Here in the garden, we love using unique and health-boosting superfoods that are typically not common to the American diet. We love the health benefits of adaptogenic mushrooms and have used Reishi for years in our Pear Reishi Energy Elixir.
Our love of these mushrooms just can't be stopped because we decided to add two other mushrooms to this already great recipe. Lion’s Mane and Chaga will round out this mushroom medley starting this March! Mushroom Mania has grown in recent years as healthy individuals recognize the benefits of mushrooms and have started incorporating them into their lifestyles.
So what exactly is an adaptogen, and more specifically how can adaptogenic mushrooms benefit us?
Adaptogens are substances within certain foods that help the body regulate and adapt to stress. Adaptogens have been widely used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for their ability to manage¹ harmful changes in the body. Examples of other types of adaptogens are turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, etc.
Adaptogenic mushrooms work in the body, in conjunction with other stress-mediators, to reduce internal stress and stabilize healthy bodily function. This amazing property of adaptogenic mushrooms is hard to ignore; check out the mushrooms we use and what they can do for your body!
Reishi Mushrooms are a fascinating dry, woody tree mushroom, that's most commonly used in teas.
Benefits - This adaptogen has been shown to help reduce oxidative stress in the body and even assist with a number of health ailments⁶ such as lung conditions, heart problems, kidney disease, and urinary disease.
Chaga Mushrooms are not your typical fungi; they appear rock-like and are slightly bitter with hints of vanilla. Chaga is often used in teas and even skincare products.
Benefits - Chaga has been shown to reduce inflammation due to its high amount of antioxidants. Another great benefit of this high antioxidant content is Chaga’s potential to even slow the growth of cancer cells and fight off free radicals³.Studies⁴ have shown that Chaga may also lower cholesterol and reduce blood sugar.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom is used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of healing purposes. It’s very unique in its appearance; it is white, long, and straggly, like a lion’s mane for which it is named.
Benefits- Lion’s Mane has shown potential in improving memory⁵ and stimulating brain function. Another potential benefit of Lion’s Mane is its ability to boost immunity, specifically by enhancing activity in the intestinal immune system and protecting from pathogens. Even further, Lion’s Mane may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering levels² of triglycerides.
Try our powerhouse of adaptogenic fungi blended with delicious pear today!
Pear Reishi + Chaga & Lion's Mane elixir
Sources
1. Amidor, Toby. “What Are Adaptogenic Mushrooms and Should You Try Them?”Food Network, 12 Apr. 2021,https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/what-are-mushroom-adaptogens-lions-mane-reishi-chaga.
2. Choi, Won-Sik, et al. “Hypolipidaemic Effect of Hericium Erinaceum Grown in Artemisia Capillaris on Obese Rats.”Mycobiology, The Korean Society of Mycology, June 2013,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3714447/.
3. Kim, Yeon-Ran. “Immunomodulatory Activity of the Water Extract from Medicinal Mushroom Inonotus Obliquus.”Mycobiology, The Korean Society of Mycology, Sept. 2005,https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774877/.
4. Liang, Liya, et al. “Effect of the Inonotus Obliquus Polysaccharides on Blood Lipid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress of Rats Fed High-Fat Diet in Vivo.”IEEE Xplore, Oct. 2009,https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5305591.
5. Spelman, Kevin, et al.Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus. 2017,https://restorativemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/lions-mane.pdf.
6. Wachtel-Galor, Sissi. “Ganoderma Lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi).”Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd Edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/.
