Lion's Mane, also known as your brain's best friend, is a white, snowball-like mushroom that can be identified by its long, shaggy spines. It has traditionally been used in East Asia for supporting brain health, promoting cognitive function, and helping strengthen the immune system. It is even believed that Buddhist monks used Lion's Mane to enhance their brainpower and focus during meditation.
How Do They Work?
Often referred to as a nootropic (aka cognitive enhancer), the brain-boosting power of Lion's Mane comes from hericenones and erinacines (found in the fruiting body and mycelium, respectively). These 2 compounds are believed to stimulate the production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which regulates neuron growth, survival, and regeneration. This is essential for creating new neurological connections, which allows for enhanced memory, cognition, and neuroprotection all at the same time!
Studies have also indicated that Lions Mane may be able to reverse the natural cognitive decline associated with ageing by regenerating the damaged parts of the brain. A study also found an improvement of mild cognitive impairment in humans after 8 to 16 weeks of Lion’s Mane supplementation.
This shaggy mane mushroom has also been shown to inhibit beta-amyloid aggregation, a process related to Alzheimer's disease, so it could even help people with dementia. While this research is still in its infancy and has not progressed to large-scale human trials, the effect Lion's Mane has on brain cells should not be ignored.
In addition to hericenones and erinacines, Lions Mane mushrooms contain a wide variety of other active compounds including beta-glucans, sterols, phenols and more. Beta-glucans are responsible for the immuno-modulating and antioxidant activities of this mushroom and have been studied to support immune health and overall wellness.
What Are The Benefits?
Lion's Mane has a long list of benefits, which include the following:
- Improves Brain Health
- Supports Memory, Focus and Clarity
- Increases Immune Function
- Acts As A Powerful Antioxidant
- Slows Aging and Promotes Mental Clarity
- Promotes Restful Sleep
- Supports Heart and Circulatory System Health
What To Look For When Buying Lion's Mane
Growing conditions, environment and processing all impact the effects you’ll experience from Lion's Mane mushrooms.
And unfortunately, many supplement manufacturers aren’t upfront about what they're selling.
Here’s a quick-glance list of what to look for when buying Lion's Mane mushrooms:
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Mushrooms are made from only the fruiting body (not mycelium). The fruiting body contains the highest concentration of active compounds that give Lion's Mane its beneficial properties
- Lion's Mane mushrooms have undergone a dual extraction method to make the bioactive compounds more bioavailable
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Lists percentage of active ingredients including beta-glucans, not simply polysaccharides
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Lab-tested free from contaminates
How To Incorporate Lion's Mane Into Your Daily Routine
Biolife Nutrition makes it easy to incorporate this medicinal mushroom into your daily routine. All of our mushroom extracts are made from certified 100-percent organic, non-GMO, and vegan mushrooms grown at our state-of-the-art farm in East Asia and packaged in our UK GMP certified facility. Each Biolife mushroom is:
- Cultivated under the direction of experienced mycologists, the scientists who study mushrooms
- Grown in environmental conditions that are just right for Lion's Mane
- Allowed to grow through the full spectrum life-cycle so that the finished product is made from 100% mushroom fruiting bodies
- Dehydrated at low temperatures to protect the integrity of Lion's Manes’ bioactive compounds
- Tested to ensure it is free from contaminants, heavy metals, and environmental toxins
- Dual extracted to increase the bioavailability of its nutrients
- Organic, vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO
Getting the recommended Lion's Mane dosage has never been easier than with our daytime blend, Elevate. It offers a combination of Lion’s Mane mushroom, Cordyceps mushroom and Cognizin, which is a clinically tested, super potent source of choline to help with memory, focus and clarity. This caffeine-free blend provides sustained clean energy while supporting focus, concentration and alertness.
In just 2 easy-to-swallow capsules a day, you can get sustained energy, sharper focus, and increased productivity all without gut irritation, jitters or crashes. You can also open up the capsules and add them to juices, smoothies, coffees, teas, or your favourite recipes.
You can find the purest and most potent Lion's Mane at Biolife Nutrition.
