anyone who wants a higher dose of Ashwagandha per capsule — you can find other products with single doses that provide up to 2,000mg of ashwagandha.
Best Ashwagandha Powder
This is a no-frills ashwagandha powder with two ingredients — 450g of ashwagandha and dextrin to deliver a potent powder for potentially better sleep and improved mood.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
This powder provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract in each of its 222 servings per container. This product comes in a plethora of buying options for the powder version including 100 grams, 250 grams, 500 grams, one kilogram, five kilograms, and 25 kilograms. Made without any additional ingredients, this supplement is free of soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, sugar, and additives. Each batch is third-party tested for purity and made in current GMP standards. The pouch is resealable for easier storage and it is on the much more affordable end of the market.
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
Each serving provides 450 milligrams of ashwagandha extract. There are no additional ingredients used and it is free of soy, gluten, dairy, yeast, sugar, and additives. Each pouch includes 222 servings.
Who Should Buy BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
- People who want a powder supplement free of any additional ingredients.
- Those who appreciate third-party testing for purity.
- Anyone looking to save some money.
- Folks without access to a scoop or other tool to measure a serving.
- People who prefer a stacked ashwagandha supplement should look elsewhere — the only ingredients in this are ashwagandha and dextrin.
[Related: Nutrition For Bulking: 10 Tips For Intelligent Muscle Gain]
How We Decide the Best Ashwagandha
A good amount of evidence suggests that ashwagandha can be useful for helping to manage fatigue, improve focus and mindset, reduce anxiety, and maybe even help with sports performance. (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13) After reading the studies and following the science, how does one land on the best ashwagandha supplement? Here is what we focused on.
Ashwagandha Content
How much ashwagandha should you demand from your supplements? The truth is that there’s currently no real consensus on the ideal dosage. Some studies have seen benefits with lower doses. The most potent product we found delivered 2,100 milligrams per serving. Many reasonable competitors’ supplements contain well under 1,000 milligrams.
Withanolide Content
This is the name for metabolites found in ashwagandha and other members of the nightshade family. Research suggests that they’re the primary active ingredient in ashwagandha, and they’ve been linked to the plant’s myriad benefits. Very few companies put this on the label, so we didn’t penalize too harshly. However, bonus points to the options that did print that information on their label.
Image via Shutterstock/Eskymaks
[Related: The Lifter’s Guide To Magnesium: What This Nutrient Does For Strength]
Most of these products contain black pepper extract (sometimes called piperine or BioPerine®, a trademarked variant), as it may help to increase absorption. Research published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, and Planta Medica found that the addition of piperine can help the intestines to uptake anti-inflammatory compounds. (14)15)(16)
Third-Party Testing
The FDA doesn’t really monitor nutritional supplements, so consumers have taken it in faith that the label is accurate. Not everyone is happy with the system, so many top-tier products have an external company test the product to ensure accuracy of the label and make sure there are no heavy metals or other contaminants present.
Organic Certification
It’s unlikely that this affects the product’s potency, but it’s clear that a large portion of customers prefer their ashwagandha to be certified organic, so we made sure to include it as a feature. There are a variety of different certifications, though — many feel the USDA is the gold standard. Still, there’s also Organic Certifiers, and there’s the “made with organic ingredients” label, which means at least 70 percent of the ingredients need to be produced per organic standards.
What are the Benefits of Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha offers many benefits to the user including potential for better mental health, better sleep, anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to be useful to help those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (17). Read more about each individual benefit below.
Mental Health Benefits
Ashwagandha is what is known as an adaptogen which means it is an herb that is used to combat stress (1). It has been shown in various studies to be an effective way to deal with stress and anxiety, as well as calming the nervous system. Because of these benefits, it is often used as a sleep aid (18). Although the FDA hasn’t regulated ashwagandha or other adaptogens yet, it has been around in ancient Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. The ancient Indian practice of Ayurvedic medicine used ashwagandha as a medicine to deal with a multitude of health issues including being an anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-stress medicine. It was also used as a neuro-protector, cardio-protector and as a cure for insomnia (1).
Performance Enhancement
There have been many studies done on how ashwagandha can improve performance in athletes. One study found that there was a significant difference in physical performance for both healthy men and women compared to the results from the placebo group (19). Another study found improvements on cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy adults and also found that it improved their quality of life with no adverse side effects (3). Again, although this isn’t regulated by the FDA, all the claims here about performance enhancement potential came from well-researched studies that found these results. It is important to remember that no supplement on its own will get you to your end goals and you should always pair supplementation with physical activity.
Image via Shutterstock/Elena Eryomenko
[Related: IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros): Your Ultimate Guide To This Diet]
How Much is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha varies in price depending on the supplement and the ingredient list. There are a lot of options on the market and the least expensive supplement on our list is $0.36 cents per serving making it an extremely affordable option. If budget isn’t an issue for you and you’re willing to splurge a bit on your supplement, some of the options on our list boast huge benefits such as an extensive list of greens, whole foods, and micronutrients, and that will cost $3.30 cents on the lower end of purchasing options.
There is an ashwagandha supplement for every person and every budget out there, it just depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what benefits you’d like to gain from your supplement.
Best Ashwagandha Supplement Overall
KOS Organic Ashwagandha Powder
$48.00
Per Serving: $0.40
Best Greens Supplement with Ashwagandha
Athletic Greens AG1
$99
Per serving: $3.30
Best Pre-Workout with Ashwagandha
Onnit Shroom Tech Sport
$59.95
Per serving: $2
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Testosterone Growth
Swolverine ZMT
$64.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Multivitamin with Ashwagandha
Transparent Labs Vitality
$54.99
Per serving: $1.80
Best Ashwagandha Gummies
Swolverine Ashwagandha Gummies
$21.99
Per serving: $0.36
Best Ashwagandha Capsules
Transparent Labs Raw Series Ashwagandha
$19.99
Per serving: $0.33
Best Ashwagandha Supplement for Sleep
FOCL Night Sleep Supplement
$49
Per serving: $1.63
Best Ashwagandha Powder
BulkSupplements Ashwagandha
$11.96
Per serving: $0.05
What To Consider Before Buying Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is not a necessary supplement for overall health, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have tons of potential benefits that could assist in your healthiest self. It is most well-known for its help to your nervous system —- anti-anxiety, anti-stress, and aid in curbing insomnia (1). There are several things to take into consideration before you add an ashwagandha supplement to your line up. Read on for a few pro tips on this well-researched, yet sometimes misunderstood product.
Ashwagandha supplements are extremely diverse. They range from being 100 percent ashwagandha, to ashwagandha...
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