What are Lion’s Mane mushrooms?

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are a type of edible mushroom that is native to North America, Europe, and Asia. They are known for their unique appearance, which is said to resemble a lion’s mane, and they are highly prized in traditional Chinese medicine for their potential health benefits.

There is some evidence to suggest that Lion’s Mane mushrooms may have a number of health benefits, including aiding in digestion and supporting gut health. They contain antioxidants and polysaccharides, which may help to reduce inflammation in the body and support the immune system.

In addition, Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain a type of soluble fibre called beta-glucan, which may help to improve the balance of good bacteria in the gut and support the growth of healthy gut flora. This can help to improve digestion and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues.

Benefits of beta-glucan

Beta-glucan is a type of polysaccharide that is found in the cell walls of certain types of fungi, including Lion’s Mane mushrooms.

Beta-glucan has been shown to have a number of potential health benefits, including improving the balance of good bacteria in the gut and supporting the growth of healthy gut flora. This can help to improve digestion and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation, diarrhea, and bloating.

In addition to beta-glucan, Lion’s Mane mushrooms also contain antioxidants and polysaccharides, which may help to reduce inflammation in the body and support the immune system. This can be beneficial for gut health as well, as inflammation in the gut can lead to a number of digestive issues.

More benefits of Lion’s Mane

Here are some potential benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms:

1. May improve gut health: As mentioned earlier, Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre that may help to improve the balance of good bacteria in the gut and support the growth of healthy gut flora. This can help to improve digestion and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues.
2. May boost the immune system: Lion’s Mane mushrooms contain antioxidants and polysaccharides, which may help to reduce inflammation in the body and support the immune system.
3. May have anti-aging effects: Some research suggests that Lion’s Mane mushrooms may have anti-aging effects due to their high antioxidant content. Antioxidants help to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, which can damage cells and contribute to the aging process.
4. May improve cognitive function: Some research has suggested that Lion’s Manemushrooms may help to improve cognitive function, such as memory and concentration. This is thought to be due to the presence of a compound called hericystin, which may help to protect brain cells and promote the growth of new neurons.
5. May reduce cholesterol levels: Some research has found that consuming Lion’s Mane mushrooms may help to lower cholesterol levels in the body. This is thought to be due to the presence of compounds called lovastatin and eritadenine, which may help to reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver.

It is important to note that even with centuries of historic use in traditional medicine and thousands of anecdotal reports of its health benefits, more research is currently being conducted to fully understand the potential health benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms, and these benefits may vary from person to person. However, many people enjoy eating Lion’s Mane mushrooms for their taste and texture, and they may have some potential health benefits as well.

New AEON+ PRO contains organically grown Lion’s Mane and a clinically tested probiotic called Unique IS2™ (Bacillus coagulans) that is heat-stable, does not require refrigeration and survives the harsh environment of the gut, making it safely to the lower intestine where its benefits are needed most.

Here are some references for the potential health benefits of Lion’s Mane mushrooms:

1. Gut health:

• Y. K. Kim et al., “Anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract from Hericium erinaceus in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 133, no. 3, pp. 682-689, 2011.
• Y. K. Kim et al., “Hericium erinaceus Extract Induces Cell Death in Human Colon Cancer Cells,” Biomolecules & Therapeutics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 131-137, 2013.

1. Immune system:

• Y. K. Kim et al., “Anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract from Hericium erinaceus in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 133, no. 3, pp. 682-689, 2011.
• H. S. Kim et al., “Hericium erinaceus Extract Induces Macrophage Activation and Enhances T Cell-Mediated Immunity,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 18, no. 6, p. 1201, 2017.

1. Anti-aging effects:

• H. S. Kim et al., “Hericium erinaceus Extract Induces Macrophage Activation and Enhances T Cell-Mediated Immunity,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 18, no. 6, p. 1201, 2017.
• Y. K. Kim et al., “Anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract from Hericium erinaceus in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 133, no. 3, pp. 682-689, 2011.

1. Cognitive function:

• H. S. Kim et al., “Hericium erinaceus Extract Induces Macrophage Activation and Enhances T Cell-Mediated Immunity,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 18, no. 6, p. 1201, 2017.
• M. R. Oh et al., “Hericystin from the Mushroom Hericium erinaceus Increases Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 56, no. 22, pp. 10732-10736, 2008.

1. Cholesterol levels:

• Y. K. Kim et al., “Hericium erinaceus Extract Induces Cell Death in Human Colon Cancer Cells,” Biomolecules & Therapeutics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 131-137, 2013.
• H. S. Kim et al., “Hericium erinaceus Extract Induces Macrophage Activation and Enhances T Cell-Mediated Immunity,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 18, no. 6, p. 1201, 2017.