Laura Smith
Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and they are currently experiencing a surge in popularity in the wellness sphere. Functional mushrooms like lion's mane, reishi, and cordyceps are thought to have health benefits, and companies are now offering mushroom blends that promise to provide immunity and alertness. Medicinal mushrooms are also being used to ease menopausal symptoms. Research shows that compared to participants who ate few or no mushrooms, those who ate them regularly were 69% less likely to have depression. Asian cultures have long consumed mushrooms, and women in these cultures tend to have a milder menopause experience compared to Western women. Medicinal mushrooms are adaptogens, meaning they help reduce the stress burden on the body, and they can also help regulate blood sugar levels and improve thyroid function. Mushrooms like reishi, lion's mane, and cordyceps may help with menopause symptoms such as sleep disturbances, mood swings, fatigue, and memory problems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medicinal mushroom types | Reishi, Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, Shiitake, Maitake, Chaga |
| Benefits | May help fight fatigue, mood swings, memory problems, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, lower libido, hot flushes, and improve hormonal balance |
| Other uses | Adaptogens, aphrodisiacs, energizers, stress reducers, hormone regulators, immunity boosters, endurance and recovery boosters |
| Lack of side effects | None known |
| Recommended usage | At least three months or longer |
| Recommended intake | 4.9 grams of mushrooms per day |
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What You'll Learn
- Reishi mushrooms may help with sleep, mood, memory, and energy
- Cordyceps mushrooms may improve libido and sexual satisfaction
- Lion's Mane mushrooms may support nerve cell growth
- Medicinal mushrooms may help with stress and adrenal dysfunction
- Maitake mushrooms may help with abnormal growths and osteoporosis
Reishi mushrooms may help with sleep, mood, memory, and energy
Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and they are currently experiencing a surge in popularity in the wellness sphere. Functional mushrooms are believed to help lessen some of the symptoms that come with menopause, such as hormonal fluctuations and declines.
Reishi mushrooms, also known as Lingzhi, are one of the best mushrooms for reducing inflammation. They contain compounds that improve immune sensitivity, lower inflammation, and have antimicrobial and antiviral effects. Reishi mushrooms are also known to have energizing effects and help cope with stress. They are considered powerful adaptogens and hormone regulators, which is why they have gained interest in helping with common menopausal symptoms.
Reishi mushrooms contain adenosine, a molecule with anti-stress effects. They have been shown to help protect against symptoms of fatigue and depression, which are common during menopause. Reishi mushrooms can also help with sleeplessness or other symptoms of insomnia, which can be caused by mood swings and anxiety, which are also common menopause symptoms.
Reishi mushrooms are categorized as adaptogens or supplements that help you adapt to stressful situations, such as menopause. They can help improve focus and memory, which can be affected by brain fog, another symptom of menopause.
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Cordyceps mushrooms may improve libido and sexual satisfaction
Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and they are currently experiencing a surge in popularity in the wellness industry. Functional mushrooms, in particular, have become popular for menopause as they are believed to lessen some of the symptoms that come with hormonal fluctuations and declines.
One of the functional mushrooms that have been linked to menopause is Cordyceps. Cordyceps mushrooms contain mycochemicals that help the body make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which provides more energy for exercise. Research shows that Cordyceps may improve exercise performance and boost strength.
Cordyceps may also improve libido and increase sexual satisfaction. This is because Cordyceps increases blood flow to the genitals, which may also improve exercise performance. In addition, Cordyceps may provide a healthier HPA axis and, therefore, better hormonal balance. It may also improve sleep, which is often disturbed during menopause.
Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have long valued Cordyceps for its energy-enhancing properties, which can be especially beneficial for women experiencing a decrease in libido due to hormonal changes during menopause.
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Lion's Mane mushrooms may support nerve cell growth
Mushrooms have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and they are currently experiencing a surge in popularity in the wellness sphere. Lion's Mane mushrooms, in particular, are believed to have several health benefits. One notable benefit is their potential to support nerve cell growth and overall brain health.
Lion's Mane mushrooms contain two unique compounds, hericenones and erinacines, which are thought to stimulate the growth of brain cells and promote nerve regeneration. Animal studies have found that Lion's Mane extract can help repair nerve cells and improve brain function, specifically in the hippocampus region, which is responsible for processing memories and emotional responses. This may explain the reductions in anxious and depressive behaviours observed in mice receiving these extracts.
