Lion’s Mane Fungi are a hot topic that I’m eager to share with you today. They have culinary and medicinal uses in countries like Japan, China, Korea, India, and are slowly making their way to the US. Many describe the texture as “seafood like” which make them great substitutes in vegan and plant based recipes. The name comes from its cute little stringy appearance some say resembles a lion's mane. I personally think it looks like a fuzzy cauliflower, as you can see from this photo of my first grown batch. My wonderful husband, Dr. Mohan, bought a home kit to grow my own Lion’s Mane, such a romantic! 💕So after doing some research, growing, and cooking with them, I knew I had to share the many benefits with you. 

According to the Hippocrates Health Institute, Lion’s Mane can be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or steeped in a tea. I personally prefer to saute’ them. Lion’s Mane contain bioactive substances that have beneficial effects on the whole body, especially the heart, brain, immune system, and gut. The numerous benefits affects many diseases including cancer, heart disease, liver disease, depression, anxiety, dementia, & autoimmune diseases. For this post, I want to focus on the areas that I’m most passionate about - Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Diabetes. Lets’ look at the research so far. 

So you may know that ulcers can form anywhere along the digestive tract, including the stomach, small intestine, and the colon. Stomach ulcers are proven to be caused by two major contributing factors: long term use of non-steroidal ant-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs). The most commonly known are:

1) Aspirin ( Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, St. Joseph) 

2) Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

3) Naproxen ( Aleve, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn ) 

4) Celecoxib ( Celebrex) 

Believe me, I was as devastated as you are right now when I saw Advil on that list!….Rats!! The second contributing factor to stomach ulcers is a combination of an overgrowth of bacteria called H. Pylori which causes damage to the mucosal layer of the stomach. Lion’s Mane extract may protect against the development of stomach ulcers by inhibiting the growth of H. Pylori and protecting the stomach lining from continual damage. Additionally, animal studies found that Lion's Mane was more effective at preventing alcohol-induced stomach ulcers than traditional acid-lowering drugs - without the side affects! 

Lion’s Mane can also reduce inflammation and prevent tissue damage in other areas of the intestines. This is how it may help prevent inflammatory bowel disease, like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. One study in patients with Ulcerative Colitis found that taking a mushroom supplement containing 14% Lion’s Mane extract, significantly reduced their symptoms and improved their quality of life in just three weeks. Lion’s Mane mushrooms can boost the immune system by activating the beneficial gut bacteria that stimulate the immune system. Remember, 70% of your immune system is controlled by the microbes in your gut. This added level of protection can assist the body in fighting pathogens that enter the gut through the mouth and nose. 

Chromic inflammation is believed to be at the root of IBD and many modern illnesses. Since these fungi contain powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, they may help reduce or even prevent these illnesses. 

Now with metabolic syndrome taking this country by storm, lets’ look at the possible benefits for prevention of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Studies in mice have found that Lion’s Mane extract improves fat metabolism and lowers triglyceride levels. Another study of rats fed a high fat diet and given doses of Lion’s Mane, observed a 27% lower triglyceride level and 42% less weight gained after 28 days. Both obesity and high triglycerides are considered major risk factors for heart disease, so this is one way Lion’s Mane can help. Test tube studies have also found than Lion’s Mane extract helped prevent oxidation of cholesterol. To clarify this a bit, know that oxidized cholesterol molecules tend to attach to the walls of your arteries, causing them to harden, narrowing the area needed for adequate blood flow, which increases your risk of heart attack. As an added heart benefit, Lion’s Mane contains a compound called Hericenone B, which can lower the rate of blood clotting, further decreasing your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Last, but now least, the benefits for diabetes consist of improving blood sugar control and reducing some of the debilitating side effects. Several animal studies have shown that Lion’s Mane can cause significantly lower blood sugar levels in both normal and diabetic mice. One way is by blocking the activity of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, which breaks down carbs in the small intestine, resulting in lower blood sugar. Lion’s Mane also has the added benefit of reducing diabetic neuropathy in the hands and feet. In mice with diabetic nerve pain, a daily dose of Lion’s Mane extract significantly reduced pain, and increased their antioxidant levels. 

More human studies are needed of course to determine the most health benefits, but the results from lab studies are promising. If you don’t have any known allergies or sensitivity to the Fungi family, you might want to give Lion’s Mane a try. 

I understand that growing your own or even finding Lion’s Mane in the supermarket may be difficult, but so far, growing them has been very easy.  I highly recommend you research growers in your area, or order a home kit online, and give this cutie ”Fungi” a try. 

If you want to learn more about the many health benefits of Lion's Mane, please visit www.Nutritionfacts.org and www.HippocratesWellness.org 

 Please seek nutritional truth, eat lots of plants, and strive for optimal health. 

You Got This! 

Michelle Mohan, MS, NBC-HWC, CNWE