Health Benefits

To many people mushrooms are mysterious and simply misunderstood.  As a result of this ignorance towards mushrooms many fail to receive the fountain of nutrients and benefits mushrooms long to provide.  Mushrooms are generally high in fiber, a great source of vitamins, low in carbohydrates, low in sodium and many are a great source of proteins.    

Lion's Mane Mushroom

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) has been observed as a medicinal mushroom in Japan and China for thousands of years. This mushroom is most widely known for its nootropic (substance or compound that improves cognitive function) properties and has been noted to increase mRNA expression of nerve-growth factor (NGF) which is important in the regulation of growth, maintenance, proliferation and survival of target neurons. Lion’s mane appears to promote neural prolongation and formation of myelin, which forms the insulative sheath around neurons enabling them to increase the speed that impulses are conducted. It has been shown to significantly improve cognition in people suffering from cognitive decline (from injury or aging) while also lowering anxiety and depressive symptoms. Hericenone B, a compound produced by the mushroom, appears to be a potent inhibitor of collagen-induced platelet aggregation meaning it could help prevent certain types of blood clots. Lion’s mane extracts have also been found to increase expression of fat metabolizing genes and reduce triglycerides (main constituents of body fat) without altering cholesterol levels. There are also numerous polysaccharides in the fruiting body that help modulate immune response, repair damage done by ulcers and prevent the metastasis of gastrointestinal cancers.

Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitakes (Lentinula edodes) have been used as medicinal mushrooms for thousands of years in Asia. They are known for having potent immune stimulating, antioxidant, and anticancer properties as well as being incredibly nutritious. Shiitake mushrooms contain a high amount of bioavailable iron, selenium, copper, zinc, magnesium, choline, vitamin B complex and vitamin D just to name a few. They also have unique immune system support properties being able to promote and prevent excessive immune stimulation, helping the body maintain a healthy amount of immune activity. This immune boost comes from a variety of glucan, fucoidan and galactomannin polysaccharides (large carbon molecules composed of long chains of sugars) that stimulate and regulate the immune system. There is even some evidence that these polysaccharides can lower total blood cholesterol levels. Several cardiovascular benefits have also been documented. A compound found in shiitakes called d-eritadenine has been repeatedly shown to reduce total cholesterol levels while ergothioneine, a naturally occurring amino acid, has been shown to be a potent antioxidant that also participates in metal ion transport in the body. Lastly, there are numerous publications on the effects of shiitakes in the prevention and treatment of prostate, colon and breast cancer. Though the polysaccharides were thought the be the key components of these benefits, scientists are now beginning to believe that there are over a hundred of these “mycochemicals” working along with your immune system to help eliminate malignant cells from the body.

Blue Oyster Mushroom

Blue oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus columbinus) are a blue variant of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) and have numerous scientifically proven health benefits ranging from immune modulating to anticancer properties. These mushrooms are a great source of dietary fiber, carbohydrates, proteins, and essential fatty acids. The fruiting bodies are rich in the B vitamins thamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantotene acid, and folic acid as well as vitamin C and vitamin D. The minerals potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper and selenium are found in abundance in this mushroom, too. Scientific evaluation of oyster mushrooms have identified over 100 different bioactive compounds including lectins, polysaccharides, polysaccharide-peptides, and polysaccharide-proteins which help maintain and promote a healthy immune system as well as contribute to the antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antihypercholestrolemic properties of this fungi.