Reishi Mushroom And Immunity

Reishi Mushroom And Immunity

Today’s society seems to be leaning toward the trend of many more people placing an emphasis on their health and wellness. More people are active gym goers than ever before, and health and fitness supplements are quite the hot commodity.

While there is no denying that pharmaceuticals products are an absolute lifesaver and one of the biggest game changers pertaining to the increasing survival rate of human beings, many of these products carry some pretty harsh side effects. Sometimes, the need for these products far outweighs any possible reactions. Other times, people like to go for more natural, risk-free options when the situation is less high-risk.

One natural option that people have been utilizing for many, many years, and still use today is the Reishi mushroom. In this article, we will discuss exactly what this item is and how it can assist your immune systems’ constant mission to keep you healthy.

What Is The Reishi Mushroom

The Reishi mushroom is a dark-colored fungus that occurs naturally in Eastern Asia. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the use of the Reishi for medicinal purposes is thought to originate in ancient Eastern traditional medicine.

As a matter of fact, this mushroom is so highly regarded that it carries the nickname of, “the mushroom of immortality.” That is certainly not a title that is being handed out very often. While the focus of this discussion is how the Reishi mushroom can benefit immune function, it has also been used for a variety of other medicinal purposes.

How This Fungus Can Enhance Immune Function

One way that the Reishi mushroom has the ability to assist the immune system is its high prebiotic content. While another common term, probiotic, refers to a living strain of bacteria that is beneficial inside the human body, prebiotics entail any number of chemicals that support the survival and reproduction of these bacteria. The Reishi is known to provide several helpful forms of prebiotics when consumed.

Reishi mushrooms are also a great source of antioxidants. To be honest, most of us know that antioxidants are good for us but have little to no clue why this is the case. For the sake of simplicity, antioxidants keep cellular damage to a minimum.

Each cell inside your body is constantly undergoing wear and tear from the naturally processes that occur in a living organism. However, at a certain point the damage becomes too much, and the cell dies. Antioxidants are basically a coat of armor that improves the maintenance and protection of cells.

When it comes to research support for the Reishi mushroom, there is a lot of it. Some interesting research conclusions that have been made from the study of this mushroom often include the beneficial effect its consumption has on specific types of cells that make up the immune system. To name a couple, lymphocytes, and natural killer cells, both tasks with immune function, have been shown to increase through supplementing with Reishi.

According to Healthline, “although most immune system benefits of reishi mushroom have been seen in those who are ill, some evidence has shown that it can help healthy people, too. In one study, the fungus improved lymphocyte function, which helps fight infections and cancer, in athletes exposed to stressful conditions.”

Need-To-Know Precautions

• There are a small number of case studies linking the consumption of Reishi mushrooms to liver damage.

• As with most supplements, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those with a blood disorder should probably avoid this item.

Works Cited
Tinsley, G. (n.d.). 6 Benefits of Reishi Mushroom (Plus Side Effects and Dosage). Retrieved June 27, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/reishi-mushroom-benefits