Reishi mushrooms are considered The King of Mushrooms, and it lives up to this name today. It is also known as Lingzhi or Ganoderma lucidum, and there are now many benefits associated with functional mushrooms. Some of these benefits include relieving symptoms of occasional stress and general maintenance of health.
The big question is what makes these functional mushrooms special. Here’s a quick run through the history of reishi mushrooms to help you understand better.
In Ancient Chinese traditional medicine practice, the mushroom is also called Lingzhi (灵芝), and this is because of its spiritual potency. It was a scarce mushroom, and this made it highly celebrated, even amongst Chinese emperors. The mushrooms are also recognized in the Chinese bible of medicinal plants: Shennong Ben Cao Jing (a.k.a. Materia Medica). In this bible, the author states that eating the mushroom makes the body feel young and light, boosts your life, and makes you immortal.
For over a century now, mushroom has been applied for functional and therapeutic gains in Asia. Some of these applications include the following:
- Gastrointestinal support by regulating digestion.
- Immune support by providing support to the immune system.
- Calming effects on the mind, including relieving blue moods and other symptoms of worry.
Today, all of these benefits can be enjoyed by taking Reishi Mushroom Powder, which you can use to make your reishi tea. Also, studies show that mushrooms offer many benefits, and we’ll highlight some of these benefits in this article. Continue reading to find out more.
Reishi Mushroom Tea Improves Skin’s Appearance
A decrease in the production of hormones like testosterone and estradiol causes skin aging and deterioration. Overexposure to solar radiation can also trigger sun damage, which further introduces premature skin aging. These issues all lead to symptoms like wrinkle formation, collagen degradation, hyperpigmentation, and skin dryness.
Most of these issues are unavoidable, which is why cosmetic companies are constantly seeking natural extracts and remedies that can solve these age-related problems. Recent studies show that reishi mushrooms have antioxidant properties, which can be used as a functional cosmetic ingredient in skincare industries.
The mushroom can help to neutralize free radicals in the body and reduce wrinkles, all of which can create oxidative stress and damage the skin cells. Another thing worth noting is that reishi mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which can also enhance the ability of the skin to store water and maintain hydration.
Reishi mushrooms have different compounds, each of which offers different functions. Here’s an overview of these functions:
- Lysine: Reinforces the skin’s elasticity
- Amino acids: Promotes skin’s firmness, appearance, and overall health.
- Leucine: Helps with your skin’s natural healing process.
- Peptidoglycans: Enhances the production of antimicrobial peptides.
Reishi Mushroom is a Functional Food
According to the Institute of Food Technologists, functional foods are foods with ingredients that offer benefits other than their nutritional value. Historical records show that people have been taking mushrooms mainly for their medicinal and nutritional benefits. These claims have triggered different research projects to further understand the therapeutic and nutritional values of the bioactive components in mushrooms.
According to these research works, reishi mushrooms contain water-soluble proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. All these are vital and contribute to the nutritional benefits of reishi mushrooms. In addition, they also contain bioactive components like lactones, sterols, terpenoids, polyphenols, beta-glucans, polysaccharides, and alkaloids. These substances are known to alleviate occasional stress symptoms and support cognitive functions.
Reishi mushrooms offer many other benefits, and this includes the following:
- Calming the mind
- Balancing the immune system response
- Speeding up muscle recovery
- Supporting neurological health
- Boosting our energy
- Supporting a healthy metabolism
These benefits all provide positive effects on the body.
Quality of Reishi Mushrooms Matters
Eating mushrooms in their raw form isn’t so pleasant due to their most tough and leathery texture. Despite that, many ways exist to enjoy all the benefits it offers without experiencing this unpleasant taste. You can do this by adding the extract to hot water so that the mushroom can infuse, and you can enjoy the resulting reishi tea.
However, quality matters when making the tea. Research shows that up to 74% of reishi products on the market today are not authentic, so you’ll need to be extra careful when buying these products.
Fortunately, Microdose Bros offers the best and highest-quality mushroom extracts produced in their purest form, without any carriers, additives, or fillers. Therefore, with any purchase you make, you can rest assured that you will enjoy all the benefits the mushroom offers.
Reishi Mushrooms Activates Wound Healing Process
One of the most abundant proteins in the body is collagen, and it plays a key role in the process that occurs during wound repair. The speed at which a wound heals depends on the production, maturation, and accumulation of collagen around the injury site.
Accumulation of collagen also depends on hydroxyproline presence in the body. Collagen production will be higher if the concentration of hydroxyproline is higher, and this causes wounds to heal faster. Studies show that reishi mushrooms increase the concentration of hexosamine and hydroxyproline, both of which gives strengthens repaired tissues and further activate wound healing. In another study, similar reports were obtained, which indicate that reishi plays a crucial role in enhancing the wound healing process, thanks to its rich polysaccharide content.
There are many links showing that natural polysaccharides enhance faster wound healing by facilitating immune system activation. This process is generally believed to be mediated by the activation of macrophages, which is also an inflammatory cell within the body.
Reishi Mushroom Improves Hair Health
Medical conditions, poor diet, and hormonal changes are factors that can trigger hair loss. For example, a major reason why men lose hair is a result of male pattern baldness. These conditions mostly occur due to the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5α-reductase. DHT attaches to hair follicles on and kills them via processes known as miniaturization. Interestingly, research shows that reishi mushroom tea can offer significant benefits to our hair. These benefits include the following:
Promotes Hair Growth
The scalp of men with male pattern baldness is usually sensitive to DHT, but it’s important to note that the production of DHT can be inhibited to minimize hair loss. Study shows that reishi mushroom inhibits 5α-reductase, which helps to reduce the amount of DHT the body produces. With that, the level of DHT on the scalp decreases, and the hair follicles are protected from miniaturization.
Reishi mushrooms are also great antioxidants, as they help to protect the scalp from damage caused by toxins and free radicals. Reduction in these damages promotes the health of the scalp, and this facilitates the growth of stronger hair.
Reduces Scalp Inflammation
As mentioned earlier, reishi mushrooms are great antioxidants, and with that, they can produce healthy inflammatory responses. This helps to enhance the circulation of blood and facilitate the flow of oxygen and nutrients into the scalp. All of these are vital for ensuring healthy hair growth and reducing scalp conditions like psoriasis and dandruff.
Retain Hair Color
Another benefit of the mushroom is its ability to retain the vibrant hue of hair for an extended period. This is vital for preventing age-related or premature hair graying. The mushrooms also help to prevent oxidative stress, which further helps in retaining the color of hair.
When Should I Drink Reishi Mushroom Tea?
You can drink the tea at any time of the day, but the most important thing is to take it consistently to fully enjoy the benefits it offers. Our recommendation is to include half a teaspoon of the powder in tea twice a day. Reishi is a great mushroom to start our day with because of its ability to improve digestive health.
Another interesting thing to note is the ability of the mushroom to promote relaxation, and this is aided by its mood-lifting properties. With that, you can use the mushroom to wind down after a tiring and long day. Reports show that people who take the mushroom before bed fall asleep easier.
Enjoy The Benefits of Reishi Mushroom Tea with Microdose Bros
Today, most companies that sell functional mushrooms claim that the products they sell are pure mushrooms, which is not always the case. Most of these products usually contain the mushroom’s root system and mycelium, which only has little nutritional and health benefits, unlike the mushroom itself.
With that said, it’s important to ensure that you are purchasing from a trusted source that offers high-quality and health-promoting mushrooms. At Microdose Bros, we are known for offering mushroom extracts produced from real mushrooms. Our extracts have no mycelium, added start, or grain, and they are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and non-GMO.