When we talk about mushroom supplements benefits, It is better to talk about their history. Mushroom supplements are used in Eastern medicines, especially in China and Japan. Many years ago these countries used mushrooms as well as various herbal products as their food and medicines.
These habits help them to maintain their good health. Nowadays Western countries are also looking for herbals to maintain good health and as medicines also. Natural mushroom extracts are used for Mushroom supplements. Due to the simplicity and straightforward of the mushrooms. A lot of people are tempted to use mushroom supplements to fulfill their nutrient requirements.
Mushroom supplements can show as a nutritional powerhouse because mushrooms consist of high calorie and sodium levels, are rich in protein, minerals, and fibers and also have bioactive compounds. Mushroom supplements are available as capsules, loose powder form or dried mushroom extract. These powder-form supplements can easily be used with tea, coffee, soup or any other foods.
Are mushroom supplements healthy?
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The mushrooms have many medicinal benefits like boosting the immune system, preventing cancers etc. Mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants which help you to balance free radicals in your body and protect your body.
Most mushroom supplements are produced in high quality and therefore those types of products are safe to consume. Some mushroom varieties can cause allergic reactions or liver damage. And sometimes you should not exceed the recommended dosage of these mushroom supplements. By the way, the benefits of mushroom supplements are overweight the risk factors.
Mushroom supplements benefits
Shiitake Mushroom supplements benefits
Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) are light chocolate brown colored, earthy flavored meaty taste mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms have a large cap, a cream-colored underside. Shiitake mushrooms contain Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Phosphorus, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Vitamin D, Folate, Riboflavin, Selenium. Shiitake mushrooms can improve your bones and blood vessels healthily, because of their high level of copper.
This mushroom has high amounts of lentinens and beta-glucans and therefore it can boost the immune system. The anti-inflammatory action is also a benefit of Shiitake mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms can reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood. The beta-glucans in Shiitake mushrooms help to reduce or prevent absorption of cholesterol in the intestine and inflammation conditions.
Turkey tail mushroom supplements benefits
Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor). This is one of the main mushrooms which are used for traditional medicines and mushroom supplements worldwide. Turkey tail mushrooms have a leathery texture and a slightly hairy appearance on the cap with a brown, gray or orange color. The underside is white in color. Turkey tail mushrooms have lots of benefits such as:
Antioxidant properties:
Some phenols and flavonoids which are included in these mushrooms make them rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants can reduce the free radical levels in your body therefore it can reduce oxidative stress and lower the risk of cancers.
Boosting the Immune system:
The chemical compound named Polysaccharopeptide acts as suppressing of inflammation conditions and activating immune cells. This function boosts the immune system. To enhance the immune-boosting activity, you can make a combination of Turkey tail mushrooms and immune-boosting multivitamins.
Maintain a healthy gut:
Not only for immune boosting but Polysaccharopeptide in Turkey tail mushrooms contribute to maintaining a healthy gut by increasing the beneficial bacterial species in the gut.
Reducing the risk of heart problems:
Turkey tail mushrooms contribute to reducing heart problems. Most heart problems occur due to high cholesterol levels in the blood. Turkey tail mushrooms are very useful for athletes and for their performances due to boosting the energy activity of turkey tails.
Chaga mushroom supplements benefits
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus ) is an orange-colored mushroom that has a soft core and grows in cold climate conditions. This mushroom was used in traditional medicine many years ago in some countries like Russia and Northern Europe. Chaga mushroom tastes bitter. This mushroom has low calories but is rich in antioxidants and a lot of fiber content. When Chaga mushrooms as supplements, powder form or capsule supplements are mainly used.
Chaga mushrooms are used as treatments for heart diseases, cancers and diabetes in traditional medicine.
This mushroom has lots of benefits such as,
- Using as an inflammation reducer
- Using as an agent that fights against cancers
- Using as a blood sugar reducer
- Using as a cholesterol reducer
Chaga mushroom consists of antioxidants and these antioxidants help to fight against inflammations that especially occur in the gut. These antioxidants contribute to fighting against cancers by reducing the free radicals in the body. Chaga mushroom acts a special role in reducing the blood glucose level in type 2 diabetes and lowering cholesterol levels.
When considering LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterols are called “bad cholesterol” and HDL cholesterols are called “good cholesterol”. Because LDL cholesterol increases the risk of heart problems and HDL cholesterol minimizes that risk. Chaga mushrooms increase the HDL cholesterol level and reduce the risk of heart problems.
Lion’s mane mushroom supplements benefits
Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) got their name due to their appearance. The cap looks similar to a lion’s mane. These mushrooms can be observed on dead hardwood tree trunks. Lion’s mane mushrooms are distributed to Asian countries such as India, Korea, Japan, and China. Lion’s mane mushrooms are used in traditional medicine for many years to nowadays due to their large number of benefits.
Unlike Shiitake, Turkey tail or Chaga mushroom, Lion”s mane mushrooms can be consumed raw, dried, and cooked. Lion’s mane mushrooms are mainly good for the Heart, Brain and Gut. The conditions that Lion”s mane mushrooms can treat are Dementia, Cancers, Anxiety, Depression, Diabetes, Heart diseases, Inflammation and oxidative stress,
Dementia is a brain-related disease that disturbs cognitive functioning in the brain. This disease gets worse when aging. The two chemical compounds called hericenones and erinacines can stimulate the growth of brain functions and Lion’s mane mushrooms consist of those two compounds. Some compounds contained in Lion’s mane mushroom, function to slow the growth rate of cancer. The Lion’s mane mushroom extract is mainly used for these treatments.