Furthermore, Lion's Mane mushrooms have been shown to protect against neuronal damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease. A 2020 study found that supplementation with Lion's Mane mushroom extract improved cognitive test scores in individuals with mild Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, Lion's Mane extract has been found to reduce diabetic nerve pain and increase antioxidant levels in mice with diabetic nerve damage.
While most of the research on Lion's Mane mushrooms and nerve cell growth has been conducted on animals, there is some preliminary evidence from human studies. For example, a small 2010 study found that menopausal women who consumed baked goods containing Lion's Mane mushrooms daily for one month reported reduced feelings of irritation and anxiety. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that participants who regularly consumed mushrooms were 69% less likely to experience depression.
In conclusion, Lion's Mane mushrooms may support nerve cell growth and have potential therapeutic benefits for neurological disorders and cognitive health. However, more human studies are needed to confirm these effects. Nonetheless, given the promising findings and the lack of toxicity associated with Lion's Mane mushrooms, they may be worth considering as a potential supplement to support nerve health and overall well-being.
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Medicinal mushrooms may help with stress and adrenal dysfunction
Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in Eastern cultures to support the female reproductive system. In Western cultures, they are increasingly being used to ease menopausal symptoms.
Mushrooms are adaptogens, which means they can help reduce the stress burden on the body. They are also organ tonics, which are good for the liver, kidneys, and lungs. They can help improve thyroid function and regulate blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity. Additionally, they are antimicrobial and antiviral.
Reishi mushrooms, for example, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their sedative effect. Studies have shown that reishi can help improve sleep quality and duration, reduce anxiety, and manage mood and reactions to stress. They may also help regulate estrogen levels.
Cordyceps mushrooms have been shown to improve energy levels and exercise performance by helping the body produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP). They may also help improve sexual satisfaction by increasing blood flow to the genitals.
Lion's Mane mushrooms contain erinacine A and hericenones C, which are thought to support nerve cell growth and produce new neural pathways. This can help promote healthy cognition and improve mood by relieving menopausal mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Overall, medicinal mushrooms may help reduce stress and improve adrenal function, making them a potentially useful tool for women experiencing menopause.
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Maitake mushrooms may help with abnormal growths and osteoporosis
Medicinal mushrooms have been used for thousands of years, and they are currently experiencing a surge in popularity in the wellness industry. Maitake mushrooms, in particular, are being studied for their potential health benefits, including their ability to help with abnormal growths and osteoporosis during menopause.
Maitake mushrooms have been found to reduce abnormal growths by regulating insulin sensitivity. Many women transitioning into menopause may be diagnosed with fibroids, which can be triggered by estrogen dominance or insulin-like growth factors. By regulating insulin sensitivity, maitake mushrooms can also help trigger ovulation in perimenopausal women with PCOS, another reproductive growth associated with insulin resistance.
Post-menopausal women can also benefit from taking Maitake mushrooms to help slow down osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, creates too little bone, or both. Maitake improves bone remodelling (bone resorption and formation) balance. It contains ergosterol, a vitamin D precursor that promotes calcium absorption, helping to protect bones and prevent osteoporosis. Additionally, maitake stimulates osteoblasts, boosting bone tissue production and reducing bone loss.
The potential benefits of maitake mushrooms in regulating insulin sensitivity and preventing osteoporosis have been supported by scientific research. A study on the effect of Maitake total water extract on osteoblastic cell cultures indicated the activity of Grifola frondosa extract as a bone-inducing agent. This research suggests that maitake mushrooms could be used supportively in the case of diseases accompanied by bone disorders, such as osteoporosis. Furthermore, maitake mushrooms have been found to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help alleviate joint pain and inflammation associated with osteoporosis.
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Frequently asked questions
Reishi, Lion's Mane, and Cordyceps are some of the mushrooms that may help with menopause.
Mushrooms are a rich source of antioxidants and ergothioneine, which is an amino acid that acts as an antioxidant and could protect against cell damage in the brain. They also contain mycochemicals that may help women fight fatigue, mood swings, and memory problems.
Mushrooms can be incorporated into your diet in a variety of ways. They can be eaten fresh, dried, or chopped and added to dishes. They can also be taken as mushroom powder, capsules, or extracts.
