5 Amazing Immune Health Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms

From trendy mushroom coffees to mushroom-infused skincare products, medicinal mushrooms are mushrooming in popularity. People are finally discovering and experiencing what practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine have known for thousands of years — mushrooms are among the most powerful healing substances on earth.

One of the most powerful benefits of medicinal mushrooms is their powers to upgrade immune health. Their unique properties have been shown repeatedly in hundreds of studies to support immune function on multiple levels.

Ready to transform your health and wellness? We’ve put together 5 science-backed ways to feel better with medicinal mushrooms.

Hundreds of studies show that vitamin D plays an integral role in immune health, including reducing susceptibility to colds and flu and lowering the risk for cancer. When exposed to ultraviolet light, mushrooms make their own vitamin D, so they offer the perfect way to boost your intake of the vitamin.

In a new study from The British Medical Journal, researchers discovered that 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily lowered the risk of autoimmune diseases (including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and autoimmune thyroid issues) by 22 percent.¹

It’s time to break the myth of ‘boosting’ your immune system. Boosting your immune function can be dangerous for several reasons. Overstimulating your immune system can create confusion within your body, leading to a host of conditions including autoimmune issues or worse, a cytokine storm, where inflammatory cytokines (proteins) flood your bloodstream and wreak havoc on your organs.

That’s why it’s vital to focus on bringing your immune system into balance (and forget about super-charging it). Medicinal mushrooms contain a secret weapon for modulating the immune system — beta-glucans. Found in fungi’s cell walls, beta-glucans, or immunomodulators, have been shown in studies to have a harmonizing effect on the immune system. Research shows that beta-glucans from fungi help boost resistance to viral, bacterial, and even fungal infections, among other benefits.

Stress, poor food choices, inadequate sleep, chronic infections, prescription drugs, and other factors deeply affect the state of your immune system — and therefore, your overall health. The healing compounds in mushrooms, including beta-glucans and potent antioxidants, help nourish and balance the immune system. Mushrooms are essentially a food, so they can (and should) be used daily.

Mushrooms are among the best food sources of antioxidant-rich selenium, a trace mineral key to overall immune health. Getting your daily dose of this nutrient is important for robust immunity. Additionally, mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant shown to protect the body’s cells.

Mushrooms are a treasure trove of nutrients — all important for a robust immune system. Nutritional counts vary by type, but in general, mushrooms are wonderful sources of gut-friendly fiber, antioxidants, minerals (including selenium, phosphorus, and potassium), B vitamins, vitamin D, and protein.

Eating more mushrooms may also help you lose weight — and there’s no question that achieving a healthy weight is good for your immune health. Mushrooms are a low-calorie food, with zero fat and cholesterol. They make a fantastic addition to a healthy weight-loss diet, especially since they have a meat-like taste and texture. The fabulous fungi are hearty and satisfying. According to a 2008 study from John Hopkins Weight Management Center, swapping low-energy density foods, particularly mushrooms, for high-energy-density foods, such as ground beef, is one way to prevent and manage obesity.²

Many people don’t realize that mushrooms are an excellent source of dietary fiber, and therefore, good for your digestive health and gut. And a healthy gut equals a strong immune system. Fiber has been shown in multiple studies to help good bacteria flourish while discouraging harmful bacteria. It supports microbiome balance for improved overall health and wellness. Research also shows that high-fiber diets reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and diabetes. Powdered mushrooms, including those found in capsules, are rich in insoluble fiber. Another bonus: Immune-strengthening beta-glucans are released through the process of making powdered mushrooms.

Even simple white button mushrooms have gut-friendly properties: According to an animal study in the journal Nutrients, white button mushrooms were shown to act like a prebiotic, positively impacting intestinal microbiota.³

A separate study from Nutrients, although not conclusive, suggests that white button mushrooms have a favorable effect on subjects’ microbiota thanks to their prebiotic properties.⁴

No, you don’t have to sit around eating mushrooms all day. The best and easiest way to reap all that mushroom goodness is to take a combination supplement. EcoNugenics Ten Mushroom Formula is unique in that it features 10 organically grown mushroom varieties — organic is important because mushrooms are like sponges and can soak up harmful pesticides if not grown organically. Something you definitely don’t want! This daily formula also boasts additional beta-glucans for powerful immune support.

Supporting our immune systems is one of the smartest things we can do for our health. Medicinal mushrooms are your secret weapon to feeling your best each day, and promoting your long-term health, naturally. Try this popular health tool today with ten medicinal mushrooms in one simple solution.

Ten Mushroom Formula contains the top healing mushrooms on the planet:

• Reishi — immune, cardiovascular, cancer prevention, blood pressure, depression, energy
• Poria — memory, fatigue, stomach issues, diarrhea, kidney health, anti-inflammatory
• Cordyceps — energy, stamina,
• Turkey Tail —immune, infection fighter, cancer prevention, cholesterol-lowering
• Maitake —cancer protective, blood sugar balance, antioxidant-rich, liver support, cholesterol control
• Shiitake — chemo side effects remedy, blood sugar balance, liver health, cardiovascular
• Tremella isolate —anti-inflammatory, lung tonic, anti-aging and skin health, immune, liver protection
• Zhu ling —diuretic, kidney support, anti-hypertensive, edema, difficulty urinating
• Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane) — memory, focus, and concentration, intestinal health, blood pressure, mood-balancing, nerve support
• Wood Ear — building the blood, circulation, cholesterol-lowering, menstrual regulation, gastric inflammation

• General immune support
• Antiviral properties
• Enhanced focus and cognitive function
• Mood booster
• Energy booster
• Anxiety aid
• Cancer prevention
• Anti-inflammatory
• Improved lung and respiratory health
• Liver protection
• Immune-balancing
• Blood-sugar balancing and diabetes support
• Cholesterol-lowering
• Cardiovascular health
• Kidney support
• Fewer chemo side effects
• Sexual wellness
• Pain relief

Sources:

1. Hahn J, Cook N R, Alexander E K, et al. Vitamin D and marine omega 3 fatty acid supplementation and incident autoimmune disease: VITAL randomized controlled trial BMJ 2022; 376 :e066452.
2. Cheskin LJ, Davis LM, Lipsky LM, et al. Lack of energy compensation over 4 days when white button mushrooms are substituted for beef. Appetite. 2008 Jul;51(1):50-7.
3. Solano-Aguilar GI, Jang S, Lakshman S, et al. The Effect of Dietary Mushroom Agaricus bisporus on Intestinal Microbiota Composition and Host Immunological Function. Nutrients. 2018 Nov 9;10(11):1721.
4. Hess J, Wang Q, Gould T, Slavin J. Impact of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Consumption on Gut Health Markers in Healthy Adults. Nutrients. 2018;10(10):1402.