Mushrooms used for their health benefits for centuries, but recently more people have turned to mushroom gummies as an easy way to get those benefits. Mushroom gummies contain extracts of mushrooms like lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps, turkey tail, and others that are known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties.
1. Support brain health and memory
The most researched mushrooms used in gummies are varieties like lion’s mane that have demonstrated neurological benefits. Studies have found certain compounds in lion’s mane mushrooms stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a protein that plays a key role in the maintenance, regeneration, and protection of neurons in the brain and nervous system.
The stimulation of NGF production by lion’s mane has been shown in multiple studies to have protective effects against cognitive decline. Participants scored better on cognitive tests related to memory, concentration, and executive function compared to placebo groups. Other research found improved symptoms for those suffering from mild cognitive impairment after regularly consuming lion’s mane mushrooms.
2. Reduce oxidative stress and inflammation
- Chronic inflammation and oxidative damage are at the root of most modern diseases. Though our bodies have natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant defense systems, they sometimes get overwhelmed. Mushrooms like reishi, cordyceps, and turkey tail have compounds that research suggests fill deficiencies in our natural defense systems.
- For example, one study found taking reishi mushroom daily significantly reduced markers of oxidative damage compared to placebo controls after 4 weeks. Other clinical research on patients with breast cancer found Turkey tail mushroom gummies improved immune cell counts and antioxidant capacity.
- Mushroom gummies help shore up your body’s defenses against the constant low-level damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. Over time, this could support everything from improved skin health to reducing disease risk as you age.
3. balance hormones and improve energy levels
From perimenopause to andropause, balancing hormones is a concern for both women and men as they age. Adaptogenic mushrooms like cordyceps and reishi have research demonstrating they help regulate hormones involved in our stress response like cortisol. It in turn has a beneficial regulatory effect on other key hormones. In one study, a group of older adults taking cordyceps for 12 weeks saw their cortisol levels decrease while testosterone and the hormone DHEA increased. Research also found cordyceps boosted aerobic capacity and energy levels in a 30-day trial — likely due to its effect on oxygen utilization. So if your energy levels or hormones need a lift, mushroom gummies could help provide the adaptogenic balancing affects you need to restore optimal function.
4. Support heart health
With compounds known to reduce blood pressure and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), mushrooms used in gummies like reishi and cordyceps have promising effects on cardiovascular health that researchers continue to uncover. For example, a clinical study investigating the effects of reishi mushroom on blood pressure found a small but significant reduction over 4 weeks in the average 24-hour diastolic pressure of the group taking reishi. Other research demonstrates reishi’s ability to inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol — the process that forms artery-clogging plaques.
Together, lowering blood pressure and preventing LDL cholesterol from accumulating in the arteries may lead to meaningful improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. So adding mushroom gummies to your routine could be heart-healthy. But always talk to your doctor first about possible interactions if you are already prescribed blood pressure or cholesterol medications.