The Lion’s mane mushroom extract has anti-inflammatory compounds and this can help to control anxiety and depression conditions. The enzyme called Alpha-glucosidase can break the carbohydrates in the small intestine during digestion. When the carbohydrates absorb blood as glucose the blood glucose level increases. Lion’s mane mushrooms have the ability to block this enzyme and the result is reducing the blood glucose levels.
The Lion’s mane mushrooms are responsible for improving fat metabolism and this causes the lowering of triglycerides in the blood. Low levels of triglycerides are good for a healthy heart. The person who is using Lion’s mane can reduce his obesity and it also helps to prevent Heart diseases.
When the oxidation of cholesterol is increasing the risk of heart disease also increases. Because the oxidized cholesterol is attached to the arterial walls and that causes Heart attacks and strokes. Lion’s mane mushrooms reduce oxidation and reduce the risk of Heart attacks and strokes. Not by reducing oxidation but this mushroom also reduces the blood clotting rate by hericenone B which include in Lion’s mane mushroom. This function helps to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes too.
Lion’s mane mushroom consists of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. This fact leads to reduced cancers, heart disease and autoimmune disorders by reducing oxidation and oxidative stress. Like other mushrooms mentioned above, Lion’s mane also has an immune-boosting ability. A strong immunity can prevent infections easily. Extract of lion’s mane mushroom can inhibit the growth of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which are responsible for stomach ulcers as well as Gastritis.
Lion’s mane mushroom can repair nerve cells too. This causes the speedy recovery of injured nerves.
Maitake mushroom supplements benefits
Maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) grows in the wild as well as at home. These mushrooms can be observed mainly in China, Japan and Northern America. Maitake is a spoon or curled shaped Grayish- brown mushrooms. This mushroom is used in Japan and has had multiple benefits for many years.
Maitakes are low-calorie, low-sodium mushrooms and also free of fat and cholesterol. These mushrooms are rich in Copper, Potassium, Amino acids, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and minerals. Not with those, Maitakes are also rich with antioxidants, beta-glucans and fibers which help to keep a healthy body. More research is needed on medicinal mushrooms because the number of research is few and lots of research done using mice.
Can you use mushroom supplements for weight loss?
In ancient medicine, medicinal mushrooms were used for weight loss purposes. Therefore nowadays scientists are doing research about weight loss using mushrooms. Anxiety and depression lead you to obesity by enhancing bad eating habits. Some mushrooms like Lion’s mane mushroom, consist of compounds such as erinacine A and amycenone, which have antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties.
When consuming this type of mushroom, it can reduce anxiety and depression, therefore can lose weight. Medicinal mushrooms can boost energy in your body. This property of mushrooms is used in preventing fatigue. Medicinal mushrooms can inhibit some enzymes which are related to increased blood glucose levels. These mushrooms reduce blood glucose levels especially in diabetes patients as well as in normal people too.
Lion’s mane mushroom and Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are one of the major mushrooms responsible for blood glucose reduction. Some compounds such as beta-glucan, and fiber helps to feel your stomach full and it can reduce your appetite. Not the above reasons but the mushrooms are rich with proteins and proteins also reduce your hunger. These factors support weight loss.
What are the side effects of mushroom supplements?
Allergies or hypersensitivity reactions are the most common side effects not only for medicinal mushrooms but for all types of mushrooms. When a mushroom is rich with anti-allergic compounds can reduce or prevent this allergy condition such Maitake mushroom. The common side effects of mushroom supplements are dizziness, Itching, Skin dermatitis, Dry mouth, Nausea, Rashes, Stomach upset, nosebleeds and bloody stools.
When considering medicinal interference with mushrooms, anticoagulant, antiplatelet and antihypertensive can interfere in a dangerous way. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, it’s better to get advice from a doctor before taking mushroom supplements.
How long does it take for mushroom supplements to work?
When taking medicinal mushrooms, it needs time to adjust to the body. Normally the time needed for that process is at least two weeks to six months. Some studies say that the mushrooms which are responsible for stress release, work in the body after an hour of consumption. Lion’s mane mushroom’s function of reducing anxiety and depression is an example.
Conclusion
Mushroom supplements have a great history as a valuable medicine for several medical conditions like Immune boosting, Cancer treatment, Depression reducer, reducing cholesterol, energy boosting etc. Mushroom supplements are similar to nutritional powerhouses because mushrooms consist of high calorie and sodium levels, are rich in protein, minerals, and fibers and also have bioactive compounds.
Reishi mushrooms, Lion’s mane mushrooms, Shiitake mushrooms, Chaga mushrooms and Turkey tail mushrooms are some of the most famous mushrooms. These mushrooms are used to make mushroom supplements and the powder form or extract form is used commonly.
These mushroom supplements are healthy. But there are also some side effects such as dizziness, Itching, Skin dermatitis, Dry mouth, Nausea and allergy reactions. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, these mushrooms should be avoided or should be asked by a doctor before consumption. The persons who are taking some medicines also get advice from a doctor before consuming the mushroom supplements.
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