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Top 5 Ashwagandha Supplements to Help Manage Stress and Improve Focus

Learn how Ashwagandha can help keep your stress levels in check, restore calm & focus, promote mental clarity, and more.

Benefits Key Ingredients Top 5

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According to the latest Stress in America™ survey from the American Psychological Association (APA), roughly 84% of US adults experience emotions related to prolonged stress. While some stress is normal, persistent and high levels can impact sleep quality, cognition, and immune system responses.

With many seeking to control stress and leaning into holistic health, ashwagandha, an adaptogenic herb, has recently risen in popularity in the West. However, it's been used for centuries as a staple of Indian ayurvedic medicine - helping to maintain stress, focus and healthy sleep patterns.

Unfortunately, with this new popularity comes an influx of ashwagandha supplements, leading to some companies throwing low-grade products into the mix.

Needless to say, sussing out the good products from the bad can be...stressful. That's why we put together a quick and easy guide to show you what to look for, what to avoid, and our top 5 favorite picks.

Ashwagandha May Help Improve:

Stress + Mood

Used for centuries to promote positive mood, relieve stress, and support relaxation, ashwagandha sales have skyrocketed lately for general mood support.

Focus

Ashwagandha promotes antioxidant properties throughout the body, including the brain. This helps support mental clarity, focus, and even memory.

Sleep Quality

In a double-blind, random study on ashwagandha from Sleep Medicine, 72% of participants noticed improvement in sleep quality, and a significant increase in quality of life.3

Exercise Recovery

A study from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Medicine showed that ashwagandha helped support muscle strength as well as reduce strain on muscles.4

How Does Ashwagandha Work?

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, a class of plant-based remedies that help our bodies resist—or 'adapt'—to physical and chemical stressors in our environment.

Research suggests the secret to their power lies in their ability to 'hack' the body's stress-protection response, allowing us to maintain a comfortable level of stress during intense physical or mental stimulation.

Stress-Relief/Focus-Promoting Dream Team

Ashwagandha is certainly unique in its ability to manage stress—but it's not alone. Over the years, several so-called 'nutraceuticals' have emerged claiming to reduce stress. The truth is, some are effective, while others are complete duds. 

However, there is one standout ingredient with a proven track record: L-theanine. This potent amino acid is derived from green tea and has been shown to help reduce subjective stress levels. People who take L-theanine also claim that it gives them a sense of calm, clear focus. 

For these reasons, and because it works synergistically with ashwagandha, we recommend finding a supplement that includes both. But before you pony-up to any old product, it's important to know which types and how much of each to look for in an effective supplement. 

Look For The Following Quality Ingredients:

Clinically Studied Ashwagandha

Manufacturing ashwagandha is a challenging process. Common extraction methods often result in diluted, and even ineffective, end products. For best results, we recommend opting for clinically studied ashwagandha like KSM-66®.

KSM-66® ashwagandha uses cutting-edge extraction methods to maintain potency and a natural proportion of active constituents. They're also backed by numerous blind studies and their findings suggest clinically effective doses start at 600mg.

L-theanine

L-theanine is a powerful amino acid that helps promote both focus and relaxation. It's commonly used as a coffee additive to prevent 'caffeine jitters' and overstimulation, and works hand-in-hand with ashwagandha to promote a calm, clear mind. For best results, look for a supplement with at least 100mg of L-theanine. 

What To Avoid

Melatonin

Melatonin can help induce sleep during periods of high stress or during travel to cope with jetlag. However, it has little-to-no benefits for dealing with everyday stress, and can even worsen feelings of anxiousness if taken for a long period of time. 

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a common additive to stress-relief supplements; however, it lacks extensive clinical research. Furthermore, it can cause nausea, dizziness, wheezing, and skin irritation. 

Unnecessary Fillers 

Avoid supplements that use unnecessary fillers like magnesium stearate and soy. They have no medicinal benefits and may even lead to allergic reactions.

With these guidelines in mind, we scoured the market for the best of the best ashwagandha supplements on the market today.

Top 5 Ashwagandha Supplements

We tested 42 different supplements, and based on our 5 Pillars of Excellence: ingredient safety, projective effectiveness, value, return policy, and customer satisfaction, we narrowed them down to the top 5. Let's do this...

1. ZenWell®

by Live Conscious[1]

Total Ranking

9.7/10

A+

Overall Grade

PROS


  • Clinically studied ashwagandha 
  • L-theanine
  • Non-GMO
  • Vegetarian 
  • 3rd-party tested
  • 365-day return policy 

CONS

  • Sold exclusively online
The Bottom Line

We chose ZenWell from Live Conscious because it's the only ashwagandha supplement that checks all the boxes in our list of criteria. 

ZenWell uses KSM-66® ashwagandha, the gold standard in high-quality, high-potency ashwagandha, at a clinically studied, 600mg dose.

Each serving also contains 200mg of clinically studied AlphaWave® L-theanine and 20mg of black pepper extract to aid in absorption.

