Functional Fungi

Medicinal mushrooms are functional nutrition heavy artillery for everything from gut and immunity to heart, brain, and lungs. Their therapeutic value is so potent, they are one of the top five functional foods I recommend for cancer, COVID, and building immune resilience.

I've always loved mushrooms, but in the age of COVID, they are increasingly growing their way not only into my patient protocols, but also into my own diet. They are so easy and tasteful to incorporate into so many different meals.

The Magic in the Mushroom

Mushrooms contain biologically active glyconutrients and polysaccharides, such as beta-glucan, which increase host immune defense by activating the complement system, enhancing macrophages, and natural killer cell function. And you, dear mushroom muncher, are the host!

Beta-glucan enhances surface receptors such as complement receptors and selected scavenger receptors. They can prevent oncogenesis and protect against genotoxic carcinogens that incite tumor growth.

Targeted Mushrooms

The health benefits of mushrooms don't stop at the immune system. As with other functional foods, each mushroom has its own unique properties and targeted body system.

For example, Reishi is lung-specific, while Lion's Mane is focused on brain and neurological activity. The list below describes other mushrooms that aid sleep, promote longevity, enhance exercise performance, improve mitochondrial ATP production, cardiovascular function, and gut health.

Lion’s Mane - supports healthy brain function. Studies show it can induce neurotrophic factors such as Nerve Growth Factor. In one small but well-controlled study, it improved mild cognitive impairment.

Reishi - sleep, anti-aging, and lung-specific. In Vitro studies show it boosts immunity by increasing natural killer cells. Its role in cancer treatment is being actively researched. It has also been shown to help with sleep.

Cordyceps - energy and performance. Shown to improve exercise performance mediated by increased ATP production and blood vessel dilation.

Maitake - research focuses on cancer therapy. Mechanistic studies have shown it to have anti-cancer properties and preliminary clinical trials show benefit when combined with conventional cancer treatments in breast, lung, gastric, and colorectal cancers. It also has anti-viral properties.

Shiitake - immune-boosting and potential anti-influenza properties via direct action on viral entry and replication in the respiratory tract.

Turkey Tail - also being studied in combination with standard cancer therapy for gastric, breast, and stomach cancers. Rich in antioxidants and has demonstrated gut health benefits.

Here are just a few ideas for putting your mushrooms to good and tasteful use: add to soups, broths, stews, sauces, drinks, chocolate, stir fry, plant-based meat swaps.

Karl Mincin is a Functional Medicine Nutritionist in practice for 36 years. 360.336.2616 | Nutrition-Testing.com | Instagram @MincinNutritionist | Facebook @NutritionTesting1