Mushrooms have been gathering traction in the media for years, they are touted for their possible ties to cognition, immunity, and antioxidant profiles. But what is the difference between them? Where are they best placed? And what does the research say?
At Cambridge Commodities, we have a range of different mushrooms available - tremella, maitake, lion's mane, chaga, reishi, and cordyceps. Read on to discover the benefits of these mystical mushrooms...
Tremella (Tremella fuciformis)
Most of the benefits of Tremella mushrooms are linked to their high polysaccharide content. There is some research that suggests that tremella mushrooms may help to improve immunity1, skin health2 and cognition3. However, more research is needed as much of the research is only conducted in test tubes and on animals. You can, however, combine with vitamin C for the health claim "contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin".
Maitake (Grifola frondosa)
The polysaccharides in Maitake mushrooms may have antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects4 as such, these are perfect for products that focus on decreasing inflammation and improving everyday health. Additionally, these could help with decreasing cholesterol. As with Tremella, these mushrooms need more research to make health claims. Combine with vitamin C, zinc or vitamin D for an immunity claim on your products.
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Lion's Mane mushrooms have been around a bit longer than the previous two and they have a little more research behind them. For example, a few different RTCs (randomised control trials) have shown cognitive improvement in their participants, compared to placebo5,6. It also has potential in the anxiety and depression space7. Combine with B12 for a "contribution to normal psychological function" claim.
Chaga (Inotus obliquus)
Chaga mushroom supplements have found firm footing with consumers looking to improve their immune response in the colder months. Among the extracts from Chaga, Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOPS) is one of its major bioactive compounds. IOPS has been studied and shown to have potential antioxidant, anti-fatigue, and immunity applications8. Combine Chaga with vitamin C, zinc or vitamin D for an immunity claim on your products.
Reishi (Ganoderma sichuanense)
Reishi mushrooms have been a staple in Eastern medicine for thousands of years, appreciated for their diverse health benefits. There is more significant scientific data behind this mushroom than some of the others. For example, there have been studies conducted on cardiovascular health9, metabolic health10, immune health 11,12, oxidative stress9 and fatigue13. The greatest scientific evidence lies in the immunity space. Combine this with vitamin D, vitamin C or zinc for an immunity claim on your products.
Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)
Famed for its potential "energy enhancing" capabilities, Cordyceps has gathered popularity in the performance and endurance space of the supplement market. There is some evidence that points to improved tolerance to fatigue in long distance runners14. The medicinal benefits of Cordyceps are attributed to its rich composition of bioactive components. These include cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), a potent bioactive metabolite, which has been the subject of numerous studies due to its wide-ranging biological activities15.
The market has shown a keen interest in functional mushrooms driven by a growing awareness of their unique health benefits. As consumers continue to lean towards natural supplements for health and wellness, Tremella, Lion's Mane, Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps stand out for their distinctive properties ranging from beauty and cognitive enhancements to immune support and energy boosts. Amidst this burgeoning interest, the importance of quality sourcing and evidence-based health claims cannot be overstated to ensure these supplements fulfil their promise for health and wellbeing.
For more information, you can reach out to our team or request technical and pricing information below.
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References
1https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/2/239
2https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20587384211000541
3https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jmf.2017.4063
4https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813017305615?via%3Dihub
5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32581767/
6 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31413233/
7 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20834180/
8 https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/9/1441
9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21801467/
10 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14756912/
11 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17597499/
12 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1567576905002535
13 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15857210/
14https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA667938345&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=10979751&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E9417708f&aty=open-web-entry
15 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7356751/