bowl of chilli con carne garnished with spring onions, lime, chilli and corn chips

Recipe: Chilli Con Carne

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    Serves: 4, Total Time: 40 minutes

    Ingredients:

    - 1 onion, finely diced
    - 2 garlic cloves
    - 1 tsp chilli powder or 1 small fresh chilli (optional)
    - 1 tsp ground cumin
    - 1 tsp smoked paprika
    - 1 medium-large carrot, grated
    - 2 sticks celery, sliced
    - 250g grass fed beef mince (or any alternative preference of mince)
    - 1 red capsicum, chopped
    - 2 tbsp tomato paste
    - 400g tomato puree
    - 400g cooked red kidney beans (or any bean of preference)
    - 1 bunch coriander, chopped
    - 1 lime

    Method:

    1. Finely dice onion, carrot and celery and then saute in a fry pan with olive oil until vegetables are softened. 
    2. Add spices and mince into the pan and cook through until browned, approximately 5 minutes
    3. Add the capsicum, tomato paste and tomato puree, pouring through 2 cups of water and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes until mixture thickens.
    4. Season with salt and pepper, coriander or spring onions and some lime to serve.
    5. Can be served in bowls with a fresh salad and avocado, in burritos, tacos or nachos or on a bed of rice and enjoy!

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    What It Actually Does

    Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen - a substance that helps the body adapt to physical and psychological stress. But that description undersells the specificity of the evidence.

    In peer-reviewed clinical trials, ashwagandha root extract has been shown to:

    01

    Reduce serum cortisol levels significantly in adults under chronic stress

    02

    Support testosterone levels and muscle recovery in resistance-trained adults

    03

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    04

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    05

    Improve sleep quality and reduce time to sleep onset

    Why The Form Matters

    Here is where most supplement labels become misleading.
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    Generic ashwagandha powder can contain anywhere from 1% to 8% withanolides. KSM-66® is standardised to a minimum of 5% withanolides with a full-spectrum root extract, which means it retains the natural balance of the plant's compounds rather than isolating one component.
    When you buy a supplement that says "ashwagandha" without specifying the extract form, you have no way of knowing whether it contains enough active compounds to do anything at all.
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    Third-party Testing

    Supplements are not regulated the same way pharmaceuticals are. In most markets, a supplement company can put almost anything in a capsule and make almost any claim about it, as long as they don't claim to treat a specific disease.
    This is why third-party testing matters. It means an independent laboratory - one with no financial relationship to the supplement company - has tested the product to verify that:

    1. The ingredients listed are actually present
    2. They're present at the stated concentrations
    3. The product doesn't contain contaminants, heavy metals, or undisclosed substances

    Look for: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, or USP Verified certification on any supplement you take. These are the most rigorous third-party standards available.
    Every Arise formula is third-party tested before it reaches you. The results are available on request.

    The Honest Bottom Line

    Ashwagandha works. The evidence is genuinely strong. But the quality of the extract determines the quality of the outcome — and most of what's available on the market doesn't use the forms that the clinical research actually studied.
    Read the label. Ask for the extract form. Expect a specific answer.