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If you want to jump on the mushroom-as-medicine trend, consider talking to your doctor or integrative registered dietitian about lion’s mane. This large, white, shaggy fungus has been a part of East Asian medicinal culture for centuries, historically used as food and medicine for a variety of health conditions.
“The beneficial compounds are found in the fruiting bodies (the part that contains the spores) and the mycelium (the root-like structure) of the lion’s fruit,” he said. Monique Richard, RDNIntegrative Nutritionist and Spokesperson in Johnson City, Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Fruit bodies and mycelium contain many active substances. Namely polysaccharides, erinacin, heryserin, steroids, alkaloids and lactones. Lindsay Delk, RDN, a dietitian-nutritionist in Houston who specializes in the relationship between food and mental health. These nutrients may explain many of the health and wellness benefits of lion’s mane, ranging from heart health to immune support.
However, it’s important to note: Despite the growing interest in lion’s mane for various health conditions, unfortunately, human research is very limited. Here are some studies that may interest you and that demonstrate Schrum’s theory, mostly done in the lab. More studies in humans are needed to confirm these potential human-health benefits, so keep that in mind.
Theoretical health benefits of lion’s mane mushroom according to laboratory research
1. Improving brain function
Two compounds in lion’s mane mushrooms, hericinones and erinacin, have been shown in laboratory studies to stimulate brain cell growth. Past research. In theory, this could have a beneficial effect on people with brain disorders.
Past research studied the effects of lion’s mane supplementation on brain function in a group of middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Mayo Clinic MCI describes the stage between normal cognitive decline and severe dementia associated with aging. The study found that adults who took four 250-milligram (mg) tablets three times a day for 16 weeks showed significant improvements in cognitive function compared to those who did not. However, these benefits did not persist after people stopped taking the supplement.
More recently Study, published June 2020 Frontiers in Geriatric NeuroscienceTaking three 350-milligram capsules of licorice per day for 49 weeks helped produce significant improvements in brain health in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease.
Still more research is needed.
2. Support digestive health
Lion’s mane properties have been shown to support the digestive tract. Especially the lion’s mane helps to prevent An ulcer By stopping growth Helicobacter pyloriRichard is a bacterium that can have a negative effect on the intestinal lining.
Authors of A study published in 2019 by International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms He gave a lion’s mane to a group of mice H. pylori. Those who were captured by the lions had a low level H. pylori From mice that do not accept in their stomachs.
Test-tube A study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology It also inhibits the growth of the lion’s mane, he said. H. pylori.
While these results seem promising, human research is needed to confirm this benefit.
Lion’s mane can protect the intestines from inflammation and other inflammatory diseases. Ulcerative colitis And Crohn’s disease, Richard says.
A study in patients with ulcerative colitis; Published in March 2016 PLoS OnePeople who took a supplement containing 14 percent of the lion’s share extract reported improved symptoms and quality of life after three weeks.
Inside, he said A study published in July 2016 PLoS OneThe authors repeated this study with Crohn’s patients, and both the treatment and the placebo group saw similar improvements.
3. Avoid depression and anxiety
According to Delk, the lion’s mane reduces inflammation, which can help with relief. Depression and anxiety.
She calls one. study, published in 2019 Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicineOverweight and obese patients with mood disorders were given lion’s mane supplementation for eight weeks. These patients are not only depressed Anxiety symptomsBut they also reported improvements in sleep quality. Blood samples showed an increase in pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF), which plays an important role in mood and brain health.
as if Past researchWomen with nonspecific health complaints and illnesses were given four cookies containing 0.5 grams of powdered lion’s mane per day for four weeks. At the end of the study, people who received the Lion’s Mane cookies reported feeling less irritable and anxious than women who received the placebo cookies.
One limitation of this study is that it included only 30 women. Larger studies are needed to see how these findings help with anxiety and how lion’s mane compares or combines with mainstream anxiety treatments such as meditation and talk therapy.
4. Increase immune health
Animal studies have shown that lion’s mane strengthens the immune system and helps fight off bacteria, viruses and other harmful substances.
A Past research Daily supplements of lion’s mane prolong the lifespan of mice injected with high doses. Salmonella 4 times more bacteria than mice that didn’t get the supplement.
A A study published in February 2017 Food and activity Lion’s mane mushrooms have been found to boost immune system activity in mice. The intestinal immune system works to protect the body from harmful substances that enter the intestines through the mouth or nose.
According to authors A A study published in June 2017 Frontiers in Immunology Explained, these effects may be due in part to beneficial changes in gut bacteria that stimulate the immune system.
However, most of the research so far has been done in animals; We hope that human studies will shed light on how the lion’s herd can improve the immune system.
5. Prevention of cancer
Lion’s mane contains various compounds that help fight cancer.
As a Research published in August 2020 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, The polysaccharide HEFP-2b, a compound in lion’s mane, slowed the growth rate. Colon cancer Cells in a test tube.
Another test tube Study, published in May 2020 Journal of Food and FunctionThe peptides found in lion’s mane have shown to help. Treatment of lung cancer. Researchers have found that these peptides have the ability to scavenge free radicals (harmful substances linked to cancer) and trigger the death of cancerous lung cells.
But while these findings are promising, the anti-cancer effects of lion’s mane have only been studied in test tubes and animals. A human study is needed.
6. Control of diabetes
Lion’s mane may improve blood sugar control and symptoms such as neuropathy, making it a useful tool for diabetes treatment.
For example, a test-tube Research published in November 2020 Journal of Ethnopharmacology He found that several compounds in lion’s mane inhibited alpha-glucosidase activity. In this way, lion’s mane may act similarly to the alpha glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) used to control type 2 diabetes. AGIs block the absorption of carbohydrates from the small intestine, which helps lower blood sugar levels after a meal. According to the article published in July 2022 StatPearls.
Moreover, a study in Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine Feeding diabetic rats 40 mg/kg of lion’s mane significantly increased their pain levels after six weeks of treatment. This suggests that lion’s mane can provide pain relief for diabetic patients. NeuropathyA type of diabetic nerve damage that causes pain and numbness in the feet and legs.
However, people with diabetes who are taking medication to control blood sugar levels should approach lion manuya with caution. A pack of lions can meet. Diabetes treatmentsAccording to Richard, it caused blood sugar levels to drop significantly.
In addition, most diabetes research so far has been done in animals and test tubes – further studies in humans may show whether lion’s mane can help with diabetes.
7. Reduce the risk of heart disease
The study suggests that lion populations may decline. Risk of heart diseaseMainly through its effect on cholesterol.
For example, a test-tube A study published in Biomed Research International Lion’s mane extract helps prevent cholesterol oxidation in the blood, which is beneficial for overall heart health.
Meanwhile, Previous research Cholesterol-lowering effects of lion’s mane have been evaluated. Researchers fed the lion’s mane once a day to obese mice for two weeks. At the end of the study, these mice had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol), and triglycerides (a type of fat found in the blood) in mice that were not given lion’s mane.
Despite these findings, Michelle Rutenstein, RDN, a preventive cardiology nutritionist and certified diabetes specialist and educator at Fully balanced New York City does not recommend using lion’s mane to prevent or treat heart disease. “It is not supported by human studies and its safety and side effects have not been studied,” she explained.
There are safer and more effective ways. Prevention of heart disease With your diet, under the care of your primary care physician, adds Rutenstein.
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