Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Lion's mane mushrooms are among the most surreal fungi you'll find in a forest. Like their namesake, they grow a large, white, shaggy mane that forms their fruiting body (the mushroom) and is found growing on beech and maple trees.

Considered a gourmet mushroom (with a flavor like lobster), they've also got an incredible selection of health benefits, including:

1. Mood stabilization
2. Blood sugar control
3. Dementia prevention
4. Heart protection
5. Digestive discomfort

Mood stabilization

Lion's mane's antidepressant and anxiolytic effects are well-documented. In animal studies, the fungus had anti-inflammatory effects that simultaneously reduced anxiety and depression in mice¹⁸. In contrast, other studies saw a regenerative effect in brain cells, especially in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memories and emotional responses¹⁹.

These findings were replicated in people – a 2010 study gave lion's mane mushrooms to 30 women for 4 weeks and observed a significant reduction in anxiety and depression compared to placebo²⁰. A review of the possible mechanisms confirmed its beneficial effects, noting multiple therapeutic pathways (including anti-inflammatory properties)²¹.

Blood sugar control

Diabetes is caused when the hormone insulin can no longer regulate blood sugar levels, either because of insufficient production (type I) or because the receptors fail to respond to the hormone (type II).

Lion's mane mushroom appears not only to significantly lower blood sugar levels (as seen in normal and diabetic mice²²) but also to improve the consequences of diabetes, such as chronic nerve damage.

One analysis found that lion's mane reduces blood sugars by blocking the enzyme alpha-glucosidase, responsible for digesting carbohydrates in the small intestine²³.

Meanwhile, a 6-week course of lion's mane mushroom extract alleviated pain and reduced blood sugar levels in mice, indicating a robust therapeutic potential²⁴.

Dementia prevention

Perhaps most impressive is lion's mane's anti-dementia effects. It's believed that Alzheimer's disease occurs due to neuronal damage from amyloid-beta plaques that clog up your brain. Lion's mane may prevent this neuronal damage, thereby reducing the symptoms of dementia²⁵.

Indeed, taking just 1 gram per day for 49 weeks significantly boosted cognitive test scores in people with mild Alzheimer's disease compared to placebo²⁶. This may also explain why it's credited with reducing the feeling of brain fog in others.

Heart protection

Several studies have noted possible heart-protective effects. These mainly work on the key risk factors, such as obesity, high triglycerides, and oxidized cholesterol. First, a 2010 study found that despite feeding rats a high-fat diet, lion's mane reduced triglyceride levels (27% lower) and weight gain (42% less) after just 28 days²⁷.

Moreover, in vitro studies observed that lion's mane extract was the "most potent" preventer of cholesterol oxidation in the bloodstream²⁸. Oxidized cholesterol carries a high risk of hardening the arteries, leading to stroke and heart attack.

Digestive discomfort

Alongside the other benefits of this mushroom, lion's mane is also beneficial for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. One study found taking a supplement (with 14% lion's mane) reduces symptoms and boosts quality of life after 3 weeks²⁹. While a separate study hypothesized that H. erinaceus regulates the gut microbiota, helping "good" bacteria to relieve symptoms³⁰.