People are feeling a lot of stress these days. Learning how to adapt to it so it doesn’t trigger anxiety, chronic fatigue, and inflammation associated with heart disease, cancer, and dementia has never been more important.

Well, there’s good news: adaptogens to the rescue.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that are consumed in foods and beverages or as tinctures (liquid from concentrated herbs soaked in alcohol) that help you respond to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, and promote overall well-being.

Foods that provide adaptogens include cordyceps and reishi mushrooms. Introduce them slowly into your diet, observing how you react.

Common adaptogen herbs and roots that are used as tinctures as well as teas and in pill form include ashwagandha, ginseng (both American and Asian), eleuthero, rhodiola, reishi, Tulsi (“holy basil”), curcumin (found in turmeric), and schisandra.

• Ashwagandha regulates metabolism and calms how your brain reacts to stress.

• American ginseng soothes inflammation and may reset dopamine levels.

• Asian ginseng improves performance under stress.

Other adaptogens offer a range of benefits, including relief from depression and fatigue, and modulation of your immune system.

Always check with your doctor about possible interactions with medications you take or chronic conditions you may have (especially autoimmune ones), and ask about safe dosing.