Last week, we introduced our newest product: Psilly Gummies! Each delicious gummy is packed with medicinal mushrooms (and a little ganj) that’ll work their magic on your health system! Turkey Tail, Lions Mane, and Reishi are powerful antioxidants with adaptogenic properties to reduce the body’s stress and have us feeling our best. We added just the right amount of THCP to keep the vibe dialed to MAX serenity. This holistic synergy encompasses the vibe of our spirit and we’re so excited to share them with you!
Functional mushrooms are fungi that have added health benefits beyond just their nutritional value, they “…are reported to have numerous pharmacological actions such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antioxidant, antiallergic, antihyperlipidemic, and prebiotic properties, among others” [Guiseppe⁸]. Out of the nearly 2,000 species of fungi, only 15 are considered to be functional! Functional mushrooms are full of polyphenols, polysaccharides, and beta-glucans, which are inherent to boosting our immune-responses and overall health. These mindful mushies, like Lion’s Mane, also promote homeostasis within the body, possess powerful antioxidants, and contribute greatly to our digestion!
Lion’s mane is predominantly known for its role in supporting cognitive health, but did you know that it’s packed full of essential vitamins and minerals, too? It’s also high in protein! Many vegetarians/vegans utilize lion’s mane mushroom as a meat supplement – it just so happens to taste great, as well! Let’s take a closer look at lion’s mane and why it’s turned so many people on their heads:
Lion’s Mane: Brain Fuel?
This guy’s pretty well known ‘round these parts and goes by a myriad of names: Lions Mane, Bearded Tooth Fungus, Pom Pom mushroom, or Hericium erinaceus, if you happen to be a mycologist! Either way, lion’s mane is giving us a lot to think about.
Known predominantly for its role in supporting cognitive health, lion’s mane can be eaten and is tolerable to taste – unlike our aforementioned friend, the turkey tail. (Link to previous blog) Many people compare the taste and texture to that of seafood. It’s a pretty packed bowl, folks- these mushrooms are high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and provide sufficient carb intake!
More than just a meaty mouthful, lion’s mane mushrooms are packed with nootropic compounds! You might be wondering, what does nootropic mean? This just references a compound that’s good for the brain and helps to support its natural cognitive functions. These bioactive compounds – like erinacine and hericenone – stimulate nerve growth and were cited in a 2020 study as a possible preventative measure of early Alzheimers. Our brains and nervous systems are composed of nerve cells; these cells are vital in a biological process called neuroplasticity, which is our bodies’ ability to create new neural pathways after sustaining an injury or recovering from illness. The nootropic compounds found in lion’s mane mushrooms can stimulate growth, aid in repair, and contribute to the overall functions of our neurons! In reference to neuron health, did you know that lion’s mane have regenerative properties, too? In 2011, a case study was performed on mice that had suffered injuries to their peripheral nervous systems (The peripheral nervous system exists outside of the brain, and is responsible for our motor functions and temperature regulation!). Lion’s mane mushroom(hericium erinaceus) extract was administered orally to the mice as treatment, and began to show signs of nerve regeneration! “These data suggest that daily oral administration of aqueous extract of H. erinaceus fresh fruiting bodies could promote the regeneration of injured rat peroneal nerve in the early stage of recovery” [Wong⁷]. The mice’ recovery from this experiment showed not only nerve regeneration, but a restoration of motor functions, too! This definitely lends support that lion’s mane are great brain fuel.
It’s RADICALLY Good for Stress:
We just learned that lion’s mane mushrooms are packed full of essential vitamins, nutrients, and a slew of bioactive compounds that provide great fuel for our bodies, but their benefits don’t stop there!
Our bodies are constantly introduced to internal and external stressors. These stressors can sometimes manifest as inflammation, which is our bodies’ natural response to foreign invaders or sustained injuries. Lion’s mane mushrooms contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which are often attributed to its neuroprotective and neuroregenerative abilities. This mindful mushie can reduce the symptoms of inflammation, further protecting our bodies from damage! Lion’s mane are also great combatants of free radicals; their antioxidant properties can neutralize any free radicals in our bodies and help repair the tissues of damaged cells. Free radicals can be incredibly harmful and cause a myriad of diseases and show progressed signs of aging.
At Happy Camper, we wanted to create a product that had you feeling your best while performing at your best, so we did! Each functional mushroom has a plethora of health benefits, so you can rest easy knowing you’re putting good fuel into your body!
References
- Lai PL;Naidu M;Sabaratnam V;Wong KH;David RP;Kuppusamy UR;Abdullah N;Malek SN; (n.d.). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion’s mane medicinal mushroom, hericium erinaceus (higher basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International journal of medicinal mushrooms. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24266378/
- Wong KH;Naidu M;David P;Abdulla MA;Abdullah N;Kuppusamy UR;Sabaratnam V; (n.d.). Peripheral nerve regeneration following crush injury to rat peroneal nerve by aqueous extract of medicinal Mushroom Hericium Erinaceus (bull.: FR) pers. (Aphyllophoromycetideae). Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21941586/
- Venturella, G., Ferraro, V., Cirlincione, F., & Gargano, M. L. (2021, January 10). Medicinal mushrooms: Bioactive compounds, use, and clinical trials. International journal of molecular sciences. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7826851/
