Explore functional mushrooms: valuable allies for optimal gut health
Gut health plays a central role in our overall well-being.
Numerous studies have shown that the balance of our gut flora (called microbiota) directly impacts our immune defenses, digestion, and even our mood.
Today, nutrition experts are increasingly interested in functional mushrooms for their exceptional nutritional value and their countless benefits on gut health.
French Mush gives you an overview of the benefits provided by these mushrooms and how to integrate them into your diet.
The incredible diversity of functional mushrooms
The term "functional mushroom" encompasses different species of edible mushrooms, recognized for their medicinal and nutritional properties for millennia.
Among the most popular varieties are:
- Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), also called "mushroom of immortality"
- Chaga (Inonotus obliquus), considered a powerful antioxidant
- Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), known for its energizing effects
- Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus), renowned for its benefits on memory and concentration
These mushrooms are rich in fiber, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
They also contain unique bioactive compounds such as beta-glucans or triterpenes that give them exceptional health properties.
The crucial role of functional mushrooms on intestinal health
Stimulation of the intestinal flora
Functional mushrooms have a positive influence on our microbiota thanks to the prebiotic compounds they contain.
These fermentable dietary fibers serve as food for our good intestinal bacteria and thus promote their proliferation in the digestive system.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power
Thanks to their powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, functional mushrooms can help reduce intestinal inflammation and strengthen the epithelial barrier.
The latter's role is to protect our body from pathogens and toxic substances.
Chaga, for example, is very rich in antioxidants, which gives this mushroom a protective action on the intestine.
Infection prevention
Some studies have shown that functional mushrooms have antibacterial and antifungal properties thanks to the bioactive compounds they contain.
It has been shown that shiitake, in particular, inhibits the growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella.
Beta-glucans are also known to stimulate the activity of immune cells (macrophages, T lymphocytes) present in the intestinal mucosa, thus helping to prevent potential infections.
How to incorporate functional mushrooms into your diet?
There are several ways to consume these mushrooms to benefit from their effects on intestinal health:
- Fresh: you can incorporate them into your usual recipes (salads, soups, omelets, etc.) making sure to cook them well to aid digestion.
- Dried: you can rehydrate them by soaking in hot water and then add them to your favorite dishes.
- In powder: there are dietary supplements at French Mush in powder form to add to your smoothies, yogurts, or hot drinks.
- In capsules: easy to incorporate into your routine, this format is convenient for creating a daily regimen. Find them also directly on our site.
It is important to choose quality products from reliable and controlled sources to ensure their safety and effectiveness, as with French Mush.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need advice according to your goals.
Precautions and contraindications
Even though functional mushrooms offer many benefits for gut health, certain precautions must be taken:
- Respect the dosages indicated on the products, especially in case of consumption in the form of liquid extracts or powdered dietary supplements.
- Check with a healthcare professional if you can consume these mushrooms in case of autoimmune disease, medication, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Avoid picking wild mushrooms yourself if you do not have the necessary expertise, as some can be toxic.
Functional mushrooms are truly impressive due to the diversity of their health properties, particularly on the balance of our microbiota.
So why not try them to give a boost to your gut health and improve your overall well-being?
Discover our four mushrooms: Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane to give a boost to your health and improve your overall well-being on French Mush.
Sources :
Immuno-physiological effects of dietary reishi mushroom powder as a source of beta-glucan on Rohu, Labeo rohita challenged with Aeromonas veronii
Tutul Kumar Saha,1 Mariom,1 Tanvir Rahman,2 Mohammad Moniruzzaman,3 Taesun Min, 4 and Zakir Hossain 1
Author information Article notes Copyright and License information PMC Disclaimer
Ming-Yu Chou, Jou-Hsuan Ho, Mao-Jung Huang, Ying-Ju Chen, Mei-Due Yang, Liang-Hung Lin, Ching-Hsin Chi, Chin-Hsi Yeh, Tsui-Ying Tsao, Jian-Kai Tzeng, Rachel Jui-cheng Hsu, Ping-Hsiu Huang, Wen-Chien Lu, Po-Hsien Li, Ming-Fu Wang
Chaga mushroom: a super-fungus with countless facets and untapped potential
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Cordyceps spp.: A Review on Its Immune-Stimulatory and Other Biological Potentials
Gitishree Das, Han-Seung Shin, Gerardo Leyva-Gómez, María L. Del Prado-Audelo, Hernán Cortes, Yengkhom Disco Singh, Manasa Kumar Panda, Abhay Prakash Mishra, Manisha Nigam, Sarla Saklani, Praveen Kumar Chaturi, Miquel Martorell, Natália Cruz-Martins, Vineet Sharma, Neha Garg, Rohit Sharma, Jayanta Kumar Patra
Anti-Cancer Potential of Edible/Medicinal Mushrooms in Breast Cancer
Marzia Bruna Gariboldi, Emanuela Marras, Nicole Ferrario, Veronica Vivona, Pamela Prini, Francesca Vignati, Gianpaolo Perletti
Increasing the production of the bioactive compounds in medicinal mushrooms: an omics perspective
Nooshin Arshadi, Hoda Nouri, Hamid Moghimi
