Moringa vs Ashwagandha (Can You Take Them Together?)

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Moringa and Ashwagandha have a lot to offer and I’m a big fan of them both. But since they’re quite similar, it might be hard for some people to choose between them.

If that’s you, you’ve come to the right place.

I started this Supplement Comparison Series for that exact reason. In each post, I take 2 supplements and put them head-to-head on benefits, cost, side effects, my recommendations, and more to help you work out which one to use.

Up next, we have Moringa vs Ashwagandha.

Let’s get started.

What is Moringa?

Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is plant native to India that also grows in the tropics.

Now, the interesting thing about Moringa is that pretty much the whole plant is used for its health promoting properties.

In other words, people use and consume the bark, root, seeds, fruit, leaves, and flowers.

This is quite rare for a plant as typically only one part is consumed.

(The leaves of tea for example.)

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an ancient herb from India that’s been used for thousands of years.

And even today, people still use Ashwagandha for feelings of strength, calmness, and vitality.

Ashwagandha belongs to the Nightshade family of plants, which includes common vegetables like potatoes and egg plants.

In Sanskrit, the word Ashwagandha roughly translates to the smell of a horse.

(It’s believed that Ashwagandha root smell like horse sweat, while giving you the strength of a stallion.)

Benefits

Benefits of Moringa

Moringa is antioxidant-rich

Free radical build-up can induce oxidative stress, which is thought to play an important role in aging and many serious diseases.

Antioxidants are powerful molecules which can help combat free radicals, resulting in less oxidative stress and a healthier you.

Moringa is loaded with antioxidants, including:

• Vitamin C
• Quercetin
• Beta-Carotene
• Chlorogenic Acid

But what’s even more impressive is that Moringa can boost levels of antioxidants in the blood. (Source)

Moringa may help lower Cholesterol

High cholesterol levels are believed to increase your risk of heart disease.

If you’re concerned about high cholesterol levels, then you might want to give Moringa a try as research shows it can help lower them.

Moringa may help lower blood sugar levels

High blood sugar levels can result in an energy crash, making you feel weak, tired, and lethargic.

Quite often for me, this energy crash leads to stuffing my face with junk food, which funnily enough gives me high blood sugar levels and kickstarts this cycle.

So, to keep your energy levels in check, you ought to manage your blood sugar levels and keep them stable.

According to research, Moringa may be effective at lowering blood sugar levels.

In a study of 30 women, taking 7g of Moringa each day for 3 months reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5%.

Moringa may help reduce inflammation

Chronic inflammation is often the result of living an unhealthy lifestyle for many years.

But chronic inflammation can be a silent killer.

Why?

Well, many serious diseases like stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease have been linked to chronic inflammation.

So, a good way to lower your risk of those nasty diseases is to reduce inflammation.

Moringa is rich in compounds known as isothiocyanates, which scientists believe have potent anti-inflammatory effects. (Source)

Benefits of Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha may increase testosterone levels

Nowadays, many people have lower than ideal testosterone levels.

This can be blamed on many things, including:

• Low fat diets
• High alcohol intake
• High sugar consumption
• Lower meat consumption

But low T levels are no laughing matter.

Research suggests that low T levels may be a cause of depression in aging men.

So, to help boost your T levels, perhaps you ought to try Ashwagandha as it’s been shown to boost T levels in a few studies (including this one).

Ashwagandha may help increase muscle mass and strength

Despite being rarely talked about in the bodybuilding community, Ashwagandha is a solid supplement for boosting size and strength.

For example, a study of 57 people looked at the effects of Ashwagandha on size and strength.

Some of the subjects took 600mg of daily Ashwagandha and the others took a placebo.

The results showed that the Ashwagandha group had bigger increases in mass, strength, fat loss, and testosterone levels.

Ashwagandha may help lower blood sugar levels

Like Moringa, Ashwagandha may be effective at lowering blood sugar levels.

A study looked at the effects of Ashwagandha on the blood sugar levels of 12 subjects.

After using Ashwagandha for 30 days, their blood sugar levels were lowered by amounts comparable to blood sugar lowering medication.

Ashwagandha may help improve anxiety

Did you know that over 40 million US adults suffer from anxiety?

This makes it the most common mental disorder in America.

Well, if you do suffer from anxiety, then you might want to try out Ashwagandha, as research suggests it’s effective at combating anxiety.

