Functional Mushrooms For Focus and Brain Function

When it comes to nootropics that are scientifically proven to potentially help enhance your cognition and focus, it doesn't get any better than functional mushrooms. Emerging as a new health trend, functional mushroom supplements are turning out to be a wonderful way of naturally and safely improving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In addition, scientists also claim that some mushrooms can be an excellent way to help enhance your cognitive health, improve your psychological well-being, and may even help combat symptoms associated with cognitive health complications and impairment. 

Studies have also identified that functional mushrooms may also potentially minimize neurological inflammation and the build-up of an enzyme known as beta-amyloid, which is commonly associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Research has also shown that eating medicinal mushrooms may also help combat depression, minimize stress, keep your body energized, and improve your mood regulation.

Types of Functional Mushrooms that can Help Improve Your Brain Function and Focus

Lion's Mane

Lion's mane is packed with the natural compounds necessary to help provide you with cognitive clarity and is ideal for people who have busy minds. In addition, research also shows the potential benefits of eating lion's mane mushrooms to improve one's mental well-being along with helping them enhance their memory.

But what's even more interesting is that the functional mushroom is also known for its neuroprotectant qualities, enabling your body to potentially help improve its ability to develop healthy nerves in the brain, possibly creating healthy neurons.

Lion's mane naturally comprises two essential compounds knowns as hericenones and erinacines, both of which are enzymes that provide brain-improving qualities. Hericenones are associated with helping the brain produce new nerves. On the other hand, erinacines travel through the blood-brain barrier, facilitating hericenones to create healthy neurons.

In addition, the functional mushroom contains plenty of medicinal properties like soluble fibers such as beta-glucan, which is scientifically proven to help maintain your blood sugar, potentially improve your immunity, and may also minimize the growth of tumors.

Cordyceps Militaris

Cordyceps militaris is another functional mushroom that is known to help provide numerous health benefits such as a boost in stamina, improvement in your energy level, battles fatigue, and helps maintain a healthy oxygen flow in your bloodstream. In addition, cordyceps militaris contains a slew of antioxidants and immuno-efficient compounds that, according to studies, can help your body reset your biological clock whenever you experience jet lag. The primary natural enzyme in cordyceps militaris is cordycepin.

Chaga

Chaga is aptly regarded as the most powerful medicinal mushroom in the fungi kingdom. Why? Well, amongst all other functional mushrooms, chaga contains the most amount of naturally occurring antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. It is associated with a wide range of health benefits such as blood sugar regulation, helps lower cholesterol, helps minimize blood pressure, fights inflammation, and may also boost your immunity.

However, chaga also acts as a powerful immunomodulator, which amongst natural medicine experts, is considered the key element for a healthy immune system. Moreover, the functional mushroom may also potentially increase the efficiency of your white blood cells by creating cytokines, which are enzymes that help your body guard against common viruses and bacteria.

However, when you talk about brain health, chaga helps maintain your cognitive health rather than being a brain booster. You see, a lot of neurodegenerative complications form due to inflammation in the brain, which if not kept in check, may cause cell death, which over the long run, may lead to problems such as memory loss, decline in focus, and a reduction in your level of concentration.

The Benefits of Nootropics Like Functional Mushrooms for Your Brain

May Help Combat Symptoms Associated with Dementia

It is important to understand that as we age, the capacity of our brains to form new neurons and cells starts to diminish. This is one of the reasons why a lot of senior citizens begin to show signs of serious cognitive decline and cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

However, according to medical research, on animals, experts have identified that the natural compounds found in functional mushrooms such as lion's mane may significantly help protect your brain against harrowing brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Clinical extracts from animals have further shown that lion's mane mushrooms can combat symptoms associated with brain damage and loss of memory in mice. In addition, the functional mushroom was also found to help induce nerve growth in the subjects, which has led scientists to believe that functional mushrooms may prove to be a magnificent substance to help people minimize Alzheimer's symptoms.

However, it is important to understand that a lot of the medical research and studies that have been done have been performed on animals thus far.

May Potentially Boost Your Ability to Heal Injuries to the Nervous System

Your nervous system comprises things such as the spinal cord, brain, and billions of nerves that span across your entire body. Together they function as the nervous system, helping send electrical signals and perform other essential activities that support your organ and other bodily functions.

Injuries to your spinal cord or brain can lead to a plethora of acute and chronic medical conditions ranging from stroke, memory loss, paralysis, and more. All of which may take months or even years to heal. However, according to medical research, experts have determined that lion's mane extract may help shorten the road to recovery thanks to its capability to help promote nerve growth and generate new neurons or brain cells.

Scientists have also determined that functional mushroom nootropics may even be able to reduce some of the harrowing health complications that take form as a result of a stroke or severe brain damage.

Effects of Functional Mushrooms on the Brain

Functional mushrooms have been used as a source of medicine for thousands of years. They are nature's superfoods that contain powerful compounds and enzymes that may help improve your brain health by helping minimize things such as neuroinflammation.

Mushroom supplements such as lion's mane, turkey tail, chaga, etc. are an excellent source of compounds that may help promote NGF (nerve growth factor), helping your body speed up neuron repair functionalities. Plus, thanks to numerous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in functional mushrooms, you may be able to steer clear of the damage caused by free radical cells.

Bottom Line

All in all, incorporating functional mushroom supplements in your diet can be a great way to maintain and possibly improve your overall health and well-being.

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/best-medicinal-mushrooms-to-try#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1
2. https://teelixir.com/blogs/news/mushrooms-for-brain-health#:~:text=Commonly%20Asked%20Questions-,How%20do%20mushrooms%20work%20on%20the%20brain%3F,cognition%2C%20memory%20and%20brain%20health.
3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom#relieves-mild-depression-and-anxiety
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324710
5. https://drruscio.com/mushrooms-for-brain-health/
6. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7