Lion's mane mushrooms are white, edible mushrooms with thin, shaggy hair that slightly resemble a lion's mane. They have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine but have become increasingly popular in the western world for their culinary and medicinal uses. 

You can eat lion's mane mushrooms raw or cooked, or consume them as an extract, powder, tea, or dietary supplement. Here are a few ways that Lion’s Mane adds to your health.

Protects Heart & Circulatory Ailments

Lion’s mane mushroom helps in preventing heart disease. Recent research has found that extracts of lion’s mane can prevent the increase of LDL cholesterol occasionally referred to as “bad” cholesterol, increase HDL, or the “good,” cholesterol and lower triglycerides in the bloodstream, an early indicator of heart disease. A small extract of lion’s mane mushroom may be able to prevent blood clots and help reduce the risk of stroke, according to a study from the Department of Cellular Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tohoku University in Japan.

Protects Against Cancer

Lion’s mane may also be significant in helping treat cancer, according to a host of research. The compounds from or supplementation with lion’s mane mushroom has been found to potentially slow the progression or reverse the spread of cancer.

Cognitive Health

Lion’s mane mushroom supplement could also help you feel better by improving sleep and reducing the effects of mental health issues.

The polysaccharides extracted from lion’s mane have been shown to reduce fatigue. They also might have the ability to adjust circadian rhythms back to normal. Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle are vital to our overall health as it regulates our sleep schedule. Consuming lion’s mane mushroom may also be a natural way to help treat depression and anxiety.