Goli is one of the most popular gummy supplement brands in the US, and they sell an ashwagandha supplement. We already reviewed Goli’s Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies, so we wanted to publish a similar research-based review on Goli Ashwagandha Gummies.
Can these gummies actually relieve stress? Do they contain research-backed ingredients? Do they have any questionable additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe their effects?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Goli Ashwagandha Gummies based on clinical studies to give our take on whether or not they're likely to relieve stress.
We'll also feature unsponsored customer reviews and provide a cost comparison to show which retailer sells this product for the best price.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Goli Ashwagandha Gummies are shown above.
Ashwagandha root extract is the core active ingredient, and is included at a 300 milligram (mg) dose.
The brand claims that these gummies can help users “relax” and “unwind,” which suggests that they have an anti-stress effect.
Ashwagandha has been shown in medical research to have anxiety-reducing effects.
A clinical trial published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine found that ashwagandha extract at the same dose as in Goli's gummies decreased stress and improved quality of life in trial participants.
A more recent study found similar results. Trial participants taking 250 mg of ashwagandha extract (slightly less than that in Goli) daily experienced a reduction in their stress levels of 34% after 12 weeks.
While the ashwagandha in Goli's gummies appears to be effectively dosed, this supplement also contains a few ingredients we consider questionable.
Vitamin D2 is a strange inclusion in our opinion. We don't understand why this supplement contains added vitamin D, and vitamin D2 is a much less effective form than vitamin D3 (which is the vitamin D format commonly used in supplements).
Vitamin D2 is such a low-quality ingredient that there’s even an entire medical review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition arguing that it “shouldn’t even be regarded as a nutrient suitable for supplementation” because it’s so poorly absorbed and is subject to rapid degradation.
Organic tapioca syrup and organic cane sugar are forms of added sugar.
A 2019 medical review found that excess added sugar consumption was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Many Americans already consume too much added sugar in their diet, so we recommend avoiding added, refined sugar in supplements entirely.
Natural flavors is a broad categorical descriptor that may include solvents and preservatives according to a medical review published in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal.
Citric acid is a preservative and flavoring agent that is clinically shown to cause whole-body inflammatory reactions in some individuals, as we documented in our review of Smilz CBD Gummies (another product containing this ingredient).
Overall, we consider Goli Ashwagandha Gummies likely to reduce stress due to the effective ashwagandha dose, but we do not currently recommend this supplement due to the inactive ingredients described above.
We Tried Goli Ashwagandha Gummies Ourselves
One of our product testers named Matt Donnelly tried Goli Ashwagandha Gummies for a month. Here's his experience:
The foil wrapping under the cap was a little tough to remove and I couldn’t take it off with my fingers. I ended up just pushing a fingernail through it to get it open, which was a bit of a nuisance.
It smelled and tasted fruity like blue raspberry candy gummies with a little bit of a medicinal, minty aftertaste. They were soft, chewy, and enjoyable to eat. If they were candy, I’d eat them by the handful. But I didn’t — I consumed them as directed.
I did not experience any side effects while taking this supplement.
I think I felt slightly mellowed in the hours after consuming the gummies. There were also times when I took them and didn’t feel any specific effects.
Overall, I would rate Goli Ashwagandha Gummies 8/10, and I would consider purchasing them again in the future.
Where to Get the Best Price
Goli Ashwagandha Gummies are sold at a variety of online retailers.
Here's a price breakdown for a one-time purchase at the time of updating this article:
CVS: $15.99 (plus shipping, link)
Target: $14.99 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $14.98 (free shipping, link to official Amazon listing)
Brand website: $13.30 (free shipping, link)
The brand's website currently has the best price on this product, and this is a very low price compared to most ashwagandha supplements we've come across in our Illuminate Health reviews.
Ashwagandha Before-and-After
A YouTube creator named "pigmie" documented his experience taking ashwagandha daily for 30 days, in a video with over 500,000 views:
Customers Rate Goli Ashwagandha Gummies
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website in our opinion.
Goli Ashwagandha Gummies have been reviewed over 45,000 times on Amazon, with an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars at the time of updating this article.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named "LaSchell's Lens" who gives the product a 5/5 star rating, and claims it has stress-relieving effects:
"From the moment I started taking 2 gummies twice a day, I noticed a significant reduction in stress and an overall sense of relaxation. The mixed berry flavor is a delightful bonus, making it easy to look forward to this wellness boost every day."
The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "Trevor B" who gives the product a 1/5 star rating, and who claims to have experienced side effects:
"My sex drive is lowered significantly to the point where Im not even thinking about it, I wake up constantly throughout the night, and I have noticed my "stress" getting worse. I get aggravated more easily and am constantly tired."
Goli Ashwagandha Gummies currently have an average review rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google.
Goli Nutrition currently has an average review rating of 1.33 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, but the company responds to customer complaints to try to resolve them, which is a sign of a high-quality brand.
Our Clean Mood Support Picks
There are nutrients that are clinically shown to help support relaxation.
Pique Japanese Sencha Green Tea is our top relaxation tea pick.
Green tea was shown in a 2017 clinical trial to significantly reduce stress levels, and has been used to promote mental and physical wellness for centuries.
Performance Lab Magnesium is our top magnesium pick.
Magnesium is a mineral that 45% of Americans are deficient in according to a research review, and "existing evidence is suggestive of a beneficial effect of [magnesium] on subjective anxiety" according to a medical review published in the Nutrients journal.
Cornbread CBD Lotion is our top pick for a topical stress-reliever.
CBD is clinically shown to be absorbed through the skin, and was shown in a 2020 medical review to be a "promising" natural treatment for anxiety disorders.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Goli Ashwagandha Gummies Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Goli Ashwagandha Gummies in our opinion:
Pros:
- Effective ashwagandha dose
- Should relieve stress
- Should provide mood support
- No dangerous ingredients
- Highly affordable
- Positive online customer reviews on Amazon and Google
Cons:
- Contains vitamin D2
- Contains added, refined sugar
- Contains citric acid
- Contains natural flavors
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
