To get straight to your answer - there really isn’t any specific time of day that’s best for taking ashwagandha, which means it can be taken both in the morning or at night.
However, you may have a preferred time of day depending on your tolerance and your personal goals.
Below, we’ll explore the differences you might notice when taking it in the morning vs at night.
Some people (like myself) prefer to take ashwagandha in the morning simply because it’s easier to remember to take it alongside other supplements.
Taking Ashwagandha In The Morning:
There are many good reasons to take ashwagandha in the morning, our advice is to not have it on an empty stomach though, otherwise risk some mild discomfort.
If you’d prefer to take ashwagandha in the morning, it’s usually best to wait until you’ve eaten breakfast, or include it in your breakfast. You can easily add it to a smoothie if you’re not a fan of eating a large meal in the morning.
Taking ashwagandha in the morning can also be a massive boost to many different performance goals.
Here are some of the things ashwagandha can help you with throughout your day:
- Increased Energy Levels: Since ashwagandha is an adaptogen, it may help your body adapt to whatever it’s faced with throughout the day. So, if you struggle with fatigue and find it hard to get going, taking it in the morning can help to increase your energy levels naturally without relying on caffeine.
- Improves Memory & Concentration: It is believed that ashwagandha triggers a neurochemical pathway that helps improve memory and concentration. So, if you’ve got an intellectually demanding job or you’re studying for something, taking ashwagandha in the morning could be a great option.
- Reduces Stress & Anxiety: If you find yourself getting stressed or anxious throughout the day, taking ashwagandha in the morning could help. Research has shown that it is capable of regulating chemical signals in the nervous system and helping our brains create a more appropriate response to stressful situations.
Taking Ashwagandha At Night:
As with taking ashwagandha in the morning, there are some reasons why taking it at night could be a better option for your personal goals.
- Improves Sleep: If like many people, you’re taking ashwagandha for its sleep-inducing effects, it’s much better taken at night. You’re also much less likely to have an empty stomach at night, so the chances of developing a stomach ache are reduced.
- Improves Reproductive Health: Ashwagandha is believed to have powerful effects on testosterone and reproductive health, increasing both sperm count and mobility.
The quick video below gives a few more great reasons to be taking ashwagandha at night:
One thing that’s worth remembering is that the effects of ashwagandha aren’t immediate. So, regardless of what you’re taking it for, you should give it ample time to get to work.
Should I Take Ashwagandha Before Or After Meals?
It’s usually best to take ashwagandha either during or after a meal. Some people prefer to take ashwagandha as a supplement between meals, too. This is also absolutely fine.
The only thing you should avoid whenever possible is taking ashwagandha on an empty stomach.
While there is some belief that this gives you the optimal amount of benefits that ashwagandha has to offer, there is evidence that taking ashwagandha on an empty stomach can cause diarrhea and an upset stomach.
If you’re thinking of taking ashwagandha in the morning but you find it difficult to eat breakfast, you can add it to a smoothie as a way of taking it with a meal.
When Is The Best Time To Take Ashwagandha?
There is much debate around this, but the best time to take ashwagandha ultimately depends on what you’re using it for. Taking it in the morning has certain advantages while taking it at night can provide different benefits.
Ashwagandha is an adaptogen and, as such, it will help your body respond to different situations throughout the day.
For example, if you’re looking for a way to naturally raise your energy levels, taking ashwagandha in the morning simply makes more sense.
Conversely, if you’re using ashwagandha as a way of helping beat insomnia, it stands to reason that taking it at night would be best.
Above, you’ll find some of the reasons why people choose to take ashwagandha either in the morning or at night. But, if you’re not using it for any of these goals, here are some other things ashwagandha is believed to help with that could make it easier to determine the best time of day to take it:
- Can Reduce Cortisol Levels: Ashwagandha is believed to reduce cortisol levels, so taking it in the morning can help those who find themselves getting chronically stressed during the day.
- May Increase Muscle Mass & Strength: Taking ashwagandha at night following an intense workout could help to increase muscle mass and strength while your body rests and repairs itself. It’s also believed to help reduce body fat by significant amounts!
- Helps Reduce Symptoms Of Depression: Taking ashwagandha at any time of the day is believed to help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Ashwagandha All Day!
As you can see, there isn’t really any specific time of day that is best for taking ashwagandha, it really depends on why you’re taking it and what you’re looking to achieve.
It is worth remembering, however, that regardless of the time of day you find it’s best to take ashwagandha, we don’t recommend taking it on an empty stomach. It’s fine to take it between meals, just make sure you aren’t running on empty!
If you’ve never taken ashwagandha before, you might find it best to experiment with what time of day works best for you.
It’s also important to note that ashwagandha’s benefits aren’t felt immediately, and it can actually take several weeks for you to start noticing the effects it’s having on your body.