Benefits of Specific Mushrooms used in DNA-Mushrooms
CHAGA MUSHROOMS
Boost your immune system — Polysaccharides in Chaga mushrooms have broad biological activity, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant effects, as well as being immunomodulatory.12 Chaga mushroom may modulate immune response by helping to regulate the secretion of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in immune cells as well as antibody production.13
Ward off viral infections — Chaga has powerful antiviral activity and was found to suppress the infectivity of pandemic influenza virus in subjects as well as the antiviral drug Tamiflu.14 In one study, at the highest concentration, Chaga extract completely stopped, or significantly inhibited, the reproduction of hepatitis C virus, with researchers noting, “The presented studies confirm the antiviral effect of I. obliquus and indicate its potential use in the treatment of diseases associated with viral infections.”15
Anticancer effects — Due to its antitumor and immunologic effects, many people with cancer use Chaga mushrooms as a complementary therapy, and its extract is known to induce autophagy,16 which is your body’s way of clearing out damaged cells and making room for new ones.17 Chaga extracts have been found to inhibit proliferation of, or are cytotoxic to, human gastrointestinal tumor cell lines as well as human breast, lung, colon, myeloid leukemia and cervical cancer cell lines.18 7
Antidiabetes effects — Chaga polysaccharides have notable antidiabetic effects, with animal studies finding they can reduce fasting blood glucose levels, improve glucose tolerance and ameliorate insulin resistance.19 In one study, Chaga extract at a dose of 250 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight in subjects had “obvious antidiabetes effects,” while a dose of 500 mg/kg “was the same as that of [diabetes drug] metformin.”2
SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS
Stimulate your immune system — A form of beta-glucans in shiitake mushrooms, known as lentinans, are believed to play a role in their notable immunomodulatory effects, while other beta-glucans have documented stimulatory effects on the immune system that are strong enough to ward off influenza in animal studies.31 9 Eating dried shiitake mushrooms daily can have a significant impact on your immune function. When researchers gave dried shiitake mushrooms to healthy adults between the ages of 21 and 41 for four weeks, improved immunity resulted, including increased cell proliferation and reduced C-reactive protein, a measure of inflammation.32
Antitumor and cancer support — Active hexose correlated compound (AHCC), a supplement that’s made from shiitake mushroom mycelia, is made up of a powerful mixture of amino acids, minerals and polysaccharides. It acts as an immune system enhancer against tumor cells and pathogens33 and is the second most popular complementary and alternative medicine used by cancer patients in Japan.34 When taken orally, lentinan extract from shiitake mushrooms led to significant regression in tumor formation in subjects with colon cancer. Lentinan has also been singled out as a promising therapy for a number of human cancers, including:35 Lung, Gastric, Colorectal, Ovarian, Cervical, and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Nourishing health tonic — Shiitake mushroom bars were described as a “nutritious food and a functional health food alternative” in the International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, in part because they lowered triglyceride levels by 10% after 66 days of consumption.36 Studies have found shiitake extracts to provide nourishing support for your whole body, as well as being:37,38 Antiviral ,Liver protective, Antihypercholemic, Antiproliferative, Cytotoxic, Antimutagenic, and Therapeutic against ulcerative colitis.
MAITAKE MUSHROOMS
Balance cholesterol and triglycerides — A study published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that subjects with hyperlipidemia whose diets were fortified with 20% Maitake mushroom powder consistently tested at lower levels of blood fat than subjects receiving the standard diet.40 Further research has shown that Maitake inhibits lipid accumulation in the body, including in the liver. 41 Measurement of the amount of total cholesterol and bile acid in feces showed the ratio of cholesterol excretion had increased 1.8 times and bile acid excretion three-fold with Maitake treatment.42
HIV/AIDS support — Beta-glucan extracted from Maitake mushrooms has been tested for HIV/AIDS with promising results. A study published in the journal Mycoscience evaluated the health of 35 patients suffering from HIV infection in a long-term trial. Twenty patients reported an increase in CD4+ cell counts while viral load decreased in 10 patients following treatment.43 The biggest benefit of Maitake mushrooms was observed in patients’ overall sense of wellness, with 85% reporting an increased sense of well-being with regard to symptomology and secondary diseases caused by HIV.44 Researchers determined that the extract had a positive impact in HIV patients,45 reflecting the adaptogenic power of maitake fruit.
Enhance immune function — After 14 days of oral administration of Maitake and shiitake glucan extracts, separately and in combination, researchers observed significant 11 incitement of defense reactions, with strong stimulation in both the cellular and humoral branches of immune responses in mice.46 The combined extract of Maitake and shiitake was the strongest, with Maitake alone being the second strongest, followed by shiitake alone.47 A 2008 study suggested that Maitake mushrooms enhance your innate immunity against foreign pathogens without eliciting the adverse inflammatory responses seen in overactive immune activity,48 indicating a well-balanced adaptogenic effect.
