Superfoods is one familiar term that people looking for maximum nutritional benefits know and understand. Of the top foods that are rich in nutrients, the lion’s mane mushroom features prominently. You can learn all about the macrofungi, also scientifically called Hericium Erinaceus, and buy it on lionsmanemushroom.com.au.
Other names, such as bearded tooth fungus, Yamabushitake in Japanese, or pom pom mushroom, describe its unique texture. But is this “smart mushroom” really worth the hype? Read on.
What Qualities Give the Lion’s Mane the Superfood Status?
The lion’s mane has been in use worldwide for ages. Cultures like Chinese, Korean, Japanese, European, and Latin American have included it as part of their cuisine due to its many medicinal uses.
It is only recently that health-conscious individuals have embraced its full benefits. Including the powerful functional mushroom in your life will supercharge your body and organs. If you struggle with focus issues, it enhances your cognitive abilities, creativity, alertness and prevents brain fog.
The lion’s mane mushroom is truly the superfood you need because:
Versatile Functions
People from ancient days have used lion’s mane mushrooms in cooking tasty dishes. Its taste is comparable to seafood like lobsters or crabs, especially when cooked fresh and sautéed. You can add its extract to tea, coffee, juice, water, or smoothies.
But more than a culinary delight, the lion’s mane is full of nutrients. It has complex carbohydrates, essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals, besides bioactive compounds. All these substances support body functions like immunity, gut health, cell growth, etc.
Accessible Forms
You can get the bite-sized goodness in the form of extract in capsules, supplement powder, and liquid. You can use them on the go, even when lion’s mane mushrooms are not available.
Use the products as directed, with recommended dosage at the correct times. For instance, you can improve your sleep quality if you take it at night. Mix it in juices or brew your coffee in the morning for boosted energy.
Nootropics
Natural bioactive compounds like erinacines and hericenones are present in high levels in lion’s mane mushrooms. The mycelium, or the motherboard of the mushroom, has erinacines, and the fruiting body contains hericenones.
These nootropics or brain-boosting substances protect the nervous system and stimulate the synthesis of the NGF (nerve growth factor). These necessary factors generate new neural pathways after an injury or illness, promoting cell repair, growth, and functioning.
Antioxidant Properties
Your body produces free radicals, which increase oxidative stress and inflammation. The lion’s mane mushroom’s neuroprotective benefits work towards reversing this tissue damage.
Antioxidants in the lion’s mane neutralize free radicals and promote healing. A study conducted in Japan involved stress-ridden menopausal women who were given lion’s mane cookies. The results showed that the subjects exhibited elevated moods.
Enhanced Immunity
Similar to most mushroom species, the lion’s mane also contains diverse phytochemicals. Prebiotic fibres, fungal polysaccharides, and digestive enzymes help in getting rid of toxins in the body.
They promote healthy flora necessary for proper gut functioning. They also support appropriate immune defence responses and enhance overall digestive health. Studies also indicate protection against cold, flu, and similar respiratory illnesses.
Future Potential
Here is what you can gather from the research conducted until now:
- In animal tissue cultures, the lion’s mane strengthened myelin production. It is the protective coating around nerve cells.
- In rats with brain injury, erinacines from the lion’s mane extracts taken from mycelium showed a healing effect.
- Lion’s mane mushroom extracts combatted memory deficits and enhanced protection in affected mice.
- Another study involving rats showing peripheral nerve injuries proved successful in regenerating nerve tissue completely.
Hence, you can conclude that the lion’s mane promotes cognitive function. It can relax and calm your nerves, improving sleep patterns and decreasing stress and anxiety.
Although studies on human subjects are still going on, there is a lot of scope for future medical applications. So, if you wish to improve your overall health and wellness, you must consider incorporating the lion’s mane into your diet.
