Immune System Boost with a Fun Guy…Oops… I mean Fungi

That Fungi is Mushrooms to be exact! Medicinal mushrooms are great on treating a variety of conditions, which also have been used in medicines throughout history.

An example of mushrooms being used through history starts with a man frozen in ice around 3300 BCE (nicknamed Ötzi). He was discovered in an alpine glacier in 1991. He was carrying a medicinal birch polypore used to fight parasites and other infections. Another big discovery, this time in modern history, a little antibiotic named penicillin was developed in 1928, when Alexander Fleming extracted beneficial properties from fungus. There are tons of examples throughout history from the Romans, Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Japanese etc. the list goes on and on. But, what are the 5 best immune supporting mushrooms you should incorporate into your diet today? Check out the list below, as we dive into the mystical world of mushrooms.

1. Turkey Tail Mushroom: Not known for their taste, so for these mushrooms you’ll want to supplement instead. The 3 main benefits of this mushroom are immune support, cancer prevention, and antioxidants. Many people also consume it during the cold and flu season.
2. Lion’s Mane: This mushroom can be enjoyed raw, cooked, dried or steeped as a tea. Their extracts often are used in over-the-counter health supplements. The 3 main benefits of this mushroom are cognition, memory and concentration. Lion’s mane extract may also help inhibit the development of ulcers, but more human research is needed.
3. Reishi: This mushroom is responsible for possible anticancer and immunostimulatory effects. The effects on the immune system are often most emphasized, but it has other potential advantages as well such as reducing fatigue and depression.
4. Cordyceps: This mushroom might improve immunity by stimulating cells and specific chemicals in the immune system. This mushroom also increases energy, athletic performance and muscle recovery. Also, there may be possible anti-aging properties.  The Chinese government has approved Cordyceps CS-4 for use in hospitals and recognizes it as a safe, natural drug.
5. Shiitake: This mushroom is a common staple of Asian cuisine, which has a meaty texture and flavor. The 4 main benefits of this mushroom is lowering cholesterol, heart health, blood pressure and circulation. Shiitake mushrooms may also have potent antimicrobial properties, making it an effective natural antibiotic.

Now, that you know the health benefits of mushrooms, I hope you will give them a try. The tricky part with all the mushrooms listed above is how do you incorporate all of these mushrooms into a meal? Well, I have a possible solution for you. I am not an affiliate of this brand, but I think it is great. You should try Four Sigmatic Mushroom Blend by Four Sigma Foods. You can get this off of Amazon. I have put this in a variety of foods and to me, it made a difference. It might be worth a try to see how you feel after a month of use.

Picture by Pixabay 3260