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The Health Benefits of the Top 5 Medicinal Mushrooms Found in Nature

Are they discussing if you enjoy eating mushrooms in stir-fries, such as portobellos? Do they refer to magic mushrooms, such as psilocybin, a hallucinogen? Or did they genuinely mean “much room,” in which case they were inquiring as to whether you were happy with the size of your car.

It brings up the question: How do you enter the mush-room? Call the porta-potty!

It can be best to provide clarification when referring to mushrooms. Because there’s another possibility that someone might be mentioning: medicinal mushrooms.

Anti-allergenic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, cytotoxic, immunomodulating, antidepressant, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic (takes breath), digestive, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, osteoprotective, and hypotensive properties are just a few of the many positive health effects and uses of medicinal mushrooms. (Phew!Medicinal mushrooms are also rich in some of nature’s greatest substances, including polysaccharides, proteins, fatty acids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tocopherols, phenolics, antioxidants, flavonoids, lectins, enzymes, and more (warning: another lengthy list is on your way).

(There are a lot of advantages. And whether or not you understand what any of those terms imply, you still get them.)

There’s more, though. Moreover, mushrooms are quite kind to the environment. They have relatively low water and energy requirements, and their growing substrate is biodegradable. Their growth footprint is also quite little. In a single acre of land, more than a million mushrooms can be produced annually. Simply put, they are among the foods consumed by humans that are farmed most sustainably.

Regrettably, not many individuals are even aware that there are therapeutic mushrooms. As mentioned above, there are countless species of mushrooms out there, and medical mushroom species are no exception. It was a bit of a challenge to narrow down the list to just five, but I’ve selected the mushrooms included here because they are well-studied and may specifically help with mental clarity, longevity, and immunity.

So, keep reading to learn about five of the most powerful medicinal mushrooms out there, along with how they can benefit your health

Turkey tail mushrooms are multicolored fungi that can grow on both standing and fallen trees. They grow in several parts of the world, including the United States.

1. Turkey Tail Mushrooms,

Turkey tail are typically disc-shaped and — as you may have guessed — often resemble a turkey’s tail.

2. Stout Camphor Fungus

That’s not the most appealing of names, I know, but this unique mushroom, Antrodia camphorata, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat liver problems, food and drug intoxication, abdominal pain, hypertension, and itchy skin, so I’ll give it a pass.

3. Reishi Mushroom

The reishi mushroom — also known as Ganoderma lucidum or lingzhi — likes to grow in hot and humid locations throughout Asia. It’s been a staple in Eastern medicine for more than 2,000 years.