For example, a 2-month study had some participants take 600mg of Ashwagandha or a placebo each day.

The results showed that the Ashwagandha group had a significant reduction in scores on the stress test than the placebo group.

Another study over 6 weeks looked at the effects of Ashwagandha on anxiety levels.

By the end of the study, 88% of the participants who took Ashwagandha had less anxiety.

Cost

Moringa Cost

Moringa is normally sold as a powder or in capsules.

Here are some standard prices for these:

• Powder: $27 for 1 lb
• Capsules: $13 for 100

Ashwagandha Cost

Ashwagandha is usually sold in tablets or as a liquid extract.

Typical prices for these are:

• Tablets: $18 for 100
• Liquid Extract: $17 for 2oz

Side Effects

Moringa Side Effects

Moringa powder is generally well-tolerated with a low risk of side effects.

In fact, no adverse effects were found in people who took 50g of Moringa powder each day for 28 days. (Source)

But those who are Diabetic or are taking blood sugar lowering medication should consult a doctor before using Moringa, due to its potential effects on blood sugar levels.

Ashwagandha Side Effects

Like Moringa, Ashwagandha has a low risk of side effects, but in some clinical studies, the following effects have been reported:

• Sleepiness
• Headaches
• Upset stomach

Also, those who are Diabetic or are taking blood sugar lowering medication should speak to a doctor before using Ashwagandha, since it may affect blood sugar levels.

The following people should avoid Ashwagandha:

• Pregnant women
• People with stomach ulcers
• People with low/high blood pressure
• People who are allergic to Nightshade plants, i.e. Potatoes, Eggplants, etc.
• People with autoimmune conditions, i.e. Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.

Recommendations

My Moringa Recommendation: Organic Spice Resource Moringa Leaf Powder

Overview

A solid Moringa supplement in powdered form.

Ideal for those who enjoy the freedom to choose how much Moringa they want to take.

What I like about it

As it’s powdered, you easily experiment with the dosage to meet your own needs.

(Chances are some of you will respond better to a lower dose and others to a higher dose.)

And since it’s a pure organic powder, there are no nasty additives, pesticides, or preservatives you need to be wary of.

Just straight up 100% Moringa goodness.

Also, the dozens of ace reviews show that this is a trusted supplement that many people are using and having great results with.

Potential Drawbacks

While I’m a big fan of powdered supplements, some people may prefer the convenience of capsules.

If that’s you, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Check price and read more reviews of Organic Spice Resource Moringa Leaf Powder on Amazon.

My Ashwagandha Recommendation: NaturaLife Labs Ashwagandha

Overview

NaturaLife Labs Ashwagandha is a natural, high strength supplement that’s worthy of my gold star.

What I like about it

1000s of epic reviews show that this Ashwagandha is extremely helpful to many normal people just like me and you.

Also, NaturaLife Labs Ashwagandha is mixed with black pepper extract, which helps with absorption making this more effective than your standard Ashwagandha supplement.

And like Organic Spice Resource Moringa, this supplement contains no unwelcome additives, making it a cleaner choice than other brands.

Potential Drawbacks

If you follow the recommended dosage (i.e 3 capsules per day), then the bottle will only last a month or so. It would be good if you could buy this in bigger bottles in my opinion.

Check price and read more reviews of NaturaLife Labs Ashwagandha on Amazon.

Can You Take Moringa And Ashwagandha Together?

There are some supplements out there which contain both Moringa and Ashwagandha, which suggests that they can be taken together.

That being said, you should always consult a medical doctor before starting a new supplement regimen.

Moringa vs Ashwagandha: The Verdict

Well, thanks a ton for staying to the end of this Moringa vs Ashwagandha breakdown with me.

I hope you’ve learned a lot and have found value in this article!

By now, you should have a solid idea of which one you’re going to side with, but if you’re still on the fence, then here’s what I’d recommend:

You might prefer Moringa if:

• You want to reduce inflammation
• You want to lower your cholesterol levels
• You want to increase your antioxidant intake 

You might prefer Ashwagandha if:

• You suffer from anxiety
• You want to get bigger and stronger
• You want to boost your Testosterone levels

That’s all for this article, but when’s the best time to take Ashwagandha for testosterone? Or perhaps you’re interested in Melatonin vs Ashwagandha?

Hope this helped!