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Summary
1What are lion’s mane mushrooms?
Lion’s mane mushrooms get their name from their large, white, shaggy appearance, which resembles, yes, you guessed it, a full-grown lion’s mane.
2The potential benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms
From the limited research available, potential lion’s mane benefits include: supporting your mental health, immune system and brain function.
3Lion’s mane supplements
From powders to capsules, many different forms of lion’s mane mushroom supplements are on the market. Make sure you always take the correct dosage.
Mushrooms are making a serious comeback in the health and wellness world – and for good reason! Many different types of mushrooms are thought to hold potential benefits for your well-being, and one of those currently in the spotlight is the lion’s mane mushroom.
These big, white, fuzzy mushrooms might not be the most attractive fungi out there, but they've been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese traditions for many years and are treasured for their potential health and wellness effects.1
Keep reading to learn all about lion’s mane mushrooms, including how they might benefit you, their side effects and how to use them.
What are lion’s mane mushrooms?
They've long been used in traditional practices and cooking, with Greek physician Hippocrates even lauding their potential health benefits as far back as 450 BCE in Ancient Greece.1
In the UK, lion’s mane mushrooms are protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.2 This is the highest legal protection that can be given to plants or fungi, meaning they're illegal to collect in the wild.2 So, if you come across a lion’s mane mushroom when you're out and about, leave it alone! Instead, you can stock up on these fuzzy mushrooms in food shops or markets.
Lion’s mane mushrooms are packed full of plant compounds and are low in calories and salt, making them a great addition to many of your favourite recipes.3 They often come in many forms, like fresh, dried, powdered, and even as supplements.
The potential benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms
- Supporting your mental health Some research suggests lion’s mane mushrooms can help boost your mental health and help with the symptoms of depression and anxiety.6 7
- Supporting your body’s stress response Lion’s mane mushrooms are an adaptogen. These adaptogens help your body respond to stress, anxiety, and fatigue by bringing your body back to a stable balance.8
- Supporting your immune system Research suggests that lion’s mane mushrooms increase the activity of your intestinal immune system by helping to regulate your gut’s bacteria.9 But it's important to note that research is still developing in this area.
- Supporting your brain function It's thought that lion’s mane mushrooms may help older adults with their cognitive function, like helping to boost their memory.10 Lion’s mane mushrooms contain two specific compounds, hericenones and erinacines, which are alleged to protect the brain from the cognitive effects linked to ageing.11
- Supporting your sleep Lion’s mane mushrooms are believed to help improve your sleep without making you feel drowsy. They’re thought to work by calming the nervous system and easing your anxiety to help you drift off.12
Lion’s mane mushroom side effects
Most of the studies so far have been limited to animals, so the actual effects on humans are unknown.13 There are also regulatory restrictions around the specific type and part of the fungi that's acceptable for use in food or supplements, so it’s worth checking the kind you buy.
As with any food, there's always a risk of allergies, so you should stop taking lion’s mane mushrooms immediately if you have a reaction and definitely avoid them entirely if you already know that you're sensitive to mushrooms or have a mushroom allergy.
In some cases, lion’s mane mushrooms can result in mild stomach aches, so staying within a safe dose is vital. You should also always stick to the recommended serving size of lion’s mane mushrooms – this is usually stated on the packaging of your chosen product.14
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it's recommended that you steer clear of lion’s mane because there isn't enough information available for it to be considered safe.
Cooking lion’s mane mushrooms
- Sauté some up and add them to a delicious stir fry for a quick dinner
- Fry them up and add them to the top of your toast for a protein-packed breakfast
- Use a lion’s mane mushroom powder to make a hearty stock for soups and stews
- Roast them in the oven for a tasty alternative to meat in any meal
- Chop them up and add them to a risotto for an alternative to your regular button mushrooms
Lion’s mane supplements
The final say
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