Deep in the dense woods grows a curious little mushroom with a body that resembles the feathers of a turkey’s tail. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t your regular forest fungus – this mushroom is known for its medicinal benefits for the immune system. Meet the turkey tail mushroom.

What is turkey tail?

Turkey tail mushrooms get their fun name from their appearance–they resemble the fanning feathers of a turkey’s tail. Dense woods and forests are common places you’ll find them growing across North America and Europe.

Known as Yunzhi in traditional Chinese medicine, turkey tail has a long history of being used in both Chinese and Native American cultures. Today, they’re known to have a big impact on immune health. As a type of medicinal mushroom, turkey tail has a variety of health benefits, including its role in increasing antioxidant status, reducing inflammation, activating white blood cells and supporting a healthy microbiome.

Medicinal mushrooms like turkey tail 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.

Turkey tail in modern science

Many studies have been conducted to help us understand the full potential of medicinal mushrooms. Modern science has proven that turkey tail can impact immune health, along with gut health and inflammation.

Immune support

Turkey tail has been widely known to help boost and regulate immune health. They promote immune health by reducing inflammation and stimulating the release of protective compounds which are used to shield cells from damage caused by free radicals. It’s been shown that this medicinal mushroom contains two unique polysaccharopeptides called Krestin (PSK) and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP). These compounds activate specific types of immune cells like monocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights infection, while also helping to reduce inflammation.

Gut health

The link between a healthy gut microbiome and immune health is an important one. The cells in your gut directly interact with immune cells. This means that they can also impact your body’s immune response. Turkey tail is proven to contain prebiotics that fuel beneficial bacteria found in the gut and can help boost your gut health.

Inflammation and infection

Inflammation in the body can have lasting effects and has been linked to chronic diseases and mental health issues. Thanks to the presence of PSK and PSP, turkey tail is known to suppress inflammation and activate white blood cells that help fight infection.

Adding turkey tail to your daily routine

Looking to add a little immune-boosting fungi to your life? In addition to foraging for turkey tail in dense wooded areas, you can find turkey tail in local health food stores and markets. You can add dried turkey tail to water that’s simmering to make teas, add extracts to beverages or eat them in foods like salads or tacos.

Supplementing with turkey tail

If you’re looking for a quick way to get your daily dose of turkey tail, another option is taking a supplement. In order to get the best quality, it’s best to read up on product sourcing and ingredients. 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 Turkey Tail Full SpectrumCanPrev Turkey Tail

Our daily turkey tail 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 turkey tail fruiting body extract and 200mg of turkey tail mycelium.

A final takeaway on turkey tail

It’s clear that turkey tail can have a big impact on our health. It’s an anti-inflammatory powerhouse for immune health support, boosts gut health and the gut microbiome thanks to its prebiotic properties. Whether you’re enjoying it in a salad or taking it as a supplement, this medicinal mushroom has got your back.

Sources:
Medicinal mushrooms as an attractive new source of natural compounds for future cancer therapy
Immunomodulatory Properties of Coriolus versicolor: The Role of Polysaccharopeptide
TLR2 agonist PSK activates human NK cells and enhances the anti-tumor effect of HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody therapy