Research suggests mushrooms are super great for you and your immune system.
Benefits:
Mushrooms can have immune-modulating effects, which means they fight to keep the immune system in balance.
Mushrooms are stimulating when needed and can be downregulated when required.
Mushrooms also have potent active compounds called polysaccharides, which are beta-glucans. They have been found to increase antibody production, fight inflammation, and balance the immune system.
It is said,“Beta-glucans attach themselves to the receptor sites on the immune cells and activate them, allowing them to recognize cancer cells as ‘foreign’ and create a higher level of response.” Robert Rogers in The Fungal Pharmacy.
Chaga, reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, maitake, lion’s mane, and cordyceps all have immune-balancing effects and antioxidants.
Best mushrooms for immunity
Chaga - Reishi - Lion's mane - Turkey tail
Combining mushrooms can have the “Entourage Effect,” taking multiple mushrooms together to have more effect.
You can take them daily.
Ways to incorporate them in your life.
You can take them in caps, powder, tinctures.
Try cooking with shiitake and maitake when a recipe calls for mushrooms.
You can also add powders or tinctures to salad dressings.
Try mushroom coffee…Mud Water mushroom coffee is delicious.
You get more benefits from cooked mushrooms; cooking breaks the cell wall, and you can obtain more nutrients and makes them easier to digest.
Recipes
Here is a mushroom bacon recipe.
Wicked Kitchen has a ton of fantastic mushroom recipes.
Mushrooms are hard to digest on their own. They have a tough cell wall called chitin, similar to shellfish, which locks in nutrients. Thus, the wall needs to be broken to get to the goods. Heating them in cooking can also help break down this wall, making nutrients more available and helping with digestion.
Powder extraction can also break up the chitin, giving you fiber.
Types of Mushrooms
Reshi
Great for immunity, they strengthen white blood cells, studies have been shown to increase the number of natural killer cells, which can play a role in rejecting tumors.
Other benefits might be : Reduced stress, lower fatigue, improved sleep, and enhanced energy.
Lion’s Mane
It may increase intestinal activity and encourage the growth of good gut bacteria, which can help the immune system.
It might also help: mood, clarity, memory, and increased focus.
Turkey tail
China and Japan have used turkey tails in conjunction with traditional cancer medicine for over 30 years.
It also helps: digestion, promotes good gut bacteria, reduces inflammation, and improves vitality and longevity.
Maitake
It has been shown to suppress tumor growth possibly.
Other possible benefits are lowering cholesterol, lowering blood sugar, and promoting heart health.
Chaga
It is full of antioxidants; these help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.
Possible benefits: Relieve stress, promote glowing skin, and slow aging.
Cordyceps
These are not technically mushrooms. They are entomopathogenic fungi in nature, and they grow as parasites on insects. Studies have shown cordyceps can help the body react when challenged with germs, infection, or disease. They are also a good source of clean energy.
Other benefits might be: boost athletic performance, increased libido, improved oxygen availability in the blood, and increased endurance and stamina.
Mushrooms do not work for everyone or under certain conditions; always check with a medical expert before trying.
Morning: Lion’s mane - Rhodiola is good
Evening: Reshi is excellent for chilling
Daily: Chaga
Here is a link to our mushroom supplement round-up.
Things to look out for when purchasing:
Know what part of the mushroom they use.
Mushrooms have a mycelium root system, mushroom body, and spores mushroom seeds. You want the body of a mushroom to have the most available nutrients.
Consider looking for duel extraction; this process helps get all the goodness out of the mushrooms.
Mushrooms can take in a lot from their environment, so you must find them from good sources. It helps if you can find ones that are 3rd party tested for various things such as mold, yeast, and heavy metals. If you can find testing where they hold till results are in, then releasing the product is the best.
Disclaimer: This content is only intended for educational purposes. It is not intended as medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment. We do not take any responsibility of people taking or using any of this content. Always consult dr before trying anything new or for medical issues.
