Lions Mane & Your Brain
- mushroomandmossapo
- Apr 21, 2023
- 4 min read
Overview
Lions Mane, or Hercium erinaceus, has a long history of medicinal uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as India, Japan & Korea.
Its referred to as Lions Mane because of its mane like surface formed by fruiting bodies.
What is a fruiting body? The visible, above ground structure of the fungus (where all the good stuff is - we'll touch more on this later.)
Lions Mane contains a number of bioactive compounds that have been shown to have a beneficial effect on the body - especially the brain, heart & gut. These include:
Erinacines
Hericerines
Aromatic compounds
Sterols
Polysaccharides
Lions Mane is also extremely rich in amino acids, fiber, mono & polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as important minerals including magnesium, phosphorus, potassium & zinc.
Did you know? 31% of older women & 49% of older men are deficient in trace minerals including zinc, selenium, iodine, copper & selenium.)
Research indicated that Lions Mane has many potential benefits including neuroprotection, antioxidants & immune support.
Brain Health!
Lions Mane is THE mushroom for brain health. Lions Mane has been shown to increase the growth of NGF or nerve growth factor. An increase of nerve growth increases your cerebral function which in turn benefits your memory, cognition & mental clarity.
In a double blind, parallel, placebo controlled trial, individuals with mild cognitive impairment found that those who supplemented 250mg of Lion Mane for 4 months had higher scores in brain function compared to the placebo.
Up to one third of people living in developed countries experience symptoms of depression & anxiety. There are many causes of depression & anxiety but a big one is chronic inflammation. Lions Mane extract has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and can reduce the symptoms of depression & anxiety.
Could Help Protect Against Dementia
The brains ability to grow and form new connections declines with age which explains why mental function worsens in many adults.
A 2020 study of people with mild Alzheimers disease found that supplementation with 1 gram of Lions Mane daily for 49 weeks significantly improved cognitive test scores compared to the placebo.
Antioxidants!
Lions Mane is known for its strong antioxidant properties.
Other studies have shown that a single extract of Lions Mane was able to support liver health - this is thought to be due to its antioxidant effects.
Immune Support
Lions Mane helps support a healthy immune system.
Research found on polysaccharides found in Lions Mane showed that it stimulated the secretion of cytokines, reduced endocytosis & increased the expression of molecules important for antigen presentation.
An animal study found that Lions Mane supplementation helped to increase innate immune response activity.
Lower overall mortality was seen in the group that supplemented Lions Mane.
How to Add Lions Mane to Your Diet
Although you can eat the Lions Mane mushroom, they are not easy to find in most grocery stores. I have found them in Whole Foods & New Leaf Community Market.
The best & easiest way to incorporate Lions Mane (in my opinion) is through extracts or powder formulas. I have created a Double Extracted Lions Mane Tincture from mushrooms I grow myself. I use 100% fruiting body mushroom, not powder or mycelium.
What's the difference between using a fruiting body extract vs. mycelium extract?
Mycelium
The below ground body of fungus consisting of a network of thick filament
The body (non-sex cells) of the fungus
Fruiting body:
The visible, above ground structure of the fungus. A mushroom is an example of a fruiting body.
The reproductive structure of the fungus
Why is this important?
Scientific studies have shown that most of the beneficial compounds are found in higher concentrations in the fruiting bodies compared to the mycelium.
The Double Extracted Lions Mane Tincture is easy to take, doesn't have much of a taste & is a high potency extract.
You can take directly on your tongue or add to your morning beverage of choice. I take mine every morning in coffee.
I also have a Brain + Power Bundle with Lions Mane & Cordyceps for those looking to boost brain function & energy throughout the day.
If you get lucky and are able to find some Lions Mane at the grocery store, I have made some really delicious Lions Mane Crab Cakes. Sounds weird, but bear with me!
Lions Mane is what I call the tofu of mushrooms. It doesn't really have a taste, so whatever you marinate or season it with, it will take on that flavor profile. These are super easy to make & another way to incorporate all the beneficial medicinal properties of the mushroom into your diet. Check out the recipe below!
Lions Mane Crab Cakes
12 oz Lions Mane (hand shredded in small pieces like crab)
1 large egg
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup green onion - finely sliced
2 tbsp. parsley -finely chopped
2 tbsp. mayo
2 tsp. Dijon
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. old bay seasoning
1 lemon - zest & juice
.5 tsp sriracha (optional)
Kosher salt & pepper
Method:
Hand shred the mushroom - set aside in a medium bowl
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, breadcrumbs, green onion, parsley, mayo, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, old bay seasoning, lemon zest and juice, and sriracha (optional).
Gently mix in the mushroom pieces & panko until well combined.
Form the mushroom mixture into 6 equal six patties about 3/4 inch thick
Place them on parchment and set in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Spray your air fryer with cooking spray and preheat to 400 degrees.
Cook the crab cakes for about 8 minutes or until crispy on the outside.
Squeeze lemon and serve!
I make a simple lemon aioli to go with them but you can use any kind of sauce you'd like.
If you try the recipe, leave a comment below and let me know what you think!
Happy Shroomin!
-Yvette
This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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