Medicinal mushrooms, such as lion’s mane and cordyceps, are having their moment and it’s no surprise why. They’ve been found to enhance our cognitive and physical performance and enable you to perform to the best of your ability. They are often referred to as ‘nootropics’, as they are known to improve cognitive function.
- Medicinal mushrooms improve your focus and mental clarity
- They contain both antioxidant and immune-boosting properties
- Have been used medicinally for centuries in Asia
Lion's Mane
This ancient medicinal mushroom is known to improve focus and mental clarity, perfect for busy minds and studies have shown taking Lion’s Mane can improve memory and overall brain health. It’s also a neuroprotectant known for its ability to induce nerve growth factor in the brain - the growth of new neurons!
Lion’s Mane mushrooms have two primary active compounds that are responsible for these brain boosting effects, hericenones and erinacines. Hericenones is what helps the brain to produce more Nerve Growth Factor, and erinacines can easily cross the blood-brain barrier, therefore boosting the production of neurons.
Lion’s Mane mushroom, like other medicinal mushrooms, also contain high amounts of beta-glucan polysaccharides which are scientifically known to have a significant impact on enhancing your immune system, heart health and even decreasing tumor growth.
Cordyceps Militaris
Cordyceps have been found to support energy and stamina, increase aerobic capacity, oxygen flow and resistance to fatigue. They have strong antioxidant and immune-boosting properties and a recent study has shown they can help the body clock reset after jet lag. Like many medicinal mushrooms they have multiple health benefits.
The main active compound found in the extract derived from cordyceps is cordycepin, which gives this mushroom its potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. A study in 2020 found that cordycepin can help to reset the body block after jet lag.
Cordyceps role in boosting athletic performance, endurance and stamina is partially because of its ability to boost the body’s supply of ATP - one of our primary sources of energy, or “fuel” during exercise. Cordyceps contain adenosine, a type of nucleic acid that is needed to make ATP, an “energy carrier” that is depleted in the muscles during physical activity.
Chaga
Chaga, a.k.a the king of medicinal mushrooms, is packed with antioxidants which are believed to offer a number of health benefits including improving immunity, helping to fight inflammation, lower blood sugar and reduce blood pressure. There are many important factors that make this mushroom great for supporting brain health also, especially if taken over long periods of time.
Chaga is a potent immunomodulator, considered by some herbal medicine experts to be among the best in the world for regulating the immune system. Chaga stimulates white blood cells by promoting the production of beneficial cytokines, which are vital for protection against harmful bacteria or viruses.
When it comes to brain health, rather than being a ‘booster’ for cognitive function, chaga is more of a ‘preserver’. A lot of neurodegenerative disorders are the result of inflammatory reactions in the brain, which over time can cause the death of important nerve cells and a reduction in things like memory, concentration and focus. Chagas anti-inflammatory effect works preventatively to keep the brain working optimally. These anti-inflammatory effects are also shown to improve mood disorders.
These are 3 of our favourite medicinal mushrooms and there are many others including reishi, maitake and turkey tail. Our Flow adaptogenic coffee blend contains an 8:1 fruiting body dual-extract of lion’s mane with 25.0% beta-glucans and our Mojo blend contains a 8:1 fruiting body dual-extract of cordyceps with 0.535% cordycepin and 27.4% beta-glucans. Zain Peer, Co-Founder of London Nootropics, says: “Our blends are designed to help you find your flow, improve your mental clarity and find balance - naturally.”
(the active compounds noted above are for our latest batch of medicinal mushrooms, each batch is unique and has a slightly different amount of active compounds).
