If you’re looking for a natural way to support your body in times of stress, look no further than the forest itself. Reishi is a mushroom that’s known for its medicinal properties and benefits. Historically, it’s helped humans deal with stress, boost immunity, and help with issues sleeping.
What is reishi?
Ganoderma lucidum and lingzhi, often called reishi, is a type of medicinal mushroom that has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. It’s one of the oldest known mushrooms to be used as an adaptogen for handling both physical and emotional istress. Today it’s known for its medicinal properties supporting cellular immunity, adaptogenic benefits, and antioxidant properties.
Reishi mushrooms are known for their medicinal properties thanks to their composition. They contain active compounds like beta-glucans, triterpenoids, ergosterol and statins. These compounds help with immunity, are antibiotic and antiviral, and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
How reishi supports us during stress
The way we deal with stress can impact our overall health and can have long-term effects, and in some rare cases, even chronic illness. An adaptogen is a type of substance that’s known to help the body’s response to stress and reishi mushrooms have been proven to have adaptogenic properties. Studies have shown that reishi mushrooms support the function of the adrenal glands, where the stress hormone cortisol is secreted. They also increase cellular energy levels while aiding in the prevention of oxidative damage.
Reishi and immune support
The immune system is involved in fighting infection, and protecting us from toxins and pathogens–maintaining a healthy immune system is essential to overall health. Reishi mushrooms contain high amounts of fibres called beta-glucans, which are associated with immune regulation. They’ve been shown to have immunomodulating effects which can impact immune cell growth, support the release of small proteins called cytokines and long-term immune function. It has also been proven that reishi can affect and enhance white blood cell function, cells that are known to fight infection. Furthermore, studies show that reishi has the potential to increase white blood cell production in patients living with certain diseases.
More than just stress relief: Additional benefits of reishi
Along with stress soothing properties and immune boosting support, reishi has more medicinal benefits. If you’re looking to get a more rested, good night’s sleep, then reishi might be the medicinal mushroom for you. Studies are underway to research the potential benefits of reishi for those with trouble sleeping.
In addition to better sleep, studies also show that reishi may boost and help regulate your metabolism, supporting your health and fitness goals. While studies are underway to explore this benefit, it’s been shown that polysaccharides, compounds found in reishi, may help reduce body weight and improve glucose metabolism too.
Adding a little reishi to your daily routine
Are you ready to add some reishi to your diet? While sometimes they can be found in local health food stores, it’s often easier to find them in powder form if you’re looking to add them to foods and beverages. If you’re wanting a more consistent way of taking reishi, there are daily capsule supplements available too.
Supplementing with reishi
When choosing a medicinal mushroom supplement, it’s best to read up on product sourcing and ingredients to find the best fit for you. While the entire mushroom can be used, some supplements only use the fruiting body (the cap and stem), the mycelium (the root system), or a combination of both. When combined, the mycelium and fruiting body ensure you get a highly potent dose of powerhouse antioxidants, filled with all the beneficial compounds to support your health goals.
CanPrev’s Reishi Full Spectrum
Our daily reishi supplement is made with organic mushrooms sourced from both the mycelia and fruiting body. CanPrev’s fruiting body extracts utilize both hot water and alcohol extraction methods to maximize the bioavailability of active compounds found in the fruiting body of the mushroom. They’re guaranteed to contain key bioactive compounds, using industry-leading “fingerprinting” testing. Combining the mycelium and fruiting body extract means you get the full spectrum of medicinal compounds for a full spectrum of benefits. It’s a simple dose of one capsule per day, delivering 250mg of reishi fruiting body extract and 200mg of reishi mycelium.
With its long history of use along with today’s research, it’s clear that reishi is a mushroom that supports everyday health. This medicinal mushroom is here to help your body deal with stress while also boosting your immune system, supporting your metabolism and helping you sleep.
Sources:
A randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of a Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract in neurasthenia
A preliminary review of studies on adaptogens: comparison of their bioactivity in TCM with that of ginseng-like herbs used worldwide
Immunomodulating Effect of Ganoderma (Lingzhi) and Possible Mechanism
Monitoring of immune responses to a herbal immuno-modulator in patients with advanced colorectal cancer
Exploration of the anti-insomnia mechanism of Ganoderma by central-peripheral multi-level interaction network analysis
The beneficial effects of Ganoderma lucidum on cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk
Exploring the Potential Medicinal Benefits of Ganoderma lucidum: From Metabolic Disorders to Coronavirus Infections
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