Anticancer effects — Researchers found that 5 mg per kilogram of body weight per day of beta-glucan extract administered daily for 15 days prior to tumor cell implantation in mice was able to block more than 60% of breast cancer development.49 Researchers concluded the extract prevented breast carcinogenesis, blocked tumor growth, reduced angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels to feed tumors) and increased overall cancer survival in mice.50
Diabetes support — Maitake mushrooms, specifically the alpha-glucan found in the fruit, have been identified as an antidiabetic compound owing to the array of actions they trigger within the body. A 2007 study on diabetic mice found that the administration of MT-alpha-glucan from Maitake mushrooms significantly decreased body weight and reduced levels of fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, glycosylated serum protein, triglycerides, cholesterol, free fatty acid and malondialdehyde content in livers.51 MT-alpha-glucan also significantly increased healthy biomarkers, including the content of hepatic glycogen, signifying enhanced breakdown of glycogen into glucose, increased levels of the antioxidant glutathione and enhanced activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase,52 indicating improved liver function in diabetic mice.
Healthy weight — A 2021 study administered Maitake (Grifola frondosa) to subjects that were fed a poor diet to investigate its effects on lipid metabolism. Researchers concluded that Maitake significantly controlled body weight, blood glucose and related organ biomarkers, and effectively counteracted the hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance triggered by poor diet.53 Maitake also effectively modulated liver function and improved intestinal microflora, thereby reducing production of endotoxins and regulating the super-pathway associated with inflammation.54
REISHI MUSHROOMS
Detoxification — Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) have been clinically shown to fight premature aging and cancer thanks to a superlative power: the ability to isolate, digest and flush toxins from the body.57 This detox support increases the liver’s metabolic efficiency, which can aid the body in disease prevention.
Cancer-fighting potential — Studies on Reishi have confirmed that these mushrooms exhibit “significant potency to prevent and treat different types of cancers,” including breast, prostate, colon, lung and cervical.58 A 2020 found evidence for a variety of diverse anticancer mechanisms, including modulating the immune system, increasing the metabolic rate of enzyme activity and being toxic to cancer cells, thereby suppressing the expression of proteins required for cancer cell reproduction.59 An article published in the journal Seminars in Cancer Biology summarized progress made in treating metastatic cancer, a form that spreads and migrates within the body, by saying that Reishi's and other medicinal mushrooms contain cancer-inhibiting compounds that are “useful approaches to target tissue invasion and metastasis as well as other hallmark areas of cancer.”60
Heart health — The beta-glucan found in Reishi mushrooms has potent antioxidant properties that may guard against atherosclerosis — the buildup of plaque in the arterial walls of the cardiovascular system — in high-risk patients.61 Another isolate extracted from Reishi mushrooms are polysaccharide peptides (PsP), protein-bound carbohydrate cells, a powerful antioxidant. PsP has been clinically shown to prevent atherogenesis, the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries, in mice models.62
Antiviral superpowers — A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine demonstrated that individuals diagnosed with herpes simplex 13 virus 2 who had experienced recurrent herpes outbreaks for more than one year were aided by an herbal mixture of two powdered Reishi-type mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum and Elfuinga applanata). Results were dramatic: the mix of mushrooms and herbs provided “fast, effective relief from symptoms of recurrent herpes [outbreaks],” with a decrease in symptomatic time of more than 50% compared to controls.63 Triterpenes are another chemical compound that have been isolated and extracted from Reishi mushrooms. Two triterpenes were identified in the spores of G. lucidum as having significant anti-HIV activity, inhibiting the human immunodeficiency virus that causes HIV/AIDS.64 Further research into Reishis’ antiviral activity has found that their extracts may help protect against acute respiratory infections like rhinovirus and influenza.65
LION’S MANE MUSHROOMS
Regenerate damaged nerves — Lion’s mane is revered for its regenerative capacity in the peripheral nerve and has been shown to trigger neurite outgrowth in brain, spinal cord and retinal cells.67 It also stimulates the activity of nerve growth factor, which is important for the growth and differentiation of neurons.68
Boost cognitive function — Lion’s mane may be effective in improving mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In adults with MCI, those who took lion’s mane powder three times a day for 16 weeks significantly increased their scores on a cognitive function scale compared with those who took a placebo, with no adverse effects noted.69 14 Separate research similarly found that people who took lion’s mane supplements for 12 weeks significantly improved cognitive functions and avoided cognitive deterioration.70 An active component in lion’s mane called hericenones are believed to be responsible for some of the mushroom’s beneficial effects on brain neural networks and improvements to cognitive function. This brain-boosting mushroom has also been found to improve memory.71
Fight depression — Lion’s mane may be an effective complementary and alternative remedy against depression, with research suggesting it ameliorates depressive disorder through a variety of mechanisms, including neurogenic/ neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory pathways.72 Animal studies also suggest that Lion’s mane may reverse depressive behaviors caused by stress by modulating monoamine neurotransmitters and regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pathways.73 Among women, meanwhile, eating lion’s mane cookies for four weeks led to a significant reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety, including irritability and anxiousness.74
Support for neurodegenerative disease — Lion’s mane mushrooms’ neurotrophic compounds are known to pass through the blood–brain barrier and have been used to treat cognitive impairments, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.75 In a study of patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease, those who took lion’s mane mycelia capsules for 49 weeks had improvements in their daily activities, such as personal hygiene and preparing food.76 In 2016, research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences also concluded that Lion’s mane may provide “neuroprotective candidates for treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases,”77 while animal studies have shown its promise for ameliorating pathologies related to Alzheimer’s disease.7
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