Mother Nature provides plenty of solutions for improving your overall health and supporting your immune system. Although modern scientific research has only recently started to catch up, cultures around the world have known about the benefits of medicinal mushrooms for immunity and general health for centuries. We know that the fabulous world of fungi is kind of intimidating when you don’t know where to start. And that's why we put together this list of the top six mushrooms (and a few bonus varieties) for boosting the immune system.
What are Beta Glucans and How Do They Support the Immune System?
Beta glucans are sugars found in a broad range of foods and plants including mushrooms, yeasts, algae, oats, and barley. In fungi, they’re present in the fruiting body of mushrooms. Beta glucans provide powerful support for moderating your immune response and improving immune function. For this reason, healthcare workers often administer beta glucans through IV or other methods to patients with HIV, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis, the flu, and many other conditions. (1) Patients with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, asthma, allergies, ulcerative colitis, and skin conditions like eczema can benefit from the regulating properties of beta glucans. Beta glucans support the immune system by stimulating your Natural Killer (NK) cells. (2) These cells are powerful “natural killers” for combating all types of infections from HIV to common colds. In foods, beta glucans are soluble in hot water. When it comes to mushrooms, you can extract the beta glucans using hot water and increase bioavailability (the available amount of a substance for your body to process and use).
6 Mushrooms for Boosting the Immune System
You don’t need to head to the hospital for an IV to reap the benefits of beta glucans. Nature has an interesting way of providing the substances we need to survive and thrive. These six mushrooms for immunity have plenty of benefits that go far beyond defending against illness.- Mix them into your smoothies.
- Use powders as a base for soups and stews.
- Create your own mushroom capsules to take on-the-go.
1. Reishi Mushroom
Reishi mushrooms have caused quite a stir in wellness circles recently as the “mushroom of immortality.” Scientifically, the potent Reishi goes by Ganoderma lucidum and has been touted throughout traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. People often say Reishi is particularly beneficial for improving longevity but what does that mean? Well, studies show that properties in reishi can stimulate Natural Killer cells for destroying cancer cells. (3) Reishi also has an interesting effect on white blood cells for reducing inflammation. (4)
2. Turkey Tail Mushroom
Turkey tail mushroom goes by many names including cloud mushroom as well as its scientific names Trametes versicolor and Coriolis versicolor. When it comes to mushrooms for immunity, it’s hard to find anything as powerful as turkey tail. For starters, turkey tail contains polysaccharide peptides and krestin (PSK) which perfectly stimulate and repress different immune responses in unique ways. For this reason, turkey tail is an excellent choice for regulating immune systems and reducing inflammation. Both PSK and PSP are under evaluation in clinical studies and used in practice throughout China and Japan for fighting cancer cells. Many dog owners turn to turkey tail mushroom to fight cancer in their best friends. Whether in capsule or powdered form, turkey tail is a potent source of beta glucans. Paul Stamets, a world-renowned American-based mycologist, tours the world preaching the benefits of turkey tail mushroom which he says helped his mother dramatically recover from breast cancer.
3. Maitake
Maitake mushroom aka “hen of the woods” or its scientific name, Grifola frondosa, is a gourmet mushroom used throughout Asia and the rest of the world as a succulent meat replacement. Maitake is a powerful adaptogen and shows significant promise for protecting against disease and illness. Adaptogens are a specific type of plant that improve the body’s response to stress, support the immune system, and defend against disease. Maitake provides an excellent source of beta glucans for supporting the immune system. Further, studies suggest that Maitake may be effective for fighting against cancer cells. (5) On top of that, research suggests that Maitake can help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels so eat up! (6, 7)
4. Chaga
You may have heard chaga called the “king of mushrooms” but it’s actually not a mushroom at all. Chaga is actually a sclerotium which is technically a combination of mushroom mycelium and birchwood. Despite this technicality, we can still say that chaga is a powerful mushroom for immunity. Research shows that chaga has specific anti-cancer qualities and is especially effective for reducing inflammation, blood sugar, and cholesterol. (8)
5. Lion's Mane
Lion’s mane mushroom is yet another mushroom with high levels of beta glucan which makes this fungus a powerful solution for supporting the immune system. If that wasn’t enough, lion’s mane is also a particularly potent solution for improving cognitive function as a nootropic. Studies show that lion’s mane stimulates something called nerve growth factor (NGF) which plays a special role in moderating symptoms of dementia, depression, autism, multiple sclerosis, and several other nervous system conditions. (9)
