If you are looking to rejuvenate your brain cells, reduce brain inflammation, remove amyloid plaque, reduce neurodegeneration and to enhance your overall brain health, then you are in the right spot! I’m sharing a part of my brain health protocol I use with my patients.
As a naturopathic doctor I am committed to getting to the root of my patients problems and helping them achieve their optimal health goals. If you are ready to boost your cognitive function, then you’ll definitely want to start incorporating functional mushrooms into your diet.
I’ve created a brain health focused masterclass that is targeting how to optimize your brain health and how to also heal from assorted brain imbalances, dysfunction, damage, stroke and deterioration. Our brains are amazing as are the natural therapeutic power of mushrooms, when used synergistically.
What are Functional Mushrooms?
There are over 2,000 species of mushrooms that are considered to be edible or medicinal. Out of all of those, only 15 have been recognized to have functional benefits. This means that they go above and beyond regular mushroom benefits, they have been found to support overall health in regards to stress, boosting energy, improving brain cognition and so much more. (1) Functional mushrooms are powerful for brain health. They enhance the neuroplasticity of your brain by enhancing Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and can help reverse the aging process of brain cells. This helps create more youthful brain cells and improves overall health and wellness as a result. If you are looking to incorporate these functional mushrooms into your regimen, here are three of my favorites to start using today.
The 3 BEST Functional Mushrooms for Brain Health
#1 Use Lion’s Mane Mushrooms for Brain Health
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are long, white, and stringy. Although they don’t look like a typical mushroom, they are powerful in stimulating the hippocampus to promote Nerve Growth Factor. NGF is what keeps our brains healthy, youthful, and functioning optimally.
Lion’s mane is popular for brain health mostly because of its nootropic properties, meaning it can go through the blood-brain barrier, enhancing its functionality and circulation. If you are experiencing brain fog, memory loss, inflammation, and various other brain related issues, this mushroom could be extremely beneficial for you.
Lion’s Mane can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or even steeped in tea. It’s good to know that many people describe its flavor along the lines of seafood, therefore, taking it in capsule form may be the best option for some. One of my favorite Lion’s Mane supplements can be found here.
#2 Incorporate Reishi Mushrooms for Brain Health
Reishi is a very potent adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress and calm your nervous system. Reishi mushrooms can be beneficial in supporting sleep which enhances function of the lymphatic system. When the lymphatic system is functioning optimally, it helps clear and detox the brain, thereby promoting healthier cognition.
Reishi can potentially help with brain health especially for individuals who experience anxiety, depression, mood swings, OCD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. Although Reishi can be eaten in its natural form, some may find it easier to take in capsule form. Here is my favorite one!
#3 Use Chaga Mushrooms to Promote Optimal Brain Health
Chaga mushrooms tend to grow on birch trees and have a bitter, yet vanilla flavor to them. These mushrooms are extremely important for our overall health due to their high content of antioxidants, which can help prevent or slow the cell damage caused by free radicals, environmental pollutants and other challenges. (2)
By providing your body with the necessary antioxidants, it can help target any inflammation in your gut, which in turn directly relates to brain health. If you are interested in learning more about gut health and how it connects to your brain, sign up for my master class here. If you are ready to start your journey to a clearer, healthier, anti-inflammatory brain health, start by taking my favorite Chaga supplements here.
Why is Brain Health Important?
Our brains are the command center for the entire nervous system which enables our thoughts, memory, movement, emotions and so much more. Maintaining optimal brain health is important to maintain our longevity and quality of life. Brain health is also important to help prevent neurological diseases such as Alzehemers, dementia, and more.
Globally, neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability, at around 276 million people, and the second leading cause of death at 9 million. (3) Incorporating these three mushrooms into your daily regimen could really be the preventative measures that you need to maintain optimal brain health.
Lions Mane, Reishi, and Chaga are three functional mushrooms that are extremely beneficial for brain health. All three of them work collectively to promote neuroplasticity, which yields the healthiest, most balanced, optimized brain possible. As a naturopathic doctor I love helping my patients reach optimal health via natural and effective solutions like functional mushrooms.
If you want to add in another super powerful brain healing supplement – I also recommend this to my patients in conjunction to taking functional mushrooms daily.
I love to specifically incorporate these three mushrooms for optimal brain health. To learn more about brain health, you can download my Brain Health Protocol here and register for my masterclass, BioHack your Brain here.
