Lion’s Mane will help you dominate your day
Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, flat out with family, struggling with study, or maybe all of the above, Lion's Mane is your go-to to get you going.
Lion's Mane has been used extensively by people in Asia for both culinary and medicinal purposes, and both the shroom and its extracts appear to be beneficial to their health. Like all medicinal mushrooms, there's a laundry list of health benefits including mood enhancement, improved immune function, reduction in anxiety and depression to name just a few.
What we love about Lion’s Mane mushroom is it's unique ability to provide focus, increase energy and improve brain function. Based on human and animal studies, this humble shroom is a potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunostimulant. This means…. It's really, really, good for you.
Research
Study 1 - Lion’s Mane medicinal mushrooms may boost cognitive function. In one study, Lion’s Mane dietary supplements appeared to give mice better object recognition and recognition memory. Other researchers have concluded that the mushrooms may have the potential to treat or prevent diseases that cause a decline in cognitive health, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. We still need to do some more work on this shroom to establish the degree of benefit and how to use it in treatment.
Study 2 - A study from Japan also found that daily consumption of Lion’s Mane mushroom extract led to improved cognitive function compared with the placebo group. These scores decreased once the participants stopped taking the extract.
How does it work?
Scientists are still debating the exact mechanics, but as explained by Dave Asprey, here’s what we do know, “Lion’s Mane mushroom can support your brain health by stimulating the creation of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)”.
NGF and BDNF are two very important compounds. They are both proteins that strengthen existing cells and stimulate the production of new cells. NGF also plays an essential role in forming myelin, the sheath around nerve cells that helps brain cells do their job. BDNF increases brain plasticity, which allows your brain cells to stay resilient in the face of stress or ageing.
Lion’s Mane mushroom can also boost your focus by reducing inflammation, which in turn improves blood flow. This means your brain receives more oxygen. Increased oxygen in your brain improves brain performance. The antioxidants in Lion’s Mane medicinal mushroom also promote learning and memory, possibly by strengthening your brain cells and stimulating the growth of new neurons.
If you could benefit from a competitive edge, kick-start the day with a little extra roar.
References:
Lion's mane mushrooms: Benefits and side effects.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323400