Turkey Tail for gut health
The road to health really is paved with good intestines', and Turkey Tail is your gut's best friend.
Did you know that the gut is often referred to as your second brain? That's because a healthy gut communicates with your brain through hormones and nerves, which actually helps your body and mind stay healthy.
Turkey tail mushrooms are multi-coloured fungi that grow all over the world. This exceptional shroom gets a lot of praise for its ability to modulate the immune system to fight infections, illness and serious diseases. However, we particularly love it for its gut health benefits.
Research has shown that having a healthy colony of bacteria in the gut can help prevent disease and support the immune system. At least 70% of your immune system is found in your gut, which is why keeping it in top condition is so important. Gut health is also linked to weight management and mental health. A healthy gut has a positive effect on appetite regulation, including the amount you eat and how efficient your metabolism is. Anxiety and depression have been linked with imbalanced gut bacteria, and fixing this imbalance is what can help regulate your moods.
In addition to gut health, we’d be remiss not to flag with you the evidence around the impact Turkey Tail mushroom's immune-boosting properties can have on cancer. Turkey tail mushrooms contain compounds called Polysaccharopeptide (PSP) and polysaccharide-K (PSK). PSP and PSK appear to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Research
Study 1 - Discovered that PSP from Turkey Tail medicinal mushroom has prebiotic abilities and helps the gut regulate its balance of bacteria. Prebiotics are a type of fibre that acts as a food source for healthy bacteria in the gut. Other evidence suggests that PSP regulates the gut microbiome by balancing levels of healthy bacteria in the intestines. When our gut bacteria are balanced, it's easier to fight disease, maintain a healthy weight, even out our moods, and generally cope with life.
Study 2 – According to one 2014 review, researchers looked at studies of five types of mushrooms, including Turkey Tail, as complementary cancer treatments. They concluded, "The evidence base for using mushrooms in cancer treatment has greatly increased." However, none of these studies recommend any mushroom extract as a standalone treatment. Instead, the researchers have found that these extracts may have benefits for people who use them alongside treatments such as chemotherapy.
Some evidence suggests that PSP may also have the ability to stimulate the immune system, especially when combined with other anticancer treatments. Researchers have isolated the PSK compound. In Japan, PSK is an approved adjuvant cancer treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Turkey Tail medicinal mushroom really is one of the most powerful weapons in your health fighting artillery. If you’re feeling imbalanced or fighting disease, get Turkey Tail on your team, stat.
References:
What you need to know about gut health - Health Partners.
https://www.healthpartners.com.au/gut-health/