What Are Adaptogenic Drinks? Benefits, Types, & How They Work

Adaptogens are a class of herbs and mushrooms believed to affect the way the body deals with stress, anxiety, and fatigue. 

One survey has found that 94% of people state that finding healthier choices for food and drink was important to them, and further research has found that alcohol consumption is lower for young people than 20 years ago; you can begin to see that healthy drinks are on the rise. 

In this article, we’ll cover what adaptogenic drinks are, what makes an ingredient adaptogenic, and the benefits and types you’re likely to see in your can. 

What Are Adaptogenic Drinks? 

Adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms are increasingly infused into everyday drinks. Cans, bottles, teas, and tonics have been infused with adaptogens and are often used as a healthy alternative to drinks like coffee, energy drinks, and alcohol. 

When you consider that young people are looking for healthy alternatives to traditional beverages, you can see that interest in health-beneficial drinks is only going to increase as time goes on. 

Adaptogens are classified as a supplement rather than a drug by the FDA and are not subject to the same oversight. This less rigorous regulation means that transparency from brands matters more than ever. 

What Makes an Ingredient Adaptogenic?

Before getting into the drinks, it is worth understanding what makes an ingredient adaptogenic in the first place. You can’t simply take a medicinal plant and call it adaptogenic; there is a recognized standard that an ingredient must meet before it qualifies. 

Adaptogenic ingredients must meet three criteria:

• Safe for normal consumption - Pose no danger when taken in recommended quantities.
• Create a measurable, calming response - Help your body cope with stress. 
• Help your body return to ‘normal’ - It cannot act as a stimulant, like caffeine.

Adaptogens can be taken in the form of tinctures or be infused into food or drink, each designed to give you the correct dosage each day; no need to measure powders. Ready-to-drink formulas work well for this reason; they can fit into your daily routine. 

Understanding what adaptogenic ingredients are is the first step; next is understanding how they affect the body. 

Looking for clean energy or better focus? Spark and Revive are formulated with adaptogens, see which one fits what you are looking for. 

How Adaptogens Support Wellbeing in Drinks

Now that we know what qualifies as an adaptogen, we will examine how it actually affects the body. Adaptogens are believed to interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the system that controls the body's stress response and its equilibrium. 

Adaptogens don’t simply reduce stress. They are thought to help regulate cortisol, either reducing it when you are stressed or raising it when the body is feeling tired. 

Drinking adaptogens over time is thought to help the body cope with stress in the long term. Caffeine-based products give you an instant hit of energy, but adaptogens give you science-backed results you can feel. 

 

The Benefits of Adaptogens 

Across the research and anecdotal reports, several benefits come up again and again: 

 

• Stress relief 
• Better sleep
• Immune support
• Mood balance 
• Sustained energy

Research in this area is still emerging; the benefits are being reported, and the results are being studied, but there are no concrete guarantees. Adaptogens support wellbeing; they don't replace medical care. 

Different Types of Adaptogens

Having seen the effects and the benefits, let’s take a look at which specific herbs and mushrooms are common in adaptogen drinks: 

 

• Ashwagandha - Shown in clinical trials to reduce stress and anxiety. 
• Rhodiola - Linked to improved performance and reduced fatigue. 
• Reishi - Used to boost the immune system and increase energy.  
• Ginseng - Traditionally used to prevent fatigue and support energy. 
• Holy Basil - Associated with stress reduction.  
• Maca - Known for its energy-boosting effects. 

Our drinks are formulated with adaptogens designed to support you every day . Spark is formulated with ginseng to give you clean energy, with none of the jitters from caffeine, whereas Revive is formulated with rhodiola to reduce fatigue and get your mental performance in top shape. 

Is an Adaptogen Drink for You?

With more people putting time and effort into their health and buying habits and the reduction in alcohol and caffeine consumption, adaptogen drinks are a perfect middle ground. 

Backed by growing research into how these ingredients support the body’s natural stress response, adaptogenic drinks are a way of feeling the benefits without the crash you would find with caffeine. 

With premium ingredients and clinically dosed, third-party lab-tested drinks, PolkaDot is the perfect place to begin. Explore our range of seltzers and shots to find what works for you.