Last updated: November 2026
Probably not. Weight gain isn’t a side effect reported in ashwagandha trials, and in the one small trial that tracked it, 52 stressed adults taking 300mg twice a day for 8 weeks lost a little weight and reported fewer food cravings than with placebo. If your weight changes unexpectedly, see your GP: a thyroid check may be needed.
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Flow CBD Oil With Ashwagandha & Maca
Flow CBD Oil with Ashwagandha and Maca is broad spectrum CBD with 35mg ashwagandha root extract and 35mg maca root extract per half pipette, for a daytime routine. Not for anyone with a thyroid, liver or autoimmune condition.
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View productCan ashwagandha cause weight gain? What the trials show
Ashwagandha is not known to cause weight gain. A 2026 review of 23 trials in 2,317 healthy adults found only mild, infrequent side effects (stomach discomfort, headaches, drowsiness), also seen with placebo. Weight gain wasn’t among them.
| Trial | Who and what dose | What happened to weight |
|---|---|---|
| Choudhary, 2017 | 52 adults under chronic stress; 300mg root extract twice a day, 8 weeks | Body weight, BMI and food cravings fell more than with placebo |
| Wankhede, 2015 | 57 men new to weight training; 300mg twice a day, 8 weeks | Bigger gains in muscle size and strength than placebo, alongside training |
| Coope, 2026 (review) | 23 trials, 2,317 healthy adults; 125 to 600mg a day | No weight gain reported; side effects mild and also seen with placebo |
These are small, short trials: reassuring, not proof. Ashwagandha has no authorised health claims in the UK. More in ashwagandha side effects.
Does ashwagandha make you gain weight? Why some people think so
A few things can move the scales while you take it, even if the herb isn’t the cause:
- Muscle, not fat. Men in the 2015 gym trial gained more muscle, which weighs. See ashwagandha for men.
- Appetite. Some users report feeling hungrier, others less so; no trial shows a consistent effect.
- Stomach changes. Stomach upset, the most common side effect, can feel like bloating. That isn’t fat.
- Normal drift. Weight moves a kilo or two with salt, alcohol, periods and menopause, and with poor sleep.
- Stress itself. Long-term stress changes eating habits: see cortisol belly.
Hoping for the opposite effect? See does ashwagandha help with weight loss?
Ashwagandha, your thyroid and weight changes
Ashwagandha can change thyroid hormone levels. In a small 2018 trial in 50 adults with a mildly underactive thyroid, 600mg a day for 8 weeks raised thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) compared with placebo, and rare case reports describe an overactive thyroid after taking it.
The NHS lists weight gain, tiredness and feeling cold among underactive thyroid symptoms; an overactive thyroid can cause weight loss and a racing heart. If your weight changes for no obvious reason, stop ashwagandha and see your GP for a blood test. With a thyroid condition or levothyroxine, don’t take it unless your GP agrees. More in underactive thyroid symptoms and overactive thyroid symptoms.
Who should avoid ashwagandha?
Don’t take ashwagandha if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a thyroid, liver or autoimmune condition. Ask your GP or pharmacist first if you take sedatives, thyroid medicines, immunosuppressants, or diabetes or blood pressure medicines. Rarely it is linked to liver injury: stop and see a GP if you get yellow skin or eyes or dark urine.
It is legal in the UK as a food supplement while the FSA’s Committee on Toxicity reviews its safety: see our UK safety review and how much ashwagandha per day.
How much ashwagandha is in Evopure Flow?
Evopure’s Flow CBD Oil contains 35mg ashwagandha root extract and 35mg maca root extract per half pipette, with broad spectrum CBD. That is far less than the 300 to 600mg a day in the trials above. It is on the FSA public list, linked to validated applications.
The FSA advises healthy adults to take no more than 10mg of CBD a day: about 0.2ml of the 500mg (0.1ml of the 1,000mg) gives 10mg. The FSA’s 10mg a day figure is precautionary advice rather than a legal limit, set while longer-term safety research continues. At Evopure we think it is a very cautious figure, and many adults use more. If you go above it, increase slowly, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
Prefer no ashwagandha? The Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex gives 290mg magnesium (77% NRV) per 4.75g; magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. See also CBD and ashwagandha and when to take ashwagandha.
iIf you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first. We don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Adults only.
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Flow CBD Oil for the daytime, or, without ashwagandha, the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex for the evening (vegan, made in the UK).
Add Flow CBD Oil 500mg to bag Add the Magnesium Sleep Complex to bag
Subscribe and save 25% on your first order, then 20%. New to Evopure? Join our emails for 20% off a one-off first order. Free UK delivery over £45. If you take any regular medicines, check with your GP or pharmacist first.
Sources 8
- Choudhary D et al (2017). Body weight management in adults under chronic stress through treatment with ashwagandha root extract. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. PMID 27055824.
- Wankhede S et al (2015). Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. PMID 26609282.
- Coope OC et al (2026). Safety and tolerability of standardised ashwagandha root extract in healthy adults: a systematic review. Pharmaceuticals. PMID 42198398.
- Sharma AK et al (2018). Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in subclinical hypothyroid patients. J Altern Complement Med. PMID 28829155.
- Kamal HI et al (2022). Ashwagandha as a unique cause of thyrotoxicosis presenting with supraventricular tachycardia. Cureus. PMID 35475098.
- NHS. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and Overactive thyroid: symptoms.
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ashwagandha.
- Committee on Toxicity. Draft minutes of the 8 September 2026 COT meeting (item 5, ashwagandha).
General information, not medical advice. Evopure makes Flow CBD Oil with Ashwagandha and Maca, the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex and the Reishi Mushroom Adaptogenic Complex.
