Mushrooms are popularly known as great sources of many essential nutrients and minerals. They’ve been used for centuries as an alternative cure for various diseases, and that’s due to their rich amounts of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, protein, and fiber, helping bolster one’s mental and physical health.
Mushrooms vary in appearance, texture, smell, or taste. They may be sold fresh, in vacuum-sealed plastics, or in powdered form. People often have a love-hate perception of mushrooms; thus, there are different opinions and queries about their potential health benefits.
Some of the highly sought varieties are the medicinal mushrooms in Australia. Fungi enthusiasts, researchers, scientists, and healthcare professionals work together to advocate these functional mushrooms to improve overall health and wellness.
The Wonders Of Medicinal Australian Mushrooms
Listed below are some of the most popular medicinal mushrooms in Australia that you can consider. Understanding their nature will help you know how to take advantage of their purported healing benefits.
Reishi (The Calming Mushroom)
For people who are suffering from psychological disturbances, like anxiety, depression, and stress, their usual go-to options are clinical therapies and medications that alleviate symptoms and revive brain homeostasis.
Mental health problems may be due to an imbalance or deficiency in brain hormones and neurotransmitters, such as oxytocin, endorphin, dopamine, and serotonin. Fortunately, modern medicine has paved the way for organic alternatives, like reishi, known as the ‘calming mushroom’. It helps stimulate these brain substances to restore a healthy brain.
Growing old is unpreventable and irreversible. The primary cause of aging is cell degeneration, oxidative stress, and free radicals. The ancient Chinese coined the term ‘mushroom for immortality’ due to its antioxidant properties, which delay one’s aging process.
Studies claim that it can reduce the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction. It may also treat sleeping problems, boost the body’s natural defense mechanism, and prevent liver diseases when taken regularly.
Lion’s Mane (The Brain Booster)
The brain is a complex organ composed of vital parts–the intracellular fluid (ICF), the delicate blood supply system, and the brain cells. The lion’s mane has been considered to be the brain-boosting mushroom that heightens overall cognitive function.
A neuron is the fundamental unit of the brain. It works in two ways: as a sensory signal receiver from the different body parts and as a messenger to send appropriate actions back to the periphery. An electrical charge connects the billions of neurons inside the brain.
Anxiety, depression, stress, or the presence of underlying disease can compromise the production of neurons. This specific type of mushroom is widely known to boost your brain and enhance your cognitive functions.
If you often experience brain fog or mental fatigue, you can incorporate this into your daily dose of coffee, smoothie, or any food you wish.
Cordyceps (The Athletic Mushroom)
An athlete’s mind and body grow and age differently from a non-athlete individual. Their daily and vigorous training has sharpened their minds and strengthened their bodies. As a result, they need a proper and adequate amount of nutrition, vitamins, and minerals to help them maintain their overall wellness.
Cordyceps is known as the’ athletic mushroom’ for its positive benefit in improving an athlete’s physical abilities, such as endurance, strength, stamina, and power. It’s linked to enhancing cells and body tissues in the heart, lungs, muscles, and other vital organs.
Furthermore, it can boost an athlete’s immune system and gut health, and regulate body hormones and blood sugar like a domino effect.
Turkey Tail (The Immune System Steroid)
The immune system is responsible for the body’s natural defense. It comprises a network of specialized proteins and cells programmed to fight various infections and harmful pathogens. It works together with the lymphatic system to deliver nutrients around the body and get rid of toxins and harmful substances.
Infectious, bacterial, viral, inflammatory, and auto-immune diseases may now be preventable and treatable due to advancements in drug, as well as invasive and non-invasive treatments. The turkey tail mushroom is the preferred natural alternative that helps boost the immune system. It contains high amounts of beta-glucans and polysaccharides that stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. In addition, it can also promote cell repair and regeneration for better health and fast recovery from illnesses.
Maitake Mushroom
A tumor grows when there’s an abnormal clumping of cells in a particular body or organ. Some tumors remain their size forever, while others expand and multiply. Whether malignant or non-malignant, they can lead to chronic pain, discomfort, or other complications.
A cell is considered the building block of life. Each type of cell has a specific purpose in keeping the body functional and healthy. Maitake targets to repair and improve cell function. When taken by individuals with tumors, it can help reduce their size and heal them.
Shiitake Mushroom
Shiitake mushrooms are famous for being added to various dishes. You may put them into your stew, soup, meat dishes, salads, or eat them as a side dish. They’re found to be high in vitamins B and D, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
The known potential health benefits are enhancing cognitive function, improving immune and cardiovascular health, stimulating cell regeneration, fighting harmful toxins and pathogens, and supporting weight loss.
Chaga (The Antioxidant Mushroom)
Toxins come from the food you consume and their containers, the things you hold, and environmental factors, such as air, water, and soil. They usually unknowingly enter your body. When they build up, it leads to various diseases that can weaken and attack your immune system.
Chaga contains high amounts of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help eliminate free radicals, oxidative stress, and other toxins around the body. Various organ systems greatly benefit from stress-free and a toxin-free internal environment.
Tremella Mushroom
Tremella mushrooms have high amounts of hyaluronic acid (HA), an abundant compound found in the baby’s skin, making it soft, plump, and smooth. As you grow and age, HA diminishes, thus, the appearance of saggy skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
You may buy it fresh in the market or in powdered form. Incorporating it into your diet will enhance and repair your skin from sun damage, acne scars, and textured skin.
Try It For Yourself
Mushrooms are believed to improve cognitive functions, strengthen the heart and lungs, defend the body against toxins and bacteria, treat inflammation, enhance skin health and quality, and restore homeostasis in various organ systems. You may ask your primary physician, a nutritionist, or dietitian, or search through credible stores to know the right types of mushrooms for your needs.