Reishi (Lingzhi) Mushroom- The Ultimate Health Booster Fungi

Reishi mushrooms, also known as Lingzhi in China and scientifically as Ganoderma lucidum, are a famous traditional medicine in Eastern countries for over 2000 years. Reishi, thus is the king of mushrooms filled with health benefits ranging from curative, preventive, and management of some ailments.

Some of the research studies have suggested that Reishi mushrooms can help manage ailments that include heart conditions, fatigue, inflammations, liver damage, cancers, viral and fungal infections, mental health, and blood pressure.

Although most of these studies have not given conclusive information, but so far some of its benefits as well as side effects of consuming Reishi mushrooms have already been published, and that we believe is a milestone towards the right direction as far as research is concerned.

Benefits of Reishi mushrooms

As mentioned earlier, the mushroom is full of dietary and medicinal compounds that help the human body in several ways such as:

• Shrinking noncancerous tumors in the colon
• Curing viral infections such as colds.
• Reducing stress
• Helping diabetic people to improve their levels of blood sugar.
• Curing ulcers in the stomach.
• Curing allergic reactions like bronchitis and asthma.
• Giving the immune system a boost
• Curing and managing insomnia
• Curing Alzheimer's and the loss of memory associated with the disease.
• Treating inflammation.

The list is long, but that's it for now. There are more scientifically proven health benefits of using Reishi mushrooms, and you can read more about them from Healthline.

You must be wondering the number of components or compounds present in the mushrooms to give it such ability with so many health conditions. Aren’t you?

So, read on and find out the compounds present in Reishi and their role in keeping the human body and brain healthy.

Bioactive molecules present in the Reishi mushrooms

Below are some of the bioactive molecules that Reishi mushrooms contain that are responsible for the health benefits.

• Phenols
• Glycoproteins
• Steroids
• Polysaccharides
• Nucleo
• Terpenoids

Reishi Mushrooms and Mental health

Mental health is a person's emotional, cognitive, and behavioral well-being. Alternatively, mental health can be called as the condition of a person's emotional or psychological state.

Most people who have not experienced mental disorders or given care to a close member of their family may not understand how it can affect the entire living of the individual and those around them.

There are several mental disorders that people suffer. Some of the mental disorders related to the topic of health benefits of Reishi mushrooms include;

• Alzheimer's
• Sleep disorders
• Somatic related disorders
• Stress and anxiety disorders

Moreover, Reishi mushrooms contain vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, all of which are necessary for good mental health. These organic compounds enhance mental health by nourishing the brain cell and protecting them from stress build-up from oxidation.

Mental health also encompasses how people think, react/act, and feel. Hence, for proper functioning of the brain, a person equally needs to consume meals rich in the following minerals: Potassium, Copper, Calcium, Zinc, Phosphorous, Iron, Magnesium, and Selenium.

Interestingly, all these aforementioned minerals are present in the Reishi mushrooms making it responsible for resolving most of the mental disorders mentioned above.

Antioxidants in Reishi Mushrooms

The antioxidants present in Reishi mushrooms not only cure Alzheimer's but also improve symptoms of depressions and anxiety disorders. Additionally, antioxidants also improve/boost a person's immunity, thus reducing the stress that comes with fatigue and pain caused by other ailments.

Reishi mushrooms are said to be further associated with reducing fatigue resulting from cancer treatments, and even reducing anxieties that come with getting treated.

Antioxidants also combat the effects of aging on the mental health of people. It is in this context, that in Eastern countries, Reishi mushrooms gained popularity as the ‘mushrooms of immortality’.

Reishi mushrooms are adaptogens

Adaptogens are foods, usually herbs that one can consume in various forms like teas, powder, or as supplements. Reishi is one of the most popular, and a magic adaptogen often referred to as a ‘brain-tonic’ by some people due to its ability to handle or resist all forms of stress from chemical, physical, and biological causes of stress.

Concluding note

While Reishi mushrooms have tons of health benefits, consuming them comes with some undesirable side effects too. We advise you to get cleared by a medical practitioner before consuming any of the Reishi mushrooms products.