The lion’s mane mushroom (Hieracium erinaceous) is an edible fungus used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. This mushroom is packed with nutrients and has many potential health benefits, and if you want to learn more, here is a review of the benefits of Lion’s Mane by naturesrise.com. This blog post will take a closer look at the nutritional composition of the lion’s mane mushroom and discuss its possible uses. We will also provide tips on how to incorporate this delicious fungus into your diet. So, if you are interested in learning more about the benefits of the lion’s mane mushroom, keep reading.
Information About the Lion’s Mane Mushroom
If you have just heard about the Lion’s Mane mushroom, you probably have many questions about it. What is it? Where does it come from? What is the nutritional information? Those are all good questions.
The Lion’s Mane mushroom is a wild mushroom found on dying or dead hardwood trees, most commonly in Asia, Europe, and North America. In terms of what it looks like, the Lion’s Mane mushroom is naturally almost white; however, it turns to a rusty brown or tan color when dried. The taste of the mushroom has been compared to that of crab or lobster meat and is mildly sweet. More importantly, the nutritional value of the mushroom per 100 grams is as follows:
- Calories: 35
- Carbs: 7 grams
- Protein: 2.4 grams
Relief from Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
One benefit of Lion’s Mane mushroom that most people aren’t aware of is that it could help relieve mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. It’s thought to provide this benefit since it has anti-inflammatory properties, and in many cases of anxiety and depression, a major contributing factor is a chronic inflammation.
Ulcer Protection
Another benefit that Lion’s Mane mushrooms can provide would be the protection against ulcers in the digestive tract, as well as the small intestine, the stomach, and the large intestine. Lion’s Mane mushrooms might be able to provide this benefit by inhibiting the growth of H. pylori, a bacterium, when overgrown, causes damage to the mucous layer of the stomach.
Possible Protection Against Dementia
One of the major benefits that Lion’s Mane mushrooms could provide would be possible protection against dementia. Dementia is primarily caused by the brain’s inability to make and form new connections due to age. Two special compounds promote brain cell growth, erinacines and hericenones, which can be found in the Lion’s Mane mushrooms.
Potentially Aid Speedy Recovery from Nervous System Injuries
Another major benefit that Lion’s Mane mushrooms could provide would be potentially aiding in speedy recovery from nervous system injuries. Unfortunately, injuries that occur to the spinal cord or brain, aside from being incredibly painful, also take an incredibly long time to heal.
However, rats who suffered nervous system injuries had reduced their recovery time by 23-41% after being given Lion’s Mane mushroom extract. It’s thought that the speedy recovery was because Lion’s Mane extract could help stimulate the growth and repair of nerve cells.
Management of Symptoms of Diabetes
It has been recently determined that Lion’s Mane mushrooms might be quite beneficial in managing diabetes symptoms. Diabetes occurs when the blood sugar levels are not able to be controlled by the body, which means they are always elevated. When mice, both diabetic and normal, were given daily dosages of Lion’s Mane mushrooms, blood sugar levels were significantly lowered.
It is thought that mushrooms can do this since they block the activity of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase. Basically, because this enzyme is blocked (which is responsible for breaking down carbs), carbs aren’t as effectively absorbed, reducing the blood sugar level.
Reduction in the Risk of Heart Disease
Finally, the last benefit on this list that Lion’s Mane mushrooms might be able to provide is the reduction in the risk of heart disease. Improvement in fat metabolism and lower triglyceride levels were observed when rats and mice were given Lion’s Mane extract. More importantly, the oxidation of cholesterol in the bloodstream is also prevented when Lion’s Mane mushrooms are consumed.
