Adaptogen Recipes: Cooking With Powerful Herbs and Functional Foods

Many herbs, vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts have many health benefits when incorporated into your cooking, or even at times eaten raw. Una Shimpraga-Shutterstock

During the Cold War, Soviet scientists began researching herbs that could give their soldiers, athletes, and even champion chess players an edge. They called these herbs adaptogens, because they help the body better adapt to stress.

These same herbs were used thousands of years ago in ancient Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen the weak and prevent illness. Today, people reach for adaptogens such as ashwagandha, ginseng, astragalus, and holy basil for immune system support, clearer thinking, and better sleep.