With all the buzz surrounding it, you may be trying to figure out what lion’s mane mushrooms are and why everyone is so excited about them. People are claiming all sorts of health benefits from Lion’s mane mushrooms, and the market is exploding with lion’s mane mushroom supplements. Before you jump on the band wagon, take a few minutes to learn what lion’s mane mushrooms are and some of their health benefits.
What are Lion’s Mane Mushrooms?
Lion’s mane mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus) are edible mushrooms that grow most broadly in East Asian countries. This distinctive mushroom gets its name from its shaggy, white appearance. It has a series of long, white spines that grow from the central stalk of the mushroom, giving it a mane-like appearance. Its name literally translated from Latin means hedgehog because as a young mushroom before its spines grow long, it resembles a headless, white hedgehog.
For centuries, lion’s mane mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicines. In ancient China and Japan, the lion’s mane mushroom was known as “mushroom of the gods” because of its known ability to strengthen the stomach, improve digestion, and clear the mind. Today, it has demonstrated a wide array of health benefits. These mushrooms are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, potassium, and zinc. Some of its compounds are unique to this mushroom and give it unusual health benefits. It is being used to fight inflammation, reduce anxiety and depression, lower dementia risks and treat many other conditions. More research needs to be done, but some of the benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms have been well documented.
Five Common Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
- Fighting inflammation and free radicals
- Fighting dementia and other brain diseases
- Reducing anxiety and depression
- Managing diabetes
- Protects against ulcers in the digestive tract
Mental Benefits
Many tests have been conducted on the mental health benefits of Hericium Erinaceus. Many experiments have concluded that the mushroom has a wide range of mental benefits which include treating anxiety and depression symptoms. An extensive study was conducted and found that those who consumed this particular mushroom had a lower risk of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and lowered overall stress levels.
Lion’s mane mushrooms are Nootropic, which means its contents aid cognitive health and brain function. They are known as cognitive enhancers and may improve mental performance speeds. This is why lion’s mane mushrooms have become a popular supplement for mental conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Physical Benefits
One of the biggest physical benefits of Lion’s Mane is helping to fortify and develop neurons in the brain. This mushroom contains specific polysaccharides that have the potential to treat, and prevent major diseases such as cancer, ulcers, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and much more.
This particular mushroom stimulates the growth of brain cells which can lead to a lower risk of developing dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that taking lion’s mane can reduce neuro-inflammation which is a major catalyst for neuro-diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Studies have also been conducted on the gut-microbiome, concluding that this mushroom has the potential to reduce ulcers in the digestive tract.
Many of these claims and suspected benefits are still being studied, therefore scientists and researchers aren’t making extremely concrete conclusions at this time. The expansive list of Lion’s Mane mushroom benefits is still a newer research topic; however, many studies are being done to further investigate its benefits. Scientists are suspicious that this mushroom could be antidiabetic, anti-microbial, anti-hyperglycemic, and much more.
While this mushroom may be newer to clinical studies, its benefits date back centuries. So even though it might not have extreme medical support, the test of time does not lie.
How to Consume
Lion’s Mane mushrooms come in many forms, but researchers say that fresh lion’s mane mushrooms have the greatest health benefits. Those who take it experience no side effects so if the benefits of this wacky mushroom intrigue you, give it a try!
There are many ways to prepare and consume this mushroom. It can be cooked and eaten however it can be difficult to locate and expensive to buy. That said, when it is cooked, this variety of mushroom is delicate, tender, juicy, and meaty. Some people say it tastes like seafood or crabmeat. Here are a couple recipes that could inspire you to try this delicious mushroom.
If cooked mushrooms aren’t for you, do not fret. Lion’s Mane mushrooms come in a variety of other forms such as…
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Powder
- Tinctures
Here is our list of the best lion’s mane supplements. Take a look and decide which version would work best for you and your needs. Don’t let the goofy look of this fungus deter you from the possibly fantastic benefits it could provide.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38289992/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10675414/
https://www.realmushrooms.com/lions-mane-mushroom-lookalikes/
A Comprehensive History of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms – lionsmanereview.com
Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder – PMC (nih.gov)
More Than a Mushroom: Benefits of Lion’s Mane – INM (naturemed.org)
Hypoglycemic potential of mushroom and their metabolites – ScienceDirect
Leave a Reply