Maitake mushrooms

What are Maitake mushrooms

Maitake is Japanese for dancing mushroom. People would dance when they came across it because of it amazing healing potentials. It also has many other names such as Grifola frondose or hen of the woods. Maitake mushrooms are native to China but are also grown in North America and Japan. They are normally found by oak, elm or maple trees in big bunches and can get to 100 pounds or more, earning them the title “king of the mushrooms.”

Benefits of Maitake mushrooms

·        Reduce stress and anxiety

·        Balanced blood sugars levels and lowers blood pressure

·        Beneficial for gut health and Digestion

·        Counters infertility

·        Immune system support

Reduce stress and anxiety

The adaptogenic properties of maitake mushrooms are among their biggest contemporary advantages.

Herbs and nutrients known as "adaptogens" can help shield you from the negative effects of both physical and mental stressors. In essence, they assist your body in coping with stress and lessening its effects. You could definitely use this skill if you're like most people!

In the 1940s, the word "adaptogen" was first used. In its original definition, it was described as a natural drug or plant extract that had general effects to increase the human body's tolerance to stressful situations in particular.

Since then, numerous studies on herbal adaptogens have been carried out with some impressive outcomes.

Overall, adaptogens have demonstrated the capacity to reduce fatigue, soothe anxiety and depressive symptoms, improve mental function, and even alter your body's chemical response to stress. 

They have also shown nootropic and neuroprotective qualities, which means they support brain development

and defence.

The main line is that by reducing the negative impacts of stress, maitake mushrooms can be a big asset to your body and mind. 

It does, however, need to be taken for a while (at least 23 weeks) before you see the full effects, just like other adaptogens.

Balanced blood sugars levels and lowers blood pressure

Two studies tested on animals in Japan that found that administering Grifola frondosa to diabetic rats improved blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance.

The second animal study showed similar findings reporting that the Maitake mushrooms fruit had a powerful anti-diabetic property in diabetic mice.

Powerful cancer-fighting components may be in the Maitake mushroom.

A study within animals showed that administering an extract derived from the Maitake mushroom given to mice helped stop the growth of tumours.

Also Maitake mushroom extract could be useful in suppressing the growth of breast cancer cells.

A study has shown that Maitake mushrooms could help with heart health by lowering cholesterol. This animal study found supplementation with Maitake mushrooms was effective in reducing cholesterol levels in mice.

Beneficial for gut health and Digestion

Your digestion will also benefit if you routinely consume maitake mushrooms.

Beta glucans and polysaccharides are types of soluble fibre in addition to having strong health benefits. They essentially "keep you regular" by creating a thick, gel-like substance in your digestive tract. In addition, beta glucan lessens cholesterol absorption in your digestive tract and delays the absorption of sugar.

The fact that beta glucans are prebiotic fibres makes this even better. This indicates that they nourish the vital probiotics in your stomach. Amazingly, studies have revealed that they promote the expansion and colonisation of helpful microbes!

Another thing to consider is that some early research indicates maitake extract may be able to reduce intestinal inflammation. Patients with IBD and other inflammatory gut illnesses may find this to be a game-changer, although more research is still required in this area.

Counters infertility

For many people all over the world, infertility is a frustrating problem. Infertility can be challenging to cure, even with traditional methods, as there is no single cause.

Because they have a balancing and regulating effect on the body, adaptogens are one of the top suggestions in many traditional medical systems for boosting fertility. They can even lower the stress hormone cortisol. They also have a balancing influence on hormones, which are frequently a cause of infertility.

According to a Japanese study, the adaptogenic properties of maitake mushrooms may have advantages for improved fertility.

The polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that usually causes ovarian cysts, diminished or no ovulation, and infertility, was present in all the study subjects. Almost 76% of individuals receiving Maitake extract were ovulating once more at the end of the experiment, which is a significant step towards conception.

Even though this was only a small trial, the outcomes were highly encouraging.

Immune system support

To combat cancer cells, maitake stimulates the immune system. Your body may benefit from this strengthened immune response in its fight against both common infections and cancer.

Once more, the potent polysaccharides in maitake, notably beta glucans, are responsible for this action. They activate defense-related immune cells as well as natural killer cells, which hunt out tumour and virus-infected cells.

An immune system's defence response was "significantly stimulated" in one study by a maitake mushroom extract. Remarkably, when maitake and shiitake extracts were combined, the immune-boosting effects were considerably higher. A compelling argument in favour of using various medicinal mushrooms!