- June 20, 2022
What Are The Benefits Of Reishi Ganoderma Mushrooms?
The reishi ganoderma mushroom is an incredible fungus to add to your functional coffee, as it boosts your immune system and fights cancer. It also comes with other health benefits and few reported side effects, which is likely the reason practitioners of Eastern medicine have used it for over 2000 years.
Read on to learn more about the history of this mushroom, its known health benefits and side effects, and how to consume it in your everyday life.
Reishi Ganoderma Mushroom History
The reishi ganoderma mushroom, or ganoderma lucidum, is well-known throughout Asia for its functional medicine benefits. It’s been used as a medicinal mushroom for over 2000 years by various cultures, including China and Japan.
These cultures also have different names for it. In China, you’ll hear it called lingzhi, and in Japan its name is reishi.
Reishi ganoderma is hard to find in the wild and has therefore been cultivated into different genera over the years. They grow up to have flat, shiny tops that are typically dark brown or orange in color.
Reishi Ganoderma Mushroom Benefits*
It’s no wonder that the reishi ganoderma mushroom is so popular in functional medicine since it comes with some powerful health benefits. We’ve made a list of 6 of the known ones below.
1. MAy Strengthen Immune System
Various studies show that reishi ganoderma mushrooms have beneficial effects on your immune system by supporting white blood cells. This is important because white blood cells are key to your immune system’s ability to fight off illness and disease. In one study, for example, an extract of reishi ganoderma called ganopoly stimulated white blood cells called natural killer cells, which work to help rid the body of infections and cancers.
2. May Fight Cancer
Research shows that in some cases, reishi ganoderma mushrooms are helpful for killing different kinds of cancer cells. Overall, the consensus is that they tend to have a positive effect on patients with cancer.
3. May Fight Fatigue And Depression
Two separate studies performed on individuals with fatigue and depression demonstrated that the participants who took reishi ganoderma mushrooms supplements or powder felt better afterwards.
Other Potential Benefits
Reishi ganoderma mushrooms may have benefits for improving heart health, balancing blood sugar levels, and enhancing antioxidant status. But these are not as well-researched. Not only are they not as well-researched, but the studies that have been done do not all yield the same results.
How To Consume Reishi Ganoderma Mushrooms
Reishi ganoderma mushrooms make excellent supplements, but they are also a fine ingredient to make mushroom coffee with. Its bitter flavor is perfect for a stout coffee. And it’s good for your health, too!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and/or Health Canada. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.