We live in a stressful world, and it can be difficult to maintain good mental health. Meditation, yoga and even hypnosis can be effective tools that can help relax the mind and spirit. But what about food? What we eat can have a positive effect on our lives, particularly foods that contain anxiety-reducing properties.
Fight Off Anxiety With the Reishi Mushroom
Certain seafood, fruit and dark chocolate can have positive influences on the mind, body and soul. Even mushrooms play their part. Wait a minute. Mushrooms? Yes, you read that right. Mushrooms contain properties that can help with stress and anxiety and aid a night of restful sleep and one of those is the little-known Reishi.
The Underrated Reishi Mushroom
Nip into any grocery store and you’re likely to see a wide variety of mushrooms, from button to Shiitake, oyster to portobello, so you may have never seen or even heard of Reishi mushrooms. They are reddish-brown polypore fungi with a distinctive kidney shape. Although it has a tough texture and a bitter taste, this underrated mushroom contains many properties that not only help the mind but other parts of your life too.
The Mushroom That Helps Your Mental Health
Studies have shown that extracts of Reishi mushrooms contain antioxidants and other composites that interact with your body that help you to manage stress and anxiety. When your stress hormone cortisol increases, it causes feelings of nervousness or anxiety. The sedentary effects of Reishi mushrooms allow your mind to calm and your body to relax, lowering the level of cortisol.
In addition, stress relief can also be achieved through polypeptides, which send signals to your brain’s neurotransmitters and endorphins, which in turn, relaxes your nervous system, acting as a natural and herbal depressant on the nerves. This makes you feel more at ease and able to think clearly.
Can Reishi Also Improve Your Mood?
Reishi mushrooms are also known for their ability to boost the immune system, which helps to fight fatigue, depression and improve your overall mood during the day. Studies have also shown them to be effective in helping the body with aches and pains. If you’re prone to waking in considerable discomfort each day, taking Reishi powder on a daily basis may just be the thing you need to help.
And, if you have trouble with sleep, Reishi mushrooms can also help you there. Rather than making you drowsy, Reishi works by reducing your stress levels which helps the body relax. In turn, this aids a night of more natural and refreshing sleep. Because of its non-drowsy method, you can take Reishi at any time of the day. So, you can mix it with your morning coffee and still be able to function throughout the day.
How to Use Reishi Mushrooms
Sadly, the human body is ill-equipped to break down the tough, woody texture of Reishi mushrooms. Instead, the properties are extracted and produced in either a liquid, powder or tincture form. However, it is possible to use whole Reishi mushrooms in brewed tea, which provides instant benefits directly from the fungus itself. If that’s not for you, you can consider mixing the powder into smoothies or combining it with other plant-based products. There are also a number of healthy recipes available that Reishi powder can be added to as part of your diet.
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