Rhodiola rosea might sound like a new beauty must-have but it’s actually a flowering herb that helps your inner glow shine through, and aids with anxiety, depression, and fatigue. (Or as they are otherwise known, the 2022 trifecta.) Learn everything you need to know about rhodiola rosea and how it can help you be your best self.
What is Rhodiola Rosea?
Rhodiola Rosea, sometimes called simply Rhodiola (like Madonna, this plant only requires one name) is a plant that grows in cold parts of Europe and Asia. It also has some nicknames, including “golden root” and “arctic root.” (You are now ready for that Jeopardy question on this awesome plant.) Rhodiola is a relatively rare plant, and is mostly available as rhodiola rosea extract. It is a very safe and well-tolerated supplement with very few to no side effects.
Rhodiola Root’s Actives
Rhodiola’s root contains - wait for it - 140 active ingredients. No, that is not a typo. 140. The two most potent are rosavin and salidroside.
- Rosavin: Rosavin is a cinnamyl alcohol glycoside found in the Rhodiola rosea plant. It is believed to be responsible for the plant’s ability to work as an antidepressant. Hallelujah.
- Salidroside: Salidroside is a glucoside of tyrosol found in the Rhodiola rosea plant. Studies have shown thatsalidroside has neuroprotective properties. These could include “anti-Alzheimer’s disease, anti-Parkinson’s disease, anti-Huntington’s disease, anti-stroke, anti-depressive effects, and anti-traumatic brain injury; it is also useful for improving cognitive function, treating addiction, and preventing epilepsy.”
The Effects of Rhodiola Rosea
Many studies have shown that rhodiola rosea strengthens the body’s response to physical stressors (aka exercise) and psychological stressors (like fatigue and depression.) Sign me up!
History of Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola rosea has been used for many, many years in traditional medicine. Particularly, people in Russia and Scandinavian countries have used rhodiola for centuries to treat anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Today, it is used more widely as a dietary supplement due to its multiple health benefits.
Rhodiola Rosea Benefits
HBO / Via media.giphy.com
Learn more about all the beautiful (science-based) benefits of this plant, and you’ll know why we added it to Bonny.
Rhodiola – Your Beauty Must Have
Rhodiola rosea is a flowering herb that helps amplify your radiance. Rhiodiola contains a high concentration of antioxidants and can help increase circulation and skin renewal to help you shine bright like a diamond. There isn't another ingredient out there that helps your inner beauty shine as much as rhodiola does. Its overall benefits make it one of the most significant and important flavors available today.
Rhodiola Rosea Decreases Stress
The best part of rhodiola rosea is that its roots are considered adaptogens. This means that they help your body adapt to stress, naturally. In today’s modern world, who doesn’t want a little less stress? There is also evidence that rhodiola improves symptoms of burnout, which is the result of chronic stress.
Rhodiola Rosea Helps with Fatigue
Are you stressed, anxious, and not getting enough sleep? (Better question: are you not? If so, tell us your secret in the comments. Thanks in advance.) All of these factors can contribute to fatigue. However, due to its adaptogenic properties, rhodiola is thought to help with fatigue. That’s right: in one study, 100 people with chronic fatigue received 400 mg of rhodiola each day for eight weeks. What happened, you ask? They experienced major improvements in stress symptoms, fatigue, mood, concentration, and quality of life. Bottom line: rhodiola rosea might help to literally make your life better. Even better? The improvements were noted after just one week of rhodiola, and continued throughout the whole study.
Rhodiola Rosea Decreases Depression Symptoms
Depression is an all too common illness that seriously affects how you feel and act. But it’s a lot more than just being about your latest breakup or your favorite show ending: depression is believed to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Rhodiola rosea has antidepressant properties that help balance out the neurotransmitters in your brain. This can positively affect your mood and emotion. And it comes with a lot fewer side effects than a drug to manage the same symptoms.
Rhodiola Rosea Might Improve Brain Function
Maybe you don’t think much about what you eat, what supplements you take, but each can affect how your brain works, but here’s the thing: it’s all connected. That’s because our gut health is directly related to the rest of your overall health, including your brain. There are lots of good ways to get your brain running strong, just like your body: sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet. Add rhodiola root to that list. A review of 36 (!!!) animal studies found thatrhodiola improves learning and memory function. (This would have been helpful info before we took the SATs. Oh well.)
Rhodiola Rosea Might Improve Exercise Performance
Open up the Peloton app now: rhodiola rosea might be able to help you work a little harder during your next sweat session. That’s because rhodiola reduces both physical and mental fatigue (so you can set the alarm a little earlier!) and increases antioxidant activity. Think about it: if you feel healthier, you’re ready to attack the day and your workout, right?
Rhodiola Rosea Might Help Manage Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. Animal research suggests thatrhodiola rosea might be able to improve management of diabetes. The salidroside (one of those potent ingredients we talked about earlier!) has been shown to protect against diabetes…in rats. However, this means there is a real reason to research the effects of rhodiola on diabetes in people, too. (As always, discuss with your doctor before taking any supplements, especially if you have a condition like diabetes.)
Rhodiola Rosea Might Have Anticancer Properties
Our new favorite component in rhodiola rosea, salidroside, has been researched for possible anticancer properties. It is possible that it inhibits the growth of lung, bladder, colon, and gastric cancer cells. However, a lot more research is needed before it can be determined if rhodiola can actually be used to treat cancer. (Psst: we made alist of some other anti-estrogen foods you can check out to reduce your risk of breast cancer.)
Rhodiola Supplement + Bonny = A Match Made in Heaven
As you read this blog post, you probably couldn’t help but wonder, Carrie Bradshaw-style, why we care so much about rhodiola rosea. As you might have guessed, it’s one of the new ingredients in Berry Beauty to help your inner radiance shine through.
Bonny is the BFF you need to support your gut health and help you feel fuller longer, reduce bloating, get your #2s figured out, and overall help you look and feel fabulous.
Plus, Bonny just tastes good, to put it simply! We source only the best ingredients for Bonny, including rhodiola rosea in Berry Beauty.
Bonny comes in four delicious flavors that you will crave daily: Amplified Apple Pie, Berry Beauty, Strawberry Serenity and Matcha Magic.
As always, we wish you pleasant poops (and radiant skin).
