New study on ashwagandha gummies - legit or just hype?
Hey everyone, just saw this article about a study on ashwagandha for stress relief (PMID: 35794632). It says the gummies helped reduce cortisol levels by like 30% in 8 weeks. Sounds too good to be true? I'm thinking of trying some budget brands but don't wanna waste my limited cash on placebo stuff. What do y'all think?
Dan, I'm always skeptical of these 'miracle' studies. Who funded it? Big supplement companies love pushing these results. I checked my kids' gummies and they have so much sugar - makes me wonder if any benefits are just from placebo effect. Has anyone seen independent research not tied to manufacturers?
Great find Dan! I actually read that full study last month. The methodology seems solid - randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled with 60 participants. The 30% cortisol reduction was statistically significant (p<0.01). However, the dosage used was 600mg daily, while most gummies I've analyzed contain only 100-300mg per serving. You'd need 2-3 gummies daily to match study conditions, which gets expensive.
Too complicated. I stick to whole foods and sleep. All these extracts in gummy form with 10+ ingredients... seems unnecessary. If ashwagandha works, why not just take the powder? Fewer additives, less packaging, simpler life.
Thanks Tina! That dosage info is super helpful - explains why the cheap gummies I was looking at might not work. Oscar has a point about simplicity though... maybe I'll try the powder form instead. HealthHacker - the study was university-funded according to the conflict of interest section, but I get your skepticism. Appreciate all the perspectives!