One unusual type of mushroom is called the Lion's Mane mushroom because it resembles the mane of a lion, from which it gets its name. The strangeness of this fungus, however, is only skin deep. The spines on a lion's mane mushroom can be up to a centimeter long and hang down.

Hericium erinaceus is distinctive because its spines, like a lion's mane, extend away from the mushroom rather than outward from the branch. Although lion's mane has been used in traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese medicine for thousands of years, its popularity has increased in recent years, thanks partly to a different moniker.

The excellent brain-supporting capability of the lion's mane has earned it the nickname "smart mushroom" from people worldwide. Examining the benefits of the lion's mane mushroom might help you decide whether or not you need this super mushroom.

Benefits of Lion's Mane Mushroom

Battle The Disease Of Cancer

Many studies have found that chemicals in lion's mane mushrooms have anti-cancer effects. It has been shown that human cancer cells die more quickly when exposed to lion's mane extracts in a test tube. This effect has been shown to exist with specific cancer cell lines, including those of the liver, stomach, colon, and blood varieties.

Lion's mane extract has been demonstrated to destroy cancer cells and prevent the disease from spreading. According to one study, consuming lion's mane extract reduced cancer metastasis to the lungs by 69% in mice with colon cancer.

According to a separate study, the growth of tumors in mice was slowed by lion's mane extract, with fewer adverse effects than conventional cancer medicines. Human trials demonstrating lion's mane's cancer-fighting benefits are currently lacking.

Fitness Of The Mind

The available study on lion's mane mushrooms primarily involves testing their effects on animals, but there is some evidence that they may improve mental acuity. One study found that mice fed a supplement containing lion's mane had enhanced item identification and recognition recall.

Researchers have found that mushrooms may be useful in treating and preventing cognitive loss due to diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, studies on lion's mane mushrooms' effectiveness in treating Alzheimer's disease in humans are in short supply.

The results of 16-week research conducted in Japan on persons aged 50 to 80 with mild cognitive impairment who consumed mushroom extract daily contrasted favorably with a placebo group on a variety of measures of mental acuity. As expected, once individuals stopped taking the extract, these scores went back down.

Balancing The Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes

When the body's insulin production is impaired, diabetes develops. As a result, there is an increase in blood sugar. Kidney illness, nerve damage in the hands and feet, reduced vision, and so on are only some consequences that can result from consistently high blood sugar levels.

As it lowers high blood sugar, lion's wort is useful for managing diabetes and its consequences. In certain experiments with animals, it has been found that Blood sugar levels were reduced by consuming lion's mane mushrooms in rats (both healthy and diabetic rats). It is because it inhibits the digestive enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which plays a key role in the breakdown of carbohydrates in the intestine.

Blocking this enzyme results in less carbohydrate being digested and absorbed, decreasing blood sugar levels. Diabetes-related nerve discomfort in the hands and feet can be alleviated by taking lion's mane extract, which also helps control blood sugar levels.

Analgesia, blood sugar, and inflammatory markers improved in a rat model of diabetic nerve injury after receiving daily lion's mane extract injections for 6 weeks. But then, additional study is needed to see what kind of effects it has on humans.

Treatment Of Anxiety And Depression

One possible use for lion's mane mushroom extracts is treating mental health issues like stress and depression. In a study, mice given an extract from the lion's mane mushroom showed less sad behavior and had lower levels of chemicals in their blood that suggest depression.

They attribute this to the extract's anti-inflammatory properties. It is supported by the results of an animal study, which suggest that the active ingredients in mushroom extracts may effectively treat major depressive illness.

Women in Japan who complained of menopausal symptoms, insomnia, and other health issues were given cookies containing lion's mane extracts or placebo cookies for 4 weeks. Anxiety and anger levels were reported to be lower among those who consumed the extract than those who consumed a placebo.

Improve Your Immune System

Based on animal studies, the lion's mane appears to have the potential to boost the immune system, protecting against many pathogens. Previous research found that giving mice a daily intake of lion's mane extract nearly quadrupled their lifetime after they were injected with a fatal dose of salmonella bacteria.

After consuming lion's mane mushrooms, mice showed increased activity of their intestinal immune system. The intestinal immune system protects the body from dangerous substances transported to the gut via the mouth or nose.

Beneficial shifts in gut flora that stimulate the immune system may contribute to these outcomes. Most studies have been conducted on animals, but it is hoped that future studies on humans will reveal the potential benefits of lion's mane for the immune system.

Conclusion:

Although further study is needed, lion's mane mushrooms show promise as a functional food that may contribute to your health and well-being. When used in moderation, lion's mane mushrooms pose no risk to the average consumer.

However, those interested in taking lion's mane supplements should consult a medical professional first. Lion's mane mushrooms are a valuable addition to any dish that calls for mushrooms, and they provide several vitamins and minerals that you might not be getting otherwise.