How Lion's Mane Mushrooms Improve Mood
Article at a Glance:
- Lion's Mane is best known for its cognitive-enhancing benefits, but research indicates it may also help improve mood.
- Researchers examined the effects of lion’s mane mushroom on 30 women over a four weeks with a reported improvement in mood.
- For a tasty and convenient way to help improve mood, try our vegan gummies, which contain 500mg of lion's mane per serving.
Stress is something we all deal with daily, and you don't need us to tell you that most of us are feeling more stressed than ever these days for one reason or another.
Feeling stressed all the time can have a wide range of detrimental effects on you, mentally, physically, and emotionally.
To reduce stress, often, individuals may turn to a certain set of substances to take the edge off and heighten feelings of well-being. In the end, though, these substances have a net negative effect as they often lead to worse health outcomes (both mentally and physically).
The good news is that you don’t have to rely on potentially hazardous agents to reduce feelings of stress and improve mood. You can do it with a combination of the right lifestyle habits, including proper diet, exercise, and supplementation.
Today, we highlight one of the best supplements to improve mood -- Lion’s Mane.
What is Lion’s Mane?
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) is a functional mushroom with a long history of traditional Chinese medicine use due to its powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and health-supporting properties.
The humble mushroom is also held in high regard for its nootropic benefits. Research indicates it can stimulate an important brain peptide called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which plays a role in the growth, development, and maintenance of brain cells (neurons).
NGF also plays an important role in forming myelin, a sheath that surrounds nerve cells that helps neurons do their job.
And, in addition to supporting cognitive function, lion’s mane also may improve mood and feelings of well-being.
Better Mood with Lion’s Mane
Researchers investigated the effects of lion's mane mushroom on 30 women over four weeks.[3]
The women were randomly assigned to a test group, which received lion's mane-enhanced cookies, or a control group, which received placebo cookies. At the end of the four-week trial, the women receiving the lion's mane-infused cookies reported an improvement in mood.[3]
Lion's Mane may also boost focus, which can contribute to a better mood. We've all experienced how frustrating it can be when we're trying to get work done, but can't seem to concentrate, whether it be due to stress, lack of sleep, etc.
The bioactive compounds in lion’s mane have been noted to help support a normal inflammatory response and improve blood flow, which provides your brain with more oxygen, ultimately leading to better performance (and mood).[4][5]
Why Lion's Mane?
Lion's Mane is an age-old mushroom that is best known for its cognitive-enhancing benefits, but emerging research indicates it may also help improve mood via several different mechanisms.
Best of all, lion’s mane is natural and safe, unlike so many other substances often utilized when trying to reduce stress and improve mood.
Lion's Mane Mushroom Gummies
At this point, you're probably wondering the best way to incorporate this magnificent mushroom into your life? While lion's mane supplements are available as capsules, extracts, and powders, we prefer gummies since they are convenient, easy to take, and mess-free.
Each Fungies® gummy contains 500mg of lion's mane per serving (standardized to contain 30% Beta-Glucans) and is gluten-free, gelatin-free, and vegan-friendly. Did we mention that they're delicious too?
So grab a bottle (or two) today and experience firsthand how lion's mane can help improve mood.
References
- Saitsu Y, Nishide A, Kikushima K, Shimizu K, Ohnuki K. Biomed Res. 2019;40(4):125-131. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.40.125. PMID: 31413233.
- Lai PL, Naidu M, Sabaratnam V, Wong KH, David RP, Kuppusamy UR, Abdullah N, Malek SN. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2013;15(6):539-54. doi: 10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30. PMID: 24266378.
- Nagano M, Shimizu K, Kondo R, Hayashi C, Sato D, Kitagawa K, Ohnuki K. Biomed Res. 2010 Aug;31(4):231-7. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.31.231. PMID: 20834180.
- Vauzour D. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012;2012:914273. doi:10.1155/2012/914273
- Stangl D, Thuret S. Genes Nutr. 2009;4(4):271-282. doi:10.1007/s12263-009-0134-5
- Chong PS, Fung ML, Wong KH, Lim LW. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;21(1):163. Published 2019 Dec 25. doi:10.3390/ijms21010163