In this article, we'll go over the top benefits and all the different ways medicinal mushrooms can positively impact your health. Before we get to this, we must know why mushrooms are so unique.

Why do mushrooms have so many health benefits?

There are several substances in mushrooms that are beneficial to human health. This is because mushrooms grow and exist in a hostile environment. They must outcompete other moulds and fungi pursuing the same food sources to succeed. 

• They must also defend themselves against bacteria and other pests that can try to consume them. 
• Mushrooms utilise toxins to defend themselves, just like poisonous creatures and insects do to avoid being eaten or supplanted by other types of life. 
• Many of the substances they create are safe for people to consume and act as natural antibiotics in our bodies. Here’s what these substances have been known to help with:

1. Boosting your immune system

There are numerous varieties of medicinal mushrooms that contain antiviral and antibacterial qualities. These can help make your immune system more robust and fight off the common cold and the flu. Medical mushrooms aren't going to suddenly make you better when you're sick but complex carbohydrates and significant levels of polysaccharides, vital components of your immune system's arsenal, are found in mushrooms. (1)

Since mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants, they can aid in scavenging dangerous free radicals that can injure your cells, inflame your body, and spread infection. (1)

2. Promoting heart health

Statin-like substances are found in medicinal mushrooms, particularly shiitake. These substances are among the most prescribed medications for reducing blood cholesterol levels. (2)

The "bad" or LDL cholesterol in your body is primarily targeted by medicinal mushrooms, raising your "good" or HDL cholesterol levels. They also lessen inflammation, which is a significant factor in the hardening of the arteries. The phytonutrients found in mushrooms prevent blood vessel plaque from developing by preventing blood vessel wall cells from adhering to them (referred to medically as atherosclerosis.) (3)

Major risk factors for heart attacks, strokes, and other types of heart disease include LDL cholesterol, plaques, and artery hardening.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT stop using medication or any treatment protocol that your healthcare practitioner may have you following.

3. Improving energy levels

By enhancing your physical fitness, medicinal mushrooms may help you run farther and work out harder. Additionally, they may aid in lessening your overall daytime weariness. 

Compounds found in mushrooms are believed to improve blood cell transport capacity and boost muscular energy generation. They may also aid in accelerating the removal of the toxins from your body and lessen the build-up of lactic acid, a waste product of exercise, in your muscles. 

These benefits work together which may enable athletes to train more efficiently and for extended periods. Additionally, they may help speed up post-workout recovery.

4. Help with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Athletes are not the only people who can benefit from taking medicinal mushrooms. Ailments such as chronic fatigue affect people from all walks of life.

No matter how much sleep you get, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome if you continually feel exhausted and lethargic. Although there is no known medical cure for this condition, mushrooms have shown promise in reducing fatigue and enhancing the lives of CFS sufferers. (4)

5. Improving brain health

There is a possibility that medicinal mushrooms can benefit your brain health. Some studies have suggested they can help with memory, focus and cognitive functions.

Nerve growth factors are also produced as a result of medicinal mushrooms. Mushroom consumption must be constant for a few months before you can expect results because the effects on the mind are cumulative and progressive. (5)

6. Weight loss

Although mushrooms are low in calories and salt, they are a rich source of essential nutrients. Additionally, they are rich in fibre, which will keep you feeling full and lessen your desire to snack or eat more. 

7. Stress Relief

Many individuals assert that medicinal mushrooms, especially reishi, can be used to foster a sense of calmness, while there is still little to back this up, we do know they have long been used in traditional medicine to treat tension often brought on by stress.

The best medicinal mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms can aid in keeping your body healthy and can give your body the nutrients it needs to help keep the common cold and other minor ailments at bay. While eating a mushroom only diet isn’t going to cure you of anything or keep you permanently healthy, incorporating them into your diet and supplement regime can be extremely beneficial.

Knowing which mushroom to take can be the hardest part. Some of the top medicinal mushrooms available -

• Reishi Mushrooms
• Chaga mushrooms
• Turkey Tail mushrooms
• Maitake mushrooms
• Lion’s mane mushrooms
• Cordyceps mushrooms
• Shiitake mushrooms
• Oyster mushrooms

Medicinal Mushrooms Blends - 

• Teelixir Mushroom Immunity
• Botanika Blends Magikal Mushroom Mix 300g
• Whole Earth & Sea 7 Mushroom Super Blend
• Wanderlust Immune Mushroom
• Wanderlust Mushroom + Gut Relief
• Wanderlust Mushroom Multi
• Herbs of Gold Mushroom 5 Complex
• Raw Medicine Medicinal Mushrooms Shroom 4 Immune

Conclusion

We carry an array of products and supplements, which include medicinal mushrooms to make incorporating them into your life easier.

When choosing which type of medicinal mushrooms or any other supplements to take, it is very important that you seek advice from your healthcare professional that understands your condition / health history in order to best direct a treatment protocol specific to your needs / health condition.

References

1. Guggenheim, A. G., Wright, K. M., & Zwickey, H. L. (2014). Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 13(1), 32–44.
2. Krittanawong, C., Isath, A., Hahn, J., Wang, Z., Fogg, S. E., Bandyopadhyay, D., Jneid, H., Virani, S. S., & Tang, W. (2021). Mushroom Consumption and Cardiovascular Health: A Systematic Review. The American journal of medicine, 134(5), 637–642.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.10.035
3. Smiderle, F., Baggio, C., Borato, D., Santana-Filho, A., Sassaki, G., Iacomini, M., & Van Griensven, L. (2014). Anti-Inflammatory Properties of the Medicinal Mushroom Cordyceps militaris Might Be Related to Its Linear (1→3)-β-D-Glucan. Plos ONE, 9(10), e110266. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110266
4. Health Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms. (2022). Retrieved 16 August 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-reishi-mushrooms#1
5. Sabaratnam, V., Kah-Hui, W., Naidu, M., & David, P. (2013). Neuronal Health – Can Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms Help?. Journal Of Traditional And Complementary Medicine, 3(1), 62-68. doi: 10.4103/2225-4110.106549