5 Mental Health Benefits of Mushrooms

edible mushrooms

Mushrooms have garnered so much attention in the pharmaceutical sciences for decades. This is given their ability to improve overall well-being but more attention has been paid to the physical side of things. For instance, studies have shown how they support improved cardiovascular health, are great for weight loss, and fight free radicals in the body.

Some research on the physical health potentials is still inconclusive. For example, recent studies are considering this fungus’s ability to prevent or cure neurodegenerative diseases and enhance vitamin D production in people’s bodies. For more on this subject, you can visit: https://foodrevolution.org/.

Mushrooms have a lot to offer in terms of enhancing physical health but it does not end there. They can equally improve mental health as will be discussed in this article. So, ensure that you keep reading to find out how these funguses can aid in this regard.

Positive Impact of Mushrooms on Mental Well-Being

Here are a few ways mushrooms have been discovered to improve mental health:

Anxiety Reduction

Clinical trials have reported great progress in reducing the anxiety levels of people who use certain mushrooms. This is particularly the case for those with anxiety primarily caused by terminal or chronic illnesses. The controlled mind-altering effects of psilocybin are largely responsible for this as it significantly helps in reducing worries about existential concerns.

Depression Alleviation

Lots of magic mushrooms have proven very helpful in the treatment of depression. It also aids in the treatment of associated conditions such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Once again, the controlled psychoactive effects of the primary compound in these funguses are responsible for this.

Boosting Creativity

Some people who have used some of these funguses responsibly have reported improvement in their problem-solving skills. The mind-altering effects of psilocybin make it possible to increase brain connectivity. This also explains why such funguses are equally able to boost users’ creativity levels.

Improved Emotional State

Of course, anything capable of reducing anxiety levels and alleviating depression is guaranteed to improve a person’s emotions. As a result, even people who do not have anxiety or depression issues but need an improved emotional state may use them for this purpose.

Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis has to do with brain cells – production, growth, development, and even repair. There are adverse health implications of poor neurogenesis. This is especially adverse mental health implications which include:

  • Varying stress levels
  • Mood disorders
  • Cognitive decline
  • Neurological disorders
  • Increased likelihood of substance abuse

Some recent studies have indicated that psychoactive mushrooms can support neurogenesis in the body. However, further findings are necessary to fully validate these facts. You can check out this mushroom site for more information on this.

Mushroom’s Effect on Mental Well-Being

Caution is of the essence when trying to enjoy these fungus’s health benefits. For one, this is because there are toxic ones that can cause mild to severe complications if consumed. So, you need to be certain that you are using the right kind.

Furthermore, not every non-toxic and even beneficial mushroom is capable of improving mental health. So, you need to make do with the right kind. More often than not, the right ones for this purpose are psychoactive. They are also known as “magic” or “psychedelic” mushrooms in some quarters.

They contain active compounds that are capable of altering people’s moods and consciousness. It is more like the same effect that cannabis’s THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) has when consumed. Psilocybin is the major naturally recurring hallucinogenic compound in most mushrooms that offer mental health benefits.

medicinal mushrooms

As with any other thing that has psychoactive effects, they must be consumed moderately and according to professional guidelines. It is only then that the mental health benefits can be enjoyed.

Why Quality Mushroom Extracts Are Best for Improving Mental Health

It is very hard or near impossible to enjoy the mental health benefits of mushrooms all on your own. For starters, this is because you do not have the expertise and/or experience required for finding and using the right ones.

Secondly, proper dosage would most likely be a problem even if you knew which types to use. Inappropriate dosage could mean either of two things. On one hand, you can use less than you should and risk not enjoying any or sufficient benefits. On the other hand, you can use more than you should and expose your body to the damaging effects of these psychoactive funguses.

They also need to be consumed properly to enjoy the positive effects desired. Some preparation techniques will stop you from enjoying the desired benefits.

For all of these reasons and more, using top-quality mushroom extracts designed for improving mental health is your best bet. Here are some of the reasons why:

  • These extracts are available in various easy-to-use forms – This could be in the form of powders, capsules/tablets, liquid concentrates, teas, tinctures, blends, and more
  • Specially-formulated products – Some products are specially formulated to address certain mental health concerns than others. For example, some extracts do a better job of treating anxiety issues than boosting creativity.
  • Produced in compliance with several stringent and consumer-friendly guidelines

These are some of the reasons to make the most of mushrooms through quality mushroom extract products. If you need more details about this subject, you can read this article.

Conclusion

Mushrooms are capable of improving mental health but this is as long as several conditions are met. Some of them include using the right ones, proper dosage, and proper preparation techniques.

We have explored these and even discussed some ways these funguses can improve mental health. Proper use of top-quality mushroom extracts is suggested for these reasons.