You can find mushrooms everywhere. Some experts even say we inhale up to 10 billion mushroom spores every day. They also suggest humans evolved while inhaling mushroom spores, thus explaining why the human body so positively responds to these fungi, especially when it comes to immunity.
There are about 1.5 million species of fungi, but a select few seem to stand out in terms of health benefits. So what are medicinal mushrooms and what does the research say about their health benefits? Medicinal mushroom and superfood brand Antioxi is here to tell us all.
Five reasons to start using medicinal mushrooms
1. To manage your energy levels
If you’re trying to reduce your coffee intake, mushrooms like turkey tail could help.
Turkey tail, scientifically known as Trametes Versicolor, contains active compounds polysaccharide krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP). Both PSK and PSP are immune modulators, meaning they can positively affect our immune system, especially regarding response time.
What do immune modulators have to do with fatigue? As it turns out, fatigue can be considered an immunity problem.
One study found that turkey tail compounds helped subjects feel less fatigued compared to placebo after five weeks. The “turkey tail” subjects also experienced reductions in fatigue up to two weeks after the treatment ended.
2. To improve your immunity
As suggested previously, mushrooms like turkey tail are well-equipped with substances capable of boosting the body’s immunity. Turkey tail’s immune-boosting benefits stem from the following properties:
Rich in antioxidants: Antioxidants fight oxidative stress that can cause cellular damage, inflammation, and premature ageing. Phenols and flavonoids are known to reduce inflammation and stimulate immune cells and turkey tail includes over 35 different phenolic compounds together with flavonoids quercetin and baicalein.
Contain substances that boost immune response: As we know, turkey tail contains PSK and PSP, active compounds that promote immunity and reduce inflammation. Both PSK and PSP are also commonly used as part of anti-cancer agents together with chemotherapy.
Supports gut health: Having a healthy gut is imperative in having strong immunity, especially since our immune cells are generated in our gut. Researchers say taking turkey tail extracts can promote the growth of “good bacteria” while inhibiting the growth of “bad bacteria.”
3. To boost your brain power
Lion’s mane is perhaps the most popular functional mushroom for brain health. Studies suggest its brain-boosting properties are because of its two unique compounds, hericenones and erinacines.
Hericenones and erinacines have been shown to illicit brain-protective properties, which can reduce risks of Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, and lower symptoms of depression. These two compounds can also stimulate Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). They are proteins the brain primarily uses to stimulate brain cell generation.
BDNF : The brain uses BDNF for brain plasticity, sometimes called neuroplasticity. Brain plasticity is the brain’s way of adapting to stress or symptoms of neurodegenerative ageing.
NGF : NGF plays a major role in myelin sheath repair and formation. The myelin sheath forms around our nerves and serves as electrical conductors. If damaged, it can severely slow our response times and even affect balance and vision.
With over 75 percent of immune cells present, our gut is at the centre of our immunity. It is therefore important to keep our gut healthy and its resident gut microbes happy. One way is by taking medicinal mushrooms like reishi, chaga, and maitake.
Reishi: Reishi contains beta-glucans, triterpenes, and polysaccharides, which improve gut health primarily by reducing inflammation and supporting “good bacteria” growth.
Chaga: Chaga’s black appearance is because of its melanin content, which has shown potent immune strengthening benefits. One study suggests taking chaga can help alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Maitake: Maitake is rich in beta-glucans and antioxidants. The fungus has been shown to fight excessive inflammation by inhibiting enzymes and other substances that cause inflammation in the first place.
5. To lift your mood
Mushrooms contain an antioxidant known as ergothioneine, an amino acid with potent antioxidant properties. Humans can’t produce ergothioneine, so we have to obtain it from our diet, with mushrooms being the primary source.
Ergothioneine can help reduce stress levels, which can help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Outside of antioxidant power, mushrooms are nutritionally dense if we compare them to typical dietary sources, including “superfood” plants and animal products.
Mushrooms are generally a rich source of fibre, B vitamins, vitamin D, minerals and other potent antioxidants. From a wellness perspective, getting adequate amounts of these nutrients can lead to better emotional and mental wellbeing.
Where can I find reputable medicinal mushrooms?
Now we’ve established why mushrooms are good for our health, where do we find high-quality sources of mushroom supplements?
Antioxi
Having selected farms in the right regions with generational experience , optimal altitudes, and fresh resources as well as the appropriate technology for the extraction process has been at the forefront of ensuring that the mushrooms are grown in the correct environment to stimulate the mushrooms active ingredients.
The mushrooms are:
Pure with no additives or fillers 100 percent natural Soy-free Non-GMO Vegan friendly Easy to use as a powder or capsule One core area that sets Antioxi apart from other businesses is its thorough testing conducted with all lab reports available for every product. Find out more about its farming methods and testing here
The bottom line
Medicinal mushrooms can help boost immunity, boost energy and promote brain health. They have potential as alternative treatments to common health problems including chronic inflammation, anxiety and depression, and chronic fatigue.
We’ve only scratched the surface of what medicinal mushrooms can do for the human body, but the future looks promising.
To find out more about Antioxi, visit the website.
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