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Antioxidant Power of Reishi and Cordyceps

Article at a Glance:

  • Reishi mushrooms have over 400 bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties for better health.
  • Cordyceps has polysaccharides that scavenge free radicals to reduce the adverse effects of stress.
  • Add Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms to your daily routine with our vegan gummies.

Stress is an inevitable part of our lives, and the body has perfectly designed systems to combat stress. As the body wards off the damaging effects stress has on cells, free radicals, also known as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), are produced. 

Under normal circumstances, free radicals are a natural by-product. Free radicals build up when stress gets too high, or the body is fighting an illness or disease. If left uncontrolled, this could have potentially harmful effects on the body. 

Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals. Antioxidants come primarily from the foods we eat, including mushrooms. Reishi and Cordyceps are two medicinal mushrooms favored in Eastern medicine for thousands of years for their antioxidant properties. 

In this article, we’ll explore the antioxidant power of Reishi and Cordyceps.

Antioxidant Power of Mushrooms

The body is beautifully designed to respond to stress. This can be stress we experience from any source, including work, environmental toxins, illnesses, or smoking.

Free radicals are generated when the body's immune system mounts a defense against stress. This isn't a bad thing, but under conditions of chronic stress, free radicals accumulate and can cause cell damage. Antioxidants help neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals.

The body produces some antioxidants, but the majority of antioxidants come from the foods we eat. Medicinal mushrooms contain several bioactive compounds that are natural antioxidants in the body.[1] 

The main antioxidant bioactive compounds of mushrooms are:[1]

  • Phenols: Compounds in plants that act like antioxidants.[2]
  • Flavonoids: Phytochemicals in plants that work to “fight” free radicals.[3]
  • Beta-glucan: (β-Glucan) isn’t technically an antioxidant, but it does reduce free radicals in the same way that antioxidants do.[4]

Reishi Mushroom

For over 2,00 years, reishi has been known as the “longevity” mushroom for its antioxidant properties.[5] Scientific studies have confirmed that reishi contains potent antioxidant properties on a cellular level.

Terpenoids and polysaccharides are the two major antioxidant bioactive compounds in reishi mushrooms.[4],[5] In the body, terpenoids and polysaccharides act as scavengers. They seek out free radicals and help to eliminate them.

Initially, the antioxidant activity of Reishi was examined on individual cells in a lab but has since extended to human trials. This free radical scavenging effect is so significant that Reishi is being trialed in human studies to help reverse some medication side effects.[5]

Reishi is a type of adaptogen, which means it influences the body's adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce hormones affected by stress, including cortisol. One human study where participants took Reishi reported feeling less fatigued.[6]

Cordyceps Mushroom

Cordyceps is another traditional medicinal mushroom desired for its antioxidant properties. Scientists use extracts of Cordyceps mushrooms to examine how it works on a cellular level.

Cordyceps combines bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, that work like antioxidants by scavenging free radicals.[7],[8] By scavenging free radicals, Cordyceps help to reduce potential cellular damage. 

Preventing cellular damage has important implications in slowing the processes that cause chronic illnesses and brain aging. One of the side effects of excess stress is fatigue. 

Cordyceps not only has antioxidant properties, but it is well-known for decreasing fatigue. In human studies, cordyceps supplementation can help improve oxygen utilization and increase ATP production, reducing feelings of fatigue and improving exercise performance.[9]

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to counteract the harmful effects of stress in your daily life, Reishi and Cordyceps are great solutions. The bioactive compounds in Reishi and Cordyceps seek to neutralize damaging free radicals that cause cellular damage.

Start harnessing the antioxidant power of Reishi and Cordyceps today with our delicious functional mushroom gummies.

References

  1. Kozarski M, Klaus A, Jakovljevic D, Todorovic N, Vunduk J, Petrović P, Niksic M, Vrvic MM, van Griensven L. Molecules. 2015 Oct 27;20(10):19489-525. doi: 10.3390/molecules201019489.
  2. Kumar N, Goel N. Biotechnol Rep (Amst). 2019 Aug 20;24:e00370. doi: 10.1016/j.btre.2019.e00370. 
  3. Ullah A, Munir S, Badshah SL, Khan N, Ghani L, Poulson BG, Emwas AH, Jaremko M. Molecules. 2020 Nov 11;25(22):5243. doi: 10.3390/molecules25225243.
  4. Kofuji K, Aoki A, Tsubaki K, Konishi M, Isobe T, Murata Y. ISRN Pharm. 2012;2012:125864. doi: 10.5402/2012/125864.
  5. Cör D, Knez Ž, Knez Hrnčič M. Antitumour. Molecules. 2018; 23(3):649. doi: 10.3390/molecules23030649.
  6. Arroyo I, Rosario-Acevedo R, Aguilar-Perez A, Clemente P, Cubano L, Serrano J, Schneider R, Martínez-Montemayor M. PLOS One. 2013;8(2):e57431. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057431. 
  7. Dong C, Yao Y. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 2008;41(4):669-677. doi:10.1016/j.lw.2007.05.002.
  8. Zhu Y, Yu X, Ge Q, Li J, Wang D, Wei Y, Ouyang Z. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2020;157:394-400.doi:10.1016//j.ijbiomac.2020.04.163.
  9. 9.Tuli H, Sandhu S, Sharma A. 3 Biotech. 2014; 4(1): 1–12. doi:10.1007/s13205-013-0121-9.

 

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