But..What about Soup?

While a hot bowl of soup definitely sounds nice when you are feeling under the weather, it won’t actually do much for your body in terms of fighting the sickness at hand. Mushrooms are actually one of nature's best gifts when it comes to immune fighting properties. The reason why this is a lesser known fact is most likely because only a few species of mushrooms actually boast these properties.

How do they do it?

Beta glucans is a term very commonly thrown around in the mushroom community. Many regard them as some of the most potent compounds that are found in mushrooms. Beta glucans are what are most responsible for the immune boosting properties found in mushrooms. Essentially, they stimulate our immune system and make it work harder and produce more of our parasite fighting cells. So while beta glucans aren't necessarily doing the heavy lifting, they are turning our immune system up a notch. 

Antioxidants

We all know that antioxidants are good for us but how come mushrooms are never mentioned. Mushrooms have extremely high antioxidant content, in fact, chaga contains the highest antioxidant levels of any food! Ultimately, antioxidants help our body to heal faster by reducing free radical molecules in the body. With that being said, the next time you are told to drink juice when you're sick for the “antioxidants”, tell them the only juice you're going to be drinking is chaga juice! 

The Best Mushrooms

Because there are just so many species of mushrooms, and only a few specialize in immune support, I thought it would be handy to list my top three mushrooms for immunity. 

My top ranked mushroom for immunity boosting would for sure be Chaga. Chaga contains polysaccharides, betulinic acid, and high antioxidant levels. Together, these three compounds will ensure your immune system is in tip top shape. Not only is this effective for things like the common cold or flu, but research is suggesting that chaga could even be used for cancer prevention. Visit our Research page.

Turkey tail is another amazing mushroom for immunity boosting. Not only does it contain high levels of beta glucans, it contains polysaccharide peptides and krestin which manipulate the immune response in different ways and encourage exactly what your body needs. Visit our Research page.

Last but not least the Lion's Mane Mushroom is great if you are feeling under the weather. This mushroom is packed full of beta glucans as well as plenty of other compounds that stimulate the immune system. On top of this, research shows that incorporating lion's mane into your diet can train your immune system to kill invaders while leaving your own cells alone. Visit our Research page.

Mushrooms for Mainstream

With how potent mushrooms are in their immune boosting nutrients, it’s truly surprising that they are not the go to natural supplement when you are feeling sick. With more and more research being done on these compounds every day, there is no doubt that these facts will be well known throughout our society in the coming years. Until then, however, enjoy nature's secret medicine and let’s work together to spread the word about these amazing and effective compounds because they will change lives.