With pollution and disease spreading all over the world, it is essential to boost our immune systems to fight these dangers. Changing lifestyle habits can strengthen your immune system while leading a healthy life.
We all know we should exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet to boost our immune system. Drinking water is also beneficial for various systems in your body. Another natural way to invigorate your immune system is by adding mushrooms to your diet.
There are a variety of supplements that are extracted from mushrooms and will improve our immune system. Read on to know more about the different mushrooms and their benefits.
Shiitake
Shiitake is one of the most popular types of mushrooms, especially in Asia. Thanks to its meaty and versatile flavor, it has been used as a food source for hundreds of years. Shiitake mushrooms boost the liver and cardiovascular system.
You can also get shiitake powder or extract and use it to reduce cholesterol levels and help the body’s response to inflammation. Shiitake mushroom supplements are a great addition to your diet for an overall boost to your immunity and weight management.
Chaga
This is a mushroom that is found on birch trees in the cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and it is more of a woody canker or conk than a mushroom. It is popular in Siberian and Russian medicine, where it is used as a tea to calm an upset stomach and enhance gut health.
Chaga is a black mushroom that contains wood fiber and not mycelium like other mushrooms. The outer black layer is full of melanin, which is excellent for skin health.
Chaga is beneficial for your inner and outer health as it lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL), has anti-inflammatory properties and makes your skin look healthy and young.
Reishi
Reishi, also known as “the mushroom of immortality,” has been used for almost 2000 years by Chinese royalty as the mushroom is supposed to promote longevity. It is believed that it supports long life, healthy aging, and aids in weight loss, and that’s where the nickname comes from.
Besides boosting the immune system, reishi mushroom extracts help in sleeping better, reducing stress, balancing blood sugar levels, and supporting lung and respiratory health. To identify good reishi mushroom supplements, the product should have a dark color and a bitter taste.
Turkey Tail
Looking like a turkey tail, this mushroom has brown and tan rings, and it is one of the most common mushrooms worldwide. It has been used for centuries in Japan and China to support digestion, vitality, and lung health, and to regulate body fluid.
While most mushrooms show anticancer properties thanks to their high amounts of antioxidants, Turkey Tail also contains polysaccharide-K (PSK) a compound that boosts the immune system. Turkey Tail has been approved in Japan as an anticancer prescription drug. You can add some Turkey Tail supplement to your smoothie or try Turkey Tail ale to boost your immunity.
Lion’s Mane
Lion’s Mane mushroom gets its name from its appearance, which looks like a lion’s mane. It is found in the trunks of hardwood trees in the Northern forests. This mushroom is popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine and among the indigenous people of the US, Australia, and Canada.
Lion’s Mane is full of beneficial compounds that have immuno-modulating and neuroprotective properties. It promotes nerve tissue growth, motor function, and cognitive functions. To have a healthy brain function and strong immunity, ingest mushroom supplements made from Lion’s Mane.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps mushroom looks like small caterpillars, and it is a parasitic fungus that preys on insects. It has been used as a potent tonic to boost energy, endurance, stamina, and appetite.
Cordyceps has different types, one of which is the most expensive mushroom in the world, costing $20,000 per kilo, Cordyceps Sinensis. This mushroom was found to have hormone regulatory properties and support healthy levels of inflammation and immune markers. This mushroom was found to have hormone regulatory properties and keep healthy levels of inflammation and immune markers.
If any mushroom supplement promotes using this type of Cordyceps, it is most probably not true. Look for products that use Cordyceps militaris, as it is readily available in the market.
Mushroom Supplement Types
There are various mushroom supplement products; each is different in the intake and ingredients. The main mushroom supplements are powders, capsules, drink mixes, and broths. The powders and capsules usually contain single mushroom species or a blend, while the drink mixes and broths have other ingredients along with a blend of mushrooms.
Drink mixes are suitable for people who enjoy morning coffee or tea, as they won’t forget to take their supplements. The powder supplement is excellent if you like to add supplements to your drinks and meals such as coffee, sauces, soups, and baked goods.
If you are always on the move, the capsules might be more convenient for your lifestyle. Drink mixes are suitable for people who enjoy morning coffee or tea, as they won’t forget to take their supplements.
Buying mushroom supplements is an easy task once you know what type you are looking for. Most products have the benefits on their label, but to be on the safe side, do your research first.
Exercising, sleeping well, drinking water, and having a balanced diet will improve your immune system, but these healthy mushrooms have visible effects after use for some time.
Author bio
Allen Brown is a keen writer covering topics such as health, travel, beauty and such. He enjoys spending time playing the drums in his past time.
