choosing ADAPTOGENS

“Adaptogens in food can be helpful for overall health, but we usually get a more therapeutic, effective dose in supplement form,” says Dr. Taz Bhatia, a board-certified physician and founder of CentreSpringMD, an integrative practice in Atlanta. She advises consulting with your healthcare provider before hitting the supplement aisle to get guidance on dosage and avoid any concerning interactions with medications and existing health issues. Sapna Punjabi-Gupta, registered dietitian, agrees. “The use of adaptogens is highly individualized,” she says. She advises it’s best to see a practitioner who can assess what adaptogen might be used to address current issues (as well as advise on dosage and safety). This is especially true for anyone with a chronic condition. Also good to know: The FDA has no authority or regulation of any dietary supplement, including adaptogens, until after the product is on the market. This means a supplement may not necessarily have research to support labeling claims or contain the ingredients or potency touted on the bottle. And when evaluating supplements, it’s smart to choose one that has been analyzed by a third-party independent lab, such as U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), Consumer Lab, or NSF International, to better ensure the supplement delivers what the label claims.