Addition of mushrooms to your diet can add numerous health benefits, but there are so many varieties out there it can be challenging knowing which are right for you. Registered dietitian Beth Czerwony offers her expertise here.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom, also referred to as Hericenones and Erinacines, contains compounds which have brain-supportive benefits that may help increase nerve growth while improving memory retention.

Boosts Immune System

Mushrooms are packed with nutritional value. Packed full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, mushrooms contain everything your body needs for good health – not least medicinal ones (some culinary) which have the added advantage of helping boost immunity.

Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor and Coriolus versicolor) contain immune-enhancing polysaccharides that help boost immune activity by stimulating specific immune cells to combat tumor growth and inhibit its spread. Turkey tail extracts are currently used as complementary cancer therapies in both China and Japan and have also been found to counter immunosuppression caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Maitake mushrooms (Grifonis umbellatus) contain hydrocarbon terpenes which boost the immune system and fight certain types of cancer, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties which help control blood sugar and maintain heart health. Furthermore, Maitake contains b-glucans – a type of soluble fiber – which may help lower cholesterol levels.

Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) may look like lumps of coal, but these cold-weather fungi are packed with essential nutrients. You can find Chaga growing on Birch trees in Siberia and it has been used as traditional medicine for hundreds of years as it has proven itself effective against viruses, inflammation, allergies and cancer.

Fungi are rich sources of polysaccharides, including b-glucans. These soluble fibers help control immune function by binding to immune cell receptors and blocking proinflammatory enzymes from being released by inflammation-inducing proinflammatory enzymes. B-glucans have numerous other health benefits as well, including weight loss, cholesterol reduction and reduced inflammation in both arteries and joints – as evidenced by numerous studies conducted over decades; their benefits are widely acknowledged; many brew them as tea supplements for consumption as nutritional benefits.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Mushrooms are low in sodium and fat-free, boasting high concentrations of antioxidants – qualities which make them an excellent food choice for people living with diabetes or those looking to lower their blood pressure levels. One study in 27 people with type 2 diabetes found that eating three grams of P. ostreatus powder every day for three months helped lower hemoglobin A1c (a key indicator of long-term blood sugar control) (17).

Shiitake mushrooms are packed with beta-glucans and nutrients that reduce cholesterol, making them an excellent addition to any diet. Not only are shiitake mushroom benefits limited to lowering cholesterol levels; according to one study participants who consumed over two cups of shiitake mushrooms per week had significantly less risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Boletes mushrooms offer many health advantages as a delicious edible fungus, providing antioxidants, vitamins B and C, potassium and more. Furthermore, these edible mushrooms contain antimicrobial agents like homogentisic acid, gallic acid and p-catechin phenolic compounds – plus low sodium intake and no fat or cholesterol!

Foods that nourish yin, clear heat, activate blood, resolve stasis and dispel wind can help regulate both blood pressure and lipids, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Such foods include black fungus, shiitake mushrooms, cassia seed, chrysanthemum flowers, cassia seeds, cassia seeds wolfberries hawthorn fruit mistletoes gambir vine stem motherwort herb oriental water plantain rhizome and kudzu roots – drinking regular tea made from these herbs helps control hypertension as the ingredients help soothe both livers and kidneys while activating the blood flow to reduce lipids thus controlling high blood pressure.

Reduces Inflammation

Inflammation is an adaptive response to injury or infection, yet chronic inflammation can damage heart, joints, and brain function. Mushrooms contain anti-inflammatory compounds that may help decrease inflammation in the body – for instance chaga mushrooms have demonstrated this capability through numerous studies; one such research project found a combination of mushroom extract with Ibuprofen helped significantly decrease inflammation levels among mice.

mushroom extracts appeared to boost mice immune systems, aiding their fight against cancer. Other types of mushrooms have also been demonstrated as having anti-inflammatory effects; one such variety, Hericium erinaceus has been discovered with this effect, working by increasing production of proteins that protect cells against harmful inflammation-inducing substances.

Mushrooms are an excellent source of beta glucans, a naturally-occurring fiber that can strengthen immune systems. Furthermore, mushrooms contain many antioxidants which may help prevent cancer and other diseases; additionally they contain chromium which regulates glucose levels in the blood.

Mushrooms are an increasingly popular addition to coffee and tea blends. But it is essential that consumers are aware of how these products are processed and what ingredients they contain; many rely on concentrated mushroom powders made from Lion’s Mane and Reishi varieties as the basis of their composition, often mixed in with green tea or ginseng extracts and combined with other stimulant substances like caffeine or nicotine. It is also important to remember that mushrooms do not contain caffeine or any other stimulants.

Lowers Cholesterol

Mushrooms have long been a cornerstone of cuisines around the world and are widely recognized for their healthful properties. Used to flavor soups and salads alike, mushrooms also serve as an excellent replacement for meat in many recipes. Packed full of protein and fiber as well as antioxidants and other vital nutrients which may help prevent or treat disease, mushrooms are an essential ingredient.

Studies suggest that eating mushrooms may help manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels by being low-calorie foods and offering essential nutrients, like potassium and selenium, B vitamins, and vitamin D – these all help protect against high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.

One of the greatest tea tree mushroom benefits is its ability to reduce cholesterol. This is possible thanks to beta-glucan, an ingredient present in tea tree mushroom that works by interfering with your body’s primary cholesterol-producing enzyme and helping lower bad cholesterol while simultaneously increasing levels of good cholesterol in your blood. Beta-glucan works by inhibiting its production thereby lowering production while simultaneously raising levels of good cholesterol in your system.

Other beneficial properties of this mushroom include anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and antidiabetic properties. Furthermore, it possesses antiviral and antioxidant activities, can promote eye health as well as lower risk of inflammation-based diseases.

Tea tree mushrooms have an easy texture, making it ideal for people with sensitive digestive systems. Mushrooms contain polysaccharides proven effective against both bacterial and viral infections, providing fiber which aids digestion and regulates bowel movements; in addition, mushrooms contain potassium, B vitamins, vitamin D3 and folacin to name but a few essential minerals and vitamins found therein.

Helps Control Blood Sugar

Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms contain high concentrations of polysaccharides – prebiotics that promote healthy gut bacteria – making them great at managing blood sugar, as these microbes help your body use glucose from your bloodstream as energy, potentially helping prevent type 2 diabetes, control insulin resistance and lower the risk of metabolic diseases.

Tea tree mushrooms contain betulinic acid, an effective anti-cancer compound. A study concluded that chaga mushrooms reduced LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL levels – as well as potentially decreasing production of proinflammatory cytokines that contribute to inflammation.

Mushroom benefits may provide relief to anyone suffering from chronic inflammation or with a family history of diabetes, but before adding anything new to your diet – including blood thinners like warfarin, heparin or aspirin – always consult your physician first.

Traditional Chaga Mushroom TeaTraditionally, Chaga mushrooms were steeped in hot water for hours before drinking as a tea. Today however, you can purchase this healing fungus as tea bags, powdered supplements and capsules. You may even forage for your own Chaga by living near Birch trees – just be sure that you get the appropriate species.

Chaga mushroom boasts one of the highest ORAC scores among edible plants – which measures its effectiveness at combatting free radicals and oxidative stress – making it one of the best way to boost immune strength while helping alleviate inflammation in your body – great for colds, flus, as well as to help enhance mental wellbeing! Consider including some chaga tea into your daily health regime to strengthen both immunity and inflammation relief while supporting overall wellbeing.