Parenting is one of life’s greatest adventures. Adaptogens can help you show up with more focus, energy, and balance on your journey.
A study conducted by Action for Children found that a whopping 82% of parents in the UK experienced indicators of parental burnout. From the constant pressure of household tasks to tackling children’s behaviour, it’s common (and normal) for parents to experience a mental, physical, and emotional toll on their health.
At London Nootropics, we’re here to help people manage stress and find their flow with one simple yet powerful thing: adaptogenic coffee. Here, we explore the three best adaptogens parents can easily incorporate into their diets to feel in control.
How adaptogenic coffee can help
Many people - including parents - rely on coffee to get them through the day. And for us at London Nootropics, we believe in the benefits of coffee and the lift it gives us to our day.
Not only does it provide us with a quick boost of energy, but it also sharpens focus by kicking the central nervous system into gear. For hundreds of years, we’ve drunk coffee to boost productivity, socialise with friends, or enhance athletic performance.
In fact, drinking coffee can also make us feel happier. One research study suggested that people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day are less likely to become depressed compared to those who drink none.
This sounds great in practice, however caffeine may produce unwanted side effects such as heightened cortisol - the last thing busy parents need in their day.
These side effects include jitters, anxiety, and increased feelings of grogginess. But why does this happen? Caffeine is absorbed quickly and causes cortisol levels to skyrocket, leaving us to feel on edge, unproductive, and wanting another coffee due to a spike and a crash.
Combining adaptogens with caffeine has been shown to reduce the caffeine crash. Adaptogenic coffee is like your regular coffee, except blended with herbs, plants, or mushrooms that help the body and mind adapt to stress.
For parents, this means adaptogenic coffee can help rebalance their cortisol levels if they’re exposed to a trigger - such as sleep deprivation, morning and bedtime routines, or sibling conflicts. In short, adaptogens can help us adjust to changes in our external environment.
The three best adaptogens for parents
Many London Nootropics customers have successfully reduced their coffee intake from 4-5 cups to just 1-2 cups of adaptogenic coffee, enjoying sustained energy and improved well-being. With this in mind, here are the three best adaptogens for parents:
1. Lion's Mane
In the UK, the number of adults with “brain fog” is on the rise. While it’s a subjective experience, brain fog is characterised by a lack of focus, feeling spacey, or a general kind of slowness which inhibits you from multitasking. Sound familiar?
A survey found that the average American parent loses nearly 4,000 hours to “brain fog” while raising their child. How much more productive could you be with mental clarity and focus, and increase quality time with family as a result.
Luckily, adaptogens - such as Lion’s Mane mushroom - have been shown to clear brain fog. This ancient medicinal mushroom is known for its neuroprotective properties, helping support memory, focus, and concentration.
In fact, one study found that participants who regularly consumed Lion’s Mane for a prolonged period of time had better memory scores compared to the placebo group. In another study, researchers found that Lion’s Mane might improve cognitive speed and reduce subjective stress in healthy young adults.
This is because Lion’s Mane is thought to enhance blood circulation throughout the body and, therefore, supply the brain with increased oxygen and nutrients. When the brain gets more oxygen and nutrients, it can positively affect brain performance.
Lion's Mane mushroom contains hericenones and erinacines, which are active-compiunds which can cross the blood-brain barrier and are believed to shield brain cells from oxidative stress. This protection may enhance learning, memory, and overall focus - making 6am wakeups, keeping track of schedules, and deciding what to cook for dinner easier.
2. Ashwagandha
Next up, we’ve got another powerful adaptogen called Ashwagandha.
This medicinal herb has been used for over 2,500 years, and countless studies have hinted at its stress-relieving properties. For example, one study found that the herb exhibits anti-stress and anti-anxiety in humans, suggesting its ability to work on our adrenals to help balance cortisol levels.
For many parents, stress and anxiety is a daily struggle. In fact, millions of parents in the UK are struggling with their mental health, with 49% saying they felt overwhelmed all or a lot of the time in the past 12 months. This was closely followed by feeling anxious (43%).
For clinical psychologists, parents with adolescents may be more likely to experience emotional exhaustion due to greater conflict in the home. To help, we use KSM-66®, a branded Ashwagandha extract with 5% Withanolides, in our Zen blend.
This extract has the highest concentration of full-spectrum root extract available today. It has been proven to have high bioavailability, helping to alleviate anxiety, find balance, and aid the body in adapting to physical and mental stressors.
3. Cordyceps
While parents of adolescents are more prone to emotional exhaustion, those with young children are most at risk of experiencing physical exhaustion.
Think about all the daily tasks that demand energy and endurance: frequently carrying children from one place to another, running around in the garden, and getting toddlers dressed for school.
Luckily, Cordyceps can help - an adaptogenic fungi prized for its energy-boosting benefits. In fact, gym enthusiasts and Olympic champions use this adaptogen to naturally enhance stamina and vitality - thanks to its ability to improve aerobic performance.
Cordyceps has been associated with increasing VO2 max, the maximum rate at which the heart, lungs, and muscles can utilise oxygen during physical activity. One study even demonstrated improved oxygen utilisation during exercise among participants who consumed Cordyceps.
For those who need a sustained physical boost, consider an adaptogenic coffee blend with Cordyceps!
Find your flow with London Nootropics
Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, we make it easy for you to effortlessly (and deliciously!) add premium adaptogens to your daily diet.
Our coffee blends contain around 80-110 mg of caffeine, the same as a regular single shot of coffee. And what will help you on your parent journey is the addition of adaptogens rich in active compounds, helping you feel more in control during your day-to-day.
What’s more, our adaptogenic coffee comes in convenient single-serve sachets. This means you can easily and quickly get a quick boost whenever you’re on the go.
We’ve got:
Flow for mental clarity and focus, with 250mg of Hifas da Terra Lion’s Mane, with 45% beta-glucan fruiting bodies, and 83mg of a branded Rhodiola extract called RhodioLife® (grown from the Siberian Altai), standardised to 3% Rosavins & 1% Salidroside.
Zen for calming energy, with 153mg of L-theanine and 110mg of KSM-66 Ashwagandha® (vegan extract), known as the "Gold Standard" extract, standardised to 5% Withanolides.
Mojo for a natural boost, with 305mg of Hifas da Terra Cordyceps, standardised to 5% Cordycepin & 25% beta-glucan fruiting bodies, and 102mg of Siberian Ginseng (with 0.8% Eleutherosides) extract.
Mush Love for focus, energy, and immunity, with 160mg of Hifas da Terra organic Lion's Mane extract, with a minimum of 45% beta-glucans, 160mg of Hifas da Terra Cordyceps extract, with at least 5% cordycepin and 25% beta-glucans, and 160mg of Hifas da Terra organic Chaga extract, with a minimum of 45% total glucans.
All you need to do is add one sachet to a mug or flask of hot water and stir well to dissolve. Drink black or add your choice of milk, and enjoy!
Need some reassurance? Read our customer reviews for our adaptogenic coffee blends!
