Mushrooms are beneficial with tons of medicinal use. Lion’s mane is one of the good variants with both medicinal and culinary importance. These globe-shaped, white fungi have long, shaggy spines. Research showed that they have a good number of benefits on our brain and body.
Yet don’t quickly consider the mushroom you see as Lion’s Mane because some mushrooms can be mistaken for it, including Coral Tooths, Bear’s Head Tooth, Scalloped Hedgehog, and Reddish Hedgehog Fungus. Check out other mushrooms that look like Lion’s Mane at online sources like Mushroom Revival.
There are different ways to enjoy lion’s mane mushroom in your dining. You can enjoy them cooked, raw, dried, and even in your tea. People describe its flavor as similar to seafood, resembling the taste of a crab or lobster. Let’s put some light on lion’s mane mushroom extract and its benefit to our brain and body.
- Anti-inflammatory
The lion’s mane mushroom has a profound effect on fighting inflammation. It is rich with antioxidants and can fight inflammation quickly. Research in the US has found that this mushroom has the fourth-largest antioxidant content among fourteen different mushroom variants. Also, it works to reduce excessive prostaglandins, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and others. Not only that but it also helps to decline inflammatory factors such as NF-κB.
- Immune Support
Like most other mushrooms, lion’s mane has beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which support our immune system. Clinical trials on mice showed profound improvement to the gut immune system. Other than that, this mushroom extract induces a positive environment for gut bacteria, so the physiological system as a whole gets quick fix. You feel more energetic while there is enhanced immune support. Taking this mushroom regularly can have long term benefits on your overall physiological system.
- Recovers Nervous System
This has been a good fight to recover your nerve cells and put them in action. It is not unusual to lose your neurons and get dementia at old age. People spend tons of dollars to come out of this. Lion’s mane mushroom extract is a true blessing. It stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor. These two compounds work exclusively to grow new brain cells and nerve tissues. BDNF produces new brain cells and increases the brain’s neuroplasticity. On the other hand, nerve growth factor works through your entire nervous system. It improves communication between neurons and axons.
How does the mushroom cut through? Well, the mushroom has hericenones and erinacines compounds. These are the two main compounds that work on our brains. They protect your brain from regenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. So, you have the least chance of memory loss when you have lion’s mane mushrooms in your diet.
- Diabetes control
Diabetes does not have blood sugar control. Furthermore, increased blood sugar damages your other body organs. Mushrooms can play a big role in blood sugar control. Also, they can heal probable side effects after a few weeks of use.
A study on rats reveals the positives of lion’s mane mushroom intake. Six weeks of consumption showed significant improvements in nerve pain, blood sugar level, antioxidant level, and many more.
Lion’s mane blocks an enzyme called alpha-glucosidase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down carbs and increasing blood glucose level. When the enzyme gets blocked, blood sugar declines due to less metabolism.
- Fights Cancer
Lion’s mane has anti-cancer properties, too. They work to prevent tumor growth and show profound action on gastric cancer, liver cancer, and colon cancer. One study in the US showed that this mushroom extract provides a synergistic effect with chemotherapy drugs like doxorubicin. This is an effective treatment for liver cancer. Chemotherapy alone does not bring the expected output for a patient.
- Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Lion’s mane mushroom improves blood circulation in our body. Also, it reduces triglycerides and bad cholesterol LDL. Not only that, but it also enhances the HDL level, so it promotes the right balance of cholesterol in your body.
A study on rats showed the impacts of lion’s mushroom intake in their diet. In just 28 days, it lowered the 27% triglyceride level and 42% weight gain in mice. To add more, this mushroom extract inhibits platelet aggregation. Besides, it also works to prevent artery thickening, so there is less chance of getting atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Treats Gastric Ulcers
Ulcers are the prime cause of acidity and indigestion to all. It creates a burning sensation and pain in the chest region. To pinpoint more, the breastbone or sternum is where the pain hikes.
The polysaccharide compounds in mushroom extract shorten the peptic ulcer region. The lion’s mushroom juice protects the gastric mucosa. That is because they can prevent the reduction of antioxidant enzymes, which in turn helps to treat gastric ulcers.
- Anti-aging properties
For ages, people have taken herbs to help keep their skin live and fresh. Herbs are always rich with antioxidants. It is a chemical constituent with anti-aging properties. Lion’s mane has polysaccharides, which increases superoxide dismutase activity. This is a powerful cell protectant. It has a direct effect on the liver, brain, and cell culture of our body. So, you get evergreen freshness with more body functionality.
- Reduces Depression and Anxiety
In this fast-paced world, it is getting difficult to manage our stress. Depression and anxiety are the two common words that we are dealing with every day. How can I come out of these? Yes, tons of therapies and medicine to lift you up a bit. Unlike these, only mushroom intake can help you to come out of the box.
Lion’s mane has amycenone in its extract. This extract has a profound effect on the mice’s study. The compound can boost the production of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitter production. This has a direct impact on lifting your mood and your mental functioning. In other mice studies, scientists found upregulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus region. This region of the brain brings more emotional stability to people.
- Reduces Fatigue
This Mushroom also puts importance in fatigue reduction. Regular intake of the mushroom, both as food and medicine, can improve energy levels quickly. It increases both glycogen content and antioxidant enzyme content, which has a direct impact on fatigue reduction. Other than that, it reduces serum urea nitrogen (SUN), malondialdehyde (MDA), and blood lactic acid (BLA). As it promotes energy, it is also the right choice for athletes for better performance.
Lion’s mane can be an excellent choice for your healthy diet. This mushroom is also known as monkey’s mushroom, hedgehog mushroom, bear’s head, houtou (Chinese), yamabushitake (Japanese), and hericium erinaceus (Latin). So, don’t get confused with the name. In a nutshell, the perfect ingredient helps keep you safe.