When fatigue meets stress, the answer is not necessarily to stimulate more. In the morning, certain habits - sleep, light, movement, diet - can support our energy, and certain adaptogenic plants can also help the body better resist stress.
When school starts again, schedules resume, days fill up, and mental load increases, we can have this paradoxical impression: being tired yet unable to slow down.
The reflex is often to look for something that "gives energy."
But before adding another coffee, we can ask ourselves: what kind of energy do we need?
FATIGUE AND STRESS OFTEN GO TOGETHER
When we continuously have to adapt – to work, family, training, lack of sleep, worries, changes in routine – several bodily systems participate in this adaptation.
And when this demand is prolonged, it can be accompanied by a feeling of physical or mental fatigue.
This is precisely where the concept of adaptogen comes in.
WHAT IS AN ADAPTOGEN?
This term is used to refer to certain plants that are believed to support the body's adaptation to stress.
In Canada, some plants may even be authorized in natural health products with specific indications related to energy and stress resistance.
Ashwagandha, for example, is used as an adaptogen to help increase energy and resistance to stress, particularly during mental or physical fatigue related to stress.
Clinical research is also interesting. A meta-analysis published in 2024¹ pooling nine randomized trials and 558 participants observed improvements in some measures of stress and anxiety with different ashwagandha preparations compared to placebo. However, the authors emphasize that more data is needed, especially regarding its long-term use.
WHAT CAN WE ADD TO OUR MORNING?
Before supplements, let's start with the foundations.
Light. Exposing yourself to natural light at the start of the day helps regulate our circadian rhythm.
Water with electrolytes. After several hours without drinking, the morning is simply a good time to start hydrating again.
Movement. You don't need to do intense training: walking, going outside or moving/jumping, stretching for a few minutes already gets the body moving.
A nourishing breakfast, if you have breakfast. Proteins are particularly interesting for starting the day with essential amino acids.
And for some people, we can then think about adaptogens.
MUSHROOMS & ADAPTOGENS: THE POWDER RITUAL
Our Mushrooms & adaptogens blend brings together several plants, roots, and mushrooms in one measure.
It notably contains:
• 2.5 g ashwagandha
• 1 g maca
• 940 mg eleuthero
• 710 mg Paecilomyces hepiali
• 610 mg lion's mane (Hericium erinaceus)
• astragalus
• reishi
• amla
• rhodiola
• red ginseng
Its NPN 80129449 allows it to be presented as a tonic in phytotherapy to help relieve generalized weakness or fatigue, aid in recovery, and improve mental or physical performance after periods of mental or physical exertion.
It is also used as an adaptogen to help increase energy and resistance to stress, particularly during mental or physical fatigue related to stress.
This is what I like about the adaptogenic approach: it's not just about "boosting" the body. It's about supporting its ability to adapt.
WHAT IF I PREFER CAPSULES?
There is another approach: Energy & Adaptogens.
Here, the formula is different.
It notably contains holy basil, mangiferin-standardized mango, quercetin, theacrine, tart cherry, and several B vitamins in active forms such as methylcobalamin, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate.
Its NPN 80129617 includes indications concerning energy, stress resistance, energy metabolism, and exercise performance.
POWDER OR CAPSULES: HOW TO CHOOSE?
Mushrooms & adaptogens is particularly suitable for those who wish to incorporate a large blend of adaptogenic plants and mushrooms into their daily routine. Simply add the powder to your coffee, protein shake, oatmeal, yogurt, or overnight pudding.
Energy & adaptogens, on the other hand, offers a convenient capsule formula, with adaptogen, theacrine, and B vitamins, more geared towards energy and performance.
These are therefore not simply two formats of the same product: they are two different approaches.
AND OUR MITOCHONDRIA IN ALL OF THIS?
It's impossible to talk about energy without talking about mitochondria.
These tiny structures present in our cells participate in the production of ATP, the form of energy directly usable by our cells.
Our feeling of fatigue is obviously much more complex than the functioning of a single metabolic pathway. Sleep, diet, physical activity, stress, health status, and several other factors can intervene.
But understanding mitochondria allows us to understand one essential thing:
Having energy doesn't just mean being stimulated.
IN THE MORNING, AIM TO SUPPORT RATHER THAN PUSH
A coffee can perfectly be part of a beautiful morning.
But when going through a particularly demanding period, it can be interesting to look more broadly at what our body needs: sleep, light, movement, protein, hydration, and stress management.
Then, when it suits us, certain adaptogenic plants can find their place in this routine.
The goal is not to always do more despite fatigue. It is to give the body what it needs to better get through periods that demand more from it.
TO REMEMBER
What to take in the morning when you are tired and stressed? There is no single answer. Start with the basics - sleep, light, hydration, movement, and diet - then consider, when appropriate, adaptogens aimed at supporting energy and stress resistance rather than relying solely on stimulants.
What adaptogens can be taken in the morning?
Several adaptogens can be integrated into a morning routine, including ashwagandha, rhodiola, eleuthero, and certain blends also containing mushrooms like reishi or lion's mane. The choice depends on the desired objective and the formula. Health Canada notably recognizes ashwagandha and eleuthero as adaptogens under certain conditions of use.
https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq?atid=ashwagandha2&lang=eng&utm_source
https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq?atid=fonc.cognitive.func&utm_source
Do adaptogens give energy?
Certain adaptogens are used to help increase energy and resistance to stress over time, particularly in cases of mental or physical fatigue related to stress. They should therefore not be considered simply as stimulants: their interest lies rather in supporting the body's adaptation to stress. This is notably the use recognized by Health Canada for ashwagandha.
Can adaptogen powder be put in coffee?
Yes, when a powdered product is designed to be mixed with a drink and its instructions allow it. Our Mushrooms & Adaptogens can easily be integrated into a morning ritual: coffee, protein shake, oatmeal, yogurt, or overnight pudding. However, you must always respect the dose and indications on the product label.
What is the difference between Mushrooms & Adaptogens and Energy & Adaptogens?
Mushrooms & Adaptogens is a powder combining a large blend of plants, roots, and mushrooms, including ashwagandha, maca, eleuthero, lion's mane, reishi, rhodiola, and red ginseng. Energy & Adaptogens, in capsules, offers a different approach with holy basil, mangiferin, quercetin, theacrine, tart cherry, and active B vitamins. The first integrates as a true morning dietary ritual; the second offers a practical option more oriented towards energy and performance.
Can adaptogens be taken every day?
It depends on the adaptogen, its dose, and the product. Some products are designed for daily intake; for ashwagandha, for example, Health Canada's monograph does not set a maximum duration of use for adaptogenic use. However, scientific data on very long-term use remains limited. It is therefore necessary to follow the product's indications and precautions and consult a healthcare professional when your situation warrants it.
References
1 Ashwagandha, stress and anxiety - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39348746/
