The Science of Mushroom Immunity and Its Benefits

“We are just starting to scratch the surface, scientifically speaking, of the wild health benefits of mushrooms.”

In the movie Avatar, as Dr. Grace is trying to explain the biosphere of Pandora, she describes the otherworldly ecosystem like this: “There is some kind of electro-chemical communication between the roots of trees, like the synapses between neurons, and each tree has 104 connections to the trees around it.”

As fascinating as science fiction, mushrooms are the connective tissues of our ecosystem.

They send down a network of microscopic fungal threads called “mycelium,” which help them communicate via chemical signals to the plants around them and share nutrients. These mycelium, in turn, start decomposing whatever they are traveling through–which is why you usually find them on fallen trees.

For thousands of years, we’ve eaten mushrooms for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, and prebiotic properties.[1] These properties result from the bioactive metabolites of the mycelium, which are also present in the fruiting body (which we call the mushroom).

We are just starting to scratch the surface, scientifically speaking, of the wild health benefits of mushrooms. One of those benefits is “mushroom immunity.”

What does "mushroom immunity" mean?

Mushroom immunity is the effect of eating mushrooms on your immune system. As we can tell, people have foraged mushrooms for thousands of years. Mushrooms have been found in coffins with mummies in ancient Egypt from five thousand years ago.

While poisonous mushroom varieties exist, most mushrooms have very positive health effects. We have included Lions Mane, Reishi, Maitake, Cordyceps, Shiitake, and Turkey Tail as part of our mushroom immunity powder.

If you start taking our mushroom immunity blend today, you won't see results overnight. You have trillions of bacteria in your gut, and it will take around 2 to 4 weeks to saturate your gut microbiome. Completely rebuilding a healthy gut microbiome can take months.

As part of a balanced approach with proper diet, exercise, and sleep, adding mushrooms to your diet will help boost your immune system. Aided by mushroom immunity, with a healthy gut, you could experience the following:

• Better and more restful sleep
• Sharper memory
• Lower blood pressure
• More energy throughout the day
• Higher sex drive (due to an increase in hormone production)
• Less joint pain

How do medicinal mushrooms work?

Medicinal mushrooms contain polysaccharides that carry necessary physiologically active compounds called phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are important in our metabolism and primarily interact with our gut microbiota.

Our gut microbiota integrates brain and gastrointestinal functions, such as intestinal movement, appetite, and weight.[2] Their collective metabolic activity also affects our normal bodily functions like metabolism, hormone production, and immune system. If your gut is unbalanced, you won’t be able to absorb all the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

One of these essential polysaccharides is Beta-Glucan.

Beta-glucan polysaccharides support the immune system, lower cholesterol and enhance heart health, improve gut health, decrease inflammation, regulate blood sugar levels, and lower your risk of obesity.

Currently, the compound beta-glucan is being explored for its potential anti-cancer properties.[3] Beta-glucans act on several immune receptors to trigger a release of immune cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells.

Some mushrooms stimulate the production of TH1 Cytokine, which itself stimulates our body’s response to cancer.

What research says about mushroom immunity

By now, mushrooms’ health benefits have been well established. An entire discipline of medicine is devoted to using mushroom extracts and compounds to promote human health and healing: Mycotherapy.

Fungi have been increasingly shown to have potent anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties.[4] This is because polysaccharides are natural reserves of immunomodulating agents. Some notable studies include:

• Ganopoly, a polysaccharide extract, improved advanced-stage cancer patients' natural killer (NK) immune function.[5]

• A double-blind study with mild cognitive impairment patients found daily Lion’s Mane mushroom supplements significantly improved cognitive abilities.[6]

• Oyster mushrooms significantly benefit diabetic patients by reducing their blood pressure, plasma glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.[7]

How to find the best mushroom supplement for immunity

The best mushroom supplement for immunity combines the right varieties of mushrooms at the right ratios. That’s why we created our very own Mushroom Immunity supplement. It’s the perfect mushroom immunity supplement to your daily health routines.

We accept only the best Lion's Mane, Reishi, Maitake, Cordyceps, Shiitake, and Turkey Tail mushrooms for inclusion in our supplement.

We have rigorous production standards at Core Culture. Our mushroom immunity blend is gluten-free, vegan, and all-natural. We take scrupulous care at our FDA-registered facilities to ensure the entire lifecycle of our mushroom immunity powder adheres to the highest quality and regulatory controls because your gut is worth it.

Sources:

[1][7] Venturella, G., Ferraro, V., Cirlincione, F., & Gargano, M. L. (2021, January 10). Medicinal mushrooms: Bioactive compounds, use, and clinical trials. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7826851/

[2] Kan, J., Wu, F., Wang, F., Zheng, J., Cheng, J., Li, Y., Yang, Y., & Du, J. (2022, August 16). Phytonutrients: Sources, bioavailability, interaction with gut microbiota, and their impacts on human health. Frontiers in nutrition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9424995/

[3] DM;, C. G. W. (n.d.). The effects of beta-glucan on human immune and cancer cells. Journal of hematology & oncology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19515245/

[4] Popović V;Živković J;Davidović S;Stevanović M;Stojković D; (n.d.). Mycotherapy of cancer: An update on cytotoxic and antitumor activities of mushrooms, bioactive principles and molecular mechanisms of their action. Current topics in medicinal chemistry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24083788/

[5] Gao Y;Zhou S;Jiang W;Huang M;Dai X; (n.d.). Effects of ganopoly (a ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract) on the immune functions in advanced-stage cancer patients. Immunological investigations. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12916709/

[6] Mori K;Inatomi S;Ouchi K;Azumi Y;Tuchida T; (n.d.). Improving effects of the mushroom yamabushitake (hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy research : PTR. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18844328/