Out of all the functional mushrooms, Lion’s Mane is probably the weirdest in appearance. Lion’s Mane is one of the top functional mushrooms available in the market and has quite a few health benefits that makes it as interesting as its name. If you’re new to functional mushrooms and want to know more about Lion’s Mane, keep reading.
What Is Lion’s Mane?
Contrary to popular belief, the Lion’s Mane mushroom doesn’t have anything to do with lions. Now, with that out of the way, Lion’s Mane is a fleshy white fungus that can be found on dying or dead wood. The above-ground portion of this mushroom resembles many icicle-link spines that seem to be suspended to a cushion of tissue or a supporting network. The size of the Lion’s Mane mushroom ranges from two-and-a-half inches and can reach seven inches across. The Latin name of Lion’s Mane is hericium, which means hedgehog. Seeing the resemblance, it’s easy to see why people call it that.
For centuries, the mushroom has been used for both medicinal and culinary purposes in parts of Asia. Today, health food stores usually sell Lion’s Mane extract, which is found in supplement form.
The Benefits
What makes Lion’s Mane special isn’t only its appearance, but also the many benefits that have been associated with it. The following are just some of the benefits of using Lion’s Mane.
Immune Health
According to studies, Lion’s Mane contains a type of carbohydrate that’s known as polysaccharides. The mushroom also contains beta-glucans, both of which have been proven to help support the immune system and encourages healthy cell growth. Fungal polysaccharides are found in cell walls and are also present in cultured and fruiting bodies of mycelia. Lion’s Mane also contains glucan-protein and alpha-glucans complexes, which have also proven to be healthy for the immune system.
Focus And Clarity
There have also been numerous other studies that have indicated the possible benefits of using Lion’s Mane to increase focus and mental clarity. This makes Lion’s Mane a great choice for those who are experiencing mild cognitive impairment, while continued use could help increase long-term memory and help improve focus. In a separate study, using Lion’s Mane also brought about positive results for the treatment of dementia.
Anti-Inflammation Properties
The antioxidants that are present in large quantities in Lion’s Mane are also beneficial for helping fight inflammation in the body. Since inflammation is associated with various medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, using Lion’s Mane could help reduce the risk of inflammation that can result in serious medical conditions.
While further research is currently being carried out on Lion’s Mane, it will be interesting to discover the many other health benefits of this unique functional mushroom.