Mushroom supplements have been all the rage for the past few years. The use of medicinal mushrooms dates back to old Chinese medical practices and thousands of years of Tibetan medicine. Despite the fact that mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for a very long time, their use in the West has become popular relatively recently. Mashroom chocolate bar is getting more and more popular day by day.
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Mushrooms are one of the staples of a healthy diet
Mushrooms commonly found in grocery stores, such as portobello, shiitake, champignon, and porcini, all belong to the same category. Technically, they are mushrooms, but in cooking, mushrooms are considered vegetables. Eating mushrooms is an excellent source of fiber , vitamins and minerals. One of the most significant nutritional benefits of mushrooms is the amount of antioxidants and soluble beta-glucan fiber , which studies have shown to improve heart health.
What are the benefits of mushroom supplements?
Mushrooms used in cooking are grown and produced in the same way as mushrooms used in supplements. The difference between the two is that the mushrooms that are used in supplements are considered healthier. Due to their properties, they are considered a functional product, which means that they are useful not only for nutrition. Mushrooms have over 100 medicinal properties.
The main benefit of mushroom supplements is their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as cardiovascular protection. The health benefits of mushrooms are not well understood and more research is needed. However, we know that eating mushrooms is safe and not harmful to overall health.
Another term from the field of mushroom products is adaptogens . Adaptogens are herbs and mushrooms that help counteract the stress your body is under. The pituitary and adrenal glands are involved in the stress response, and adaptogens can help regulate a stable balance in the body. Adaptogens are another functional benefit of mushroom supplements.
Five types of mushrooms and their health benefits
Mushroom supplements are made by drying raw mushrooms and extracting them with hot water. After that, they turn into a fine powder. This is how we see them on store shelves. When purchasing mushroom supplements, it is important to know that in the US they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and should only be purchased from reputable sources.
In the preparation of supplements, various mushrooms can be used, depending on their medicinal properties. The most commonly used mushrooms in supplements are reishi , Lion’s mane , chaga , cordyceps , and tinder fungus . There are many more varieties of mushrooms, but these are the ones most commonly found in supplements. Due to the large number of varieties available, it can be difficult to understand which ones have beneficial properties for the body and in what situations to use them.
reishi mushrooms
In science , reishi mushrooms are known as Ganoderma lucidum and may also be referred to as lingzhi. In Chinese, the word “lingzhi” symbolizes divine power and longevity, so this mushroom is believed to be associated with longevity. Reishi mushrooms have a bitter taste and are firm in texture. Reishi grows on deciduous trees.
Reishi mushrooms are most commonly used to boost the immune system and possibly help fight free radicals in the body. Reishi beta-glucans are believed to stimulate the immune system. What makes this mushroom unique is its calming properties due to the presence of triterpene, which can improve mood, reduce feelings of anxiety, alleviate depression, and even improve sleep.
Human research on reishi is limited, but is nonetheless ongoing to determine the potential benefits of these mushrooms.
Hericiumerinaceus
Lion ‘s mane has a funny appearance. These are large porcini mushrooms with many long white ropes resembling a lion’s mane. They are usually grown on dead and rotting hardwood or at home on a substrate.
Like most mushrooms, Lion’s mane is also high in antioxidants that are good for cell health. Mental clarity and concentration is another beneficial property of these mushrooms for the body. Studies have shown that Hericiumerinaceus contains compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells. This property can not only improve memory, but also help fight emotional reactions, such as anxiety and depression.
