Queuing for your morning coffee surrounded by coughs and sneezes? Hoping to make it to Thanksgiving without going down with a virus? Maybe you're already thinking of ways to boost your immune system naturally?

Winter's just around the corner and with it, the dreaded winter germs and bugs but recent research shows how Lion's Mane could help protect you all year round.

First up, we're talking mushrooms, not Simba's pop, in this article. In fact, mushrooms seem to be all anyone's talking about when it comes to natural wellness at the moment. And for good reason too. The power and potential of funghi is finally being (re)discovered by a whole new generation of health conscious consumers. And, even better, the science points towards mushrooms possesing great power for good too! So let's dig in...

A word on functional mushrooms

Lion’s Mane is a functional mushroom variety; a type of mushroom possessing health and wellness benefits beyond their individual nutritional benefits. It's so-called owing to its fuzzy, creamy-colored appearance which resembles, yep you guessed it, a lion's mane. They are legal, easy to cultivate and extremely versatile - used in everything from cooking to coffee.

Functional mushrooms fall into one of two categories: medicinal and adaptogenic. Medicinal mushrooms provide specific health benefits while adaptogenic mushrooms enhance our body's overall wellbeing.

Lion's Mane, or Hericium erinaceus, is an adaptogenic mushroom rich in vitamins and minerals. It offers a range of benefits including improved cognitive function and the ability to reduce anxiety and depression. Other examples of functional mushrooms include Reishi, Chaga and Cordyceps - these all come with their own unique blend of benefits too.

Researchers are still getting to grips with the extensive benefits this intelligent mushroom can provide to humans. Lion’s Mane is rich in antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, acts as a prebiotic, and studies suggest it may help prevent dementia.

Advantages of Lion’s Mane

● Enhanced brain health – a recent study found that Lion’s Mane is neuroprotective, meaning it safeguards your memory and may even offer protection against stroke.

● Increased focus – Lion’s Mane can also improve concentration. It’s an excellent supplement to take before studying, taking exams or facing significant life events.

● Mood enhancement – Lion’s Mane is well-known for its potential to assist those dealing with depression, anxiety, addiction and hormonal mood disorders. The natural compounds in this mushroom help regulate mood by acting within the brain.

● Support for the immune system – this is where Lion’s Mane truly shines. Since the immune system is closely connected to gut health, this mushroom boosts immunity through its prebiotic and antioxidant properties.

What benefits can Lion's Mane offer your immune system?

Scientists are still investigating how exactly it interacts with the body but currently understand that Lion’s Mane mushrooms are particularly advantageous for the immune system for two key reasons:

1. They reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Lion’s Mane contains enzymes and other complex compounds that help decrease inflammation throughout the body.

2. Lion’s Mane supports gut health by stimulating specific blood cells that serve as your body’s defence against illness. Simultaneously, it nourishes your gut flora with beneficial prebiotic fibres.

Inflammation, friend or foe?

It's worth noting that inflammation is not neccessarily a bad thing for our bodies. It can act as an early warning system that we're 'coming down with something' by triggering the production of white blood cells to fight illness. Unfortunately, inflammation takes a bit of a scatter-gun approach to fighting back as it is unable to solely target the illness. This is when inflammation can begin to take a toll on the rest of our body.

The chemicals released to combat illness can also damage healthy cells and sometimes inflammation lingers long after an illness has passed, leading to additional health problems.

How Lion's Mane helps with inflammation

A specific protein in Lion’s Mane mushrooms called HEP3 promotes the production of those crucial white blood cells that serve as your first line of defence. It also reduces the inflammatory chemicals, resulting in what scientists refer to as a more “robust” immune response. This allows the white blood cells to take on more of the workload while signalling your body to ease off on the inflammation.

As a potent anti-inflammatory mushroom, it also helps reduce fever, aches and other symptoms of illness while simultaneously enhancing your immune response.

Feel it in your gut

It has long been understood that a healthy, well-functioning immune system begins with a healthy, well-functioning gut. Simply put, if you want to support your immune system, starting with your stomach is key.

Your gut is typically the first point of entry for foreign bacteria and pathogens through the food and countless invisible particles you consume on a daily basis. That’s why your gut has developed the ability to fend off a wide variety of threats, activating your immune system at the first sign of danger. Maintaining a healthy gut is essential for a robust immune system and ensuring a balanced microbiome is crucial for gut health.

The best way to bolster your gut is through beneficial bacteria and antioxidants, providing it with the resources it needs to respond effectively to any challenges it encounters.

How Lion’s Mane supports your gut

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are full of prebiotics (a type of soluble fiber) and probiotics (gut-friendly bacteria). These are two substances your gut absolutely thrives upon!

The nutrients in Lion’s Mane stimulate the production of more T-cells (white blood cells that fight infection) triggered by inflammation, leading to a faster and more effective response against any threats to your gut.

Lion's Mane also encourages the thickening of the mucus lining (intestinal epithelium) of our gut - a great boost for those recovering from intestinal illnesses and also an effective way to prevent pathogens entering our bloodstream from the within the gut.

The ability of functional fungi like Lion’s Mane to support your gut and, by extension, your immune system is a relatively new discovery, making it all the more exciting.