Throughout history, civilizations have treasured mushrooms as a source of strength and healing. Greeks believed eating mushrooms made warriors strong, while the Chinese culture has long considered them a medicinal food for healthy living. And today, Japan has an approved mushroom-based drug to treat cancer.
Mushrooms are popular in the United States as a flavorful, nutritious food. The average American eats nearly three pounds of mushrooms a year, according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Many people also use mushrooms for medicinal purposes in dietary powders, liquids and supplements.
“We’ve long known that mushrooms are good for you because of their bioactive compounds, and we’re learning more about their benefits every day,” says dietitian Joyce Prescott, RD. “There are so many varieties to enjoy in a wide variety of dishes, and we can also use them in many ways to supplement our diet and help keep us well.” Source
Click above to view my presentation of August 24, 2024
Click above for the PDF of the presentation
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
Cordyceps sinensis
Cordyceps militaris
Lion's mane mushrooms are shaggy white mushrooms that get their name from their appearance. As they grow, they resemble a lion's mane. Lion's mane mushrooms have both culinary uses and medical uses.
You can eat them raw or cook them in various ways. Some people also enjoy lion's mane tea. In addition, many studies have shown potential health benefits of lion's mane mushrooms.
The bioactive substances in lion's mane mushrooms are responsible for their benefits. These compounds target the gut, heart, and brain.
Source
BOOST THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
One of the most important effects of the reishi mushroom is that it can boost your immune system (2).
While some details are still uncertain, test-tube studies have shown that reishi can affect the genes in white blood cells, which are critical parts of your immune system.
What’s more, these older studies have found that some forms of reishi may alter inflammation pathways in white blood cells (3).
One 2006 study found that reishi could increase the number of other white blood cells in those with colorectal cancer (4).
In another older study, the fungus improved the function of lymphocytes, which help fight infections and cancer, in athletes exposed to stressful conditions (5).
ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES
Many people consume reishi due to its potential anticancer properties (8, 9).
In fact, several test-tube studies have shown that it can lead to the death of cancer cells (10, 11, 12).
Some research has also investigated if reishi could be beneficial for prostate and colorectal cancer due to its effects on inflammation and certain signaling pathways involved in cancer development (13)
What’s more, one review indicated that the mushroom could benefit people with cancer when used alongside traditional treatment by increasing the activity of white blood cells and improving quality of life (14).
COULD REDUCE FATIGUE & DEPRESSION
Though reishi’s effects on the immune system are often most emphasized, it may also reduce depression and fatigue.
One older study examined its effects in 132 people with neurasthenia, a condition associated with aches, pains, dizziness, headaches, and irritability (18)
The researchers found that fatigue was reduced and well-being was improved after 8 weeks of taking the supplements.
Another 2012 study on people with breast cancer found that taking reishi powder reduced fatigue, anxiety, and depression and improved quality of life after 4 weeks (19).
HEART HEALTH & BLOOD PRESSURE
A number of studies looking at people with both healthy and unhealthy levels of blood sugar and lipids found that reishi mushroom may help decrease blood sugar, increase HDL (good) cholesterol, and decrease triglycerides (20).
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Prized for their natural ability to fight free radicals, infections and inflammation, these are impressive disease-fighting mushrooms that have been used for centuries to reduce symptoms of respiratory disorders, coughs, colds, liver damage and much more.
As a true “superfood,” the cordyceps mushroom can slow the effects of aging and stress, help keep the body free from disease and boost energy levels to keep you going all day long.
Cordyceps fungus is sometimes called the caterpillar fungus. It’s parasitic in nature because it grows on a type of caterpillar and then winds up eating its own host!
The base of the mushroom forms from the insect’s larva and is dark brown to black, attaching itself to the organism and growing about six inches long. Once it fully matures, it actually consumes more than 90 percent of the infected insect.
These shrooms then swell up and enlarge to become about 300–500 milligrams in weight.
The first people to discover the many benefits of cordyceps initially observed animals eating the wild fungus and growing strong in the process. Farmers and herders began to use the fungus in powder form to make tonics and teas.
Some of the first uses for these tonics were increasing milk production and improving reproductive capacity of livestock. Later on, people began drying cordyceps in sunlight to preserve their potent benefits.
It’s believed that the many anti-inflammatory benefits of cordyceps stem from their ability to positively affect the immune system, fighting oxidative stress and stimulating protective cells that keep the body free from mutations and infections. In vitro studies have found that cordyceps can act like natural cancer treatments in some cases, preventing the growth of tumors and cancer cells.
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Also known as the hedgehog mushroom, or by its scientific name Hericium erinaceus, the lion’s mane mushroom has a rich history. As a centuries-old cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, it was used to improve overall health and longevity.
Meanwhile, in Japan, Buddhist monks used the powder of this mushroom to enhance focus during meditation. Evidence dating back to as early as 450 B.C. to ancient Greece suggests that the lion’s mane was utilized for its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.
Maybe one of the most compelling benefits associated with lion's mane is that it’s considered to be a functional and adaptogenic food. Adaptogenic foods help the body to adapt to stress of any kind: physical, biological, or chemical. Source