Bad case of brain fog? Try lion’s mane for some natural mental clarity. This feathery “pom-pom” mushroom is packed with antioxidants and strengthens the immune system like most medicinal mushrooms.
But lion’s mane is rare in the fact that it fosters the production of the bioprotein nerve growth factor (NFG)Trusted Source and myelin (an insulation around nerve fibers).
Both NFG and myelinTrusted Source are absolutely buy edibles canada crucial to brain health. An imbalance in them can contribute to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.
That makes lion’s mane some serious brain food! This miraculous mushroom has also been shown to improve cognitionTrusted Source in a small human study, memory in miceTrusted Source, increase concentration, and alleviate anxiety and irritability.
Get your antioxidant dose with free radical-fighting chaga
Chaga mushrooms are an antioxidant powerhouse, making them excellent contenders for fighting free radicals and inflammation.
This dark black mushroom combats oxidative stress (which is linked to skin aging), may prevent or slow the growth of cancer, and has been found to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol.
Most of the studies on chaga are done on human cells and mice, but the signs point to this shroom being good for you — inside and out.
Reach for heart-friendly shiitake
If you’re already cooking with shiitake in your kitchen, keep it up. But this popular mushroom has benefits way beyond making that stir-fry extra tasty.
These mushrooms are particularly good for the heart. Shiitakes have been shown to lower LDLTrusted Source in mice, and they contain compounds that inhibit the absorption and production of cholesterol in the liver.
These nifty shrooms also contain phytonutrients, which aid in preventing plaque buildup and, as shown in a rat studyTrusted Source, maintain healthy blood pressure and circulation.
Help fight cancer with turkey tail
Sure, most of the medicinal mushrooms on our list exhibit anticancer properties due to their high amounts of antioxidants. But turkey tail takes it one step further.
Turkey tail contains a compound called polysaccharide-K (PSK) that stimulates the immune system. PSK is so effective that it’s an approved anticancer prescription drug in Japan.
Turkey tail has been shown to improve the survival buy edibles canada rate of people with certain cancersTrusted Source, fight leukemia cellsTrusted Source, and improve the immune system of people receiving chemotherapy. (Of course, don’t stop your prescribed cancer treatment without consulting your doctor.