To top things off, Live Conscious offers a generous, 365-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. 

*Results are based on users' personal experiences collected on this page and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using these products. Please see product website for more information.

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2. Organic Ashwagandha

by Essential Elements[1]

Total Ranking

9.2/10

A-

Overall Grade

PROS

  • Triple-strength formula
  • Organic, non-GMO
  • Includes black pepper extract 
  • Vegan
  • GMP compliant  
  • 365-day return policy

CONS

  • Not clinically studied
  • Lacks L-theanine 
The Bottom Line

Coming in at a close second is Organic Ashwagandha by Essential Elements. There is a lot to like about this product, from its potent, 1950mg dose of organic ashwagandha to its inclusion of black pepper extract to aid in absorption. 

Its formula is also vegan, organic, and non GMO. Unfortunately, Essential Elements does not use clinically studied ashwagandha, which makes it difficult to gauge its potency (It's possible that its high dosage helps compensate for any dilution that occurs during extraction). It's also worth noting that this product does not contain L-theanine. 

If you're looking for a quality entry-level ashwagandha supplement, or simply prefer it without L-theanine, Organic Ashwagandha is still a solid choice. Plus, Essential Elements backs all of their products with a strong, 365-day money-back guarantee.

*Results are based on users' personal experiences collected on this page and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using these products. Please see product website for more information.

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3. Ashwagandha Gummies

by Goli

Total Ranking

8.8/10

B+

Overall Grade

PROS

  • Clinically studied ashwagandha 
  • Non-GMO
  • Gluten & gelatin free 
  • Vegan 
  • Vitamin D

CONS

    • Low dosage 
    • Lacks L-theanine 
    • 30-day return policy
The Bottom Line

Thanks to the popularity of their ACV gummies, Goli seems poised to parlay their success into a wider selection of gummy offerings, starting with ashwagandha. 

Like our top pick, Goli's Ashwagandha Gummies are made with clinically studied KSM-66® ashwagandha. However, each serving contains just 300mg—half the clinically studied dose. To get an effective dose of ashwagandha, you'd have to consume twice the serving size, or 4 gummies/day.

Each serving also contains 7g of carbs and 4g of sugar, which are not staggering amounts, but something to consider if you're on a low-sugar or keto diet. 

Finally, each serving also contains 25 mcg of vitamin D, which seems like it was added to make the formula unique (but no harm no foul?). If you're not satisfied with this product, you should act quickly, as Goli offers a brief, 30-day return policy. 

*Results are based on users' personal experiences collected on this page and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using these products. Please see product website for more information.

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4. Organic Ashwagandha Root Powder

by NutraHerbals

Total Ranking

8.4/10

B

Overall Grade

PROS

  • Certified organic
  • Potent 1200 mg of ashwagandha per serving

CONS

  • Does not use clinically studied ashwagandha
  • Lacks L-theanine 
  • Unspecified return policy
The Bottom Line

Nutraherbal's ashwagandha is both organically grown and free of gluten, soy, and GMOs. While it contains a potent dose of ashwagandha, unfortunately, it does not use a clinically studied version. Additionally, it lacks L-theanine. 

On the plus side, it contains black pepper extract to better help with absorption. They don't use any binders and reviewers reported positive benefits after use, however their return policy is unspecified. 

*Results are based on users' personal experiences collected on this page and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using these products. Please see product website for more information.

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5. Ashwagandha

by Havasu Nutrition

Total Ranking

8.0/10

B-

Overall Grade


PROS

  • Low price
  • Positive customer reviews
  • Non-GMO
  • Third-party tested 

CONS

    • Does not use clinically studied ashwagandha
    • Lacks L-theanine  
    • Only 60-day return policy
The Bottom Line

Havasu Nutrition's rounds out our list with their ashwagandha supplement. Reviewers raved about the low price and that it contains no preservatives, chemicals, or sugars.

However, this product does not use a clinically studied form of ashwagandha and it also lacks L-theanine. They also boast a unique artichoke extract to help with both absorption and digestion.

*Results are based on users' personal experiences collected on this page and do not necessarily reflect typical results of using these products. Please see product website for more information.

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Disclaimer:

Smarter Reviews is owned and operated by the same company that owns certain products featured on this website, including the products ranked number one.

In addition, we receive compensation from certain companies whose products are featured on this website when you purchase a product using the links on this website.

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Our Main Sources

Sources used for research purposes. Smarter-Reviews.com are not officially affiliated with these sites.

What You Will Learn:

18%

Estimated Read Time 5 Minutes

Benefits Of Ashwagandha

Ingredients Checklist

What To Avoid

Top 5 Ashwagandha Supplements

CITATIONS

  1. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress?tab=1
  2. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/sia-pandemic-report.pdf
  3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945720301246
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4658772/
  5. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajtcam/article/view/67963
  6. http://anaturalhealingcenter.com/documents/Thorne/articles/Ashwagandha.pdf
  7. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/953.html 
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1560227/
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836118/

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