The Benefits of Maitake Mushroom
Due to a recently published paper on the top causes of mortality, awareness of the importance of cardiovascular health has exploded over the last few years.
Outside of a consistent exercise program, there are some other natural and effective ways to support your heart, lungs, and cardiovascular system: maitake mushrooms.
Maitake mushrooms are a type of fungus that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine.
Recent studies have shown that maitake mushrooms offer a variety of health benefits, most notably involving cardiovascular health.
In this blog post, we will answer the question, “What are the benefits of maitake mushrooms?” We’ll also talk about the easiest way to incorporate them into your daily routine.
What is Maitake Mushroom?
Maitake mushrooms are a type of fungi that grow in the wild. Maitake mushroom’s color is brown with a white stem. The mushroom’s shape is similar to that of a umbrella.
Maitake mushrooms are rich in nutrients, including beta-glucans, copper, selenium, and vitamin B12. These nutrients play a big part in the benefits of maitake mushroom, which is why they have been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Japanese folk medicine for centuries.
Maitake Mushroom Benefits
Maitake mushrooms have a variety of potential health benefits. While they do share some health benefits with their mushroom counterparts – cordyceps, turkey tail, etc. – we want to focus on the ones you might not know about with an emphasis on cardio health.
Regulates Blood Sugar
Maitake mushrooms can help alleviate symptoms of diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels.
In a study done on rats, maitake extract was found to improve insulin sensitivity and decrease fasting blood glucose levels. [1]
Improves Cellular Health
The beta-glucans in maitake mushrooms help improve cellular health by boosting the immune system.
In one study, a maitake mushroom supplement effectively increased natural killer cell activity and T-cell counts. [2]
Both of these are important for fighting cancer and keeping your body healthy.
Lowers Cholesterol and Blood Pressure
Maitake mushrooms can also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. In a study of rats with high cholesterol, maitake supplementation lowered both total cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels.
Another study found that maitake extract was able to lower blood pressure in rats with hypertension. [3]
Get the Most from Your Maitake Mushroom Supplement
Maitake mushrooms are one of the best natural supplements to incorporate into your daily life, but not just any type of supplement will do. If you want a maitake mushroom supplements that’s convenient for you and proven to have one of the highest rates of bioavailability, you want it in tincture form.
Introducing the GAME UP® maitake mushroom tincture supplement.
Made with the finest ingredients, this maitake tincture boasts a high rate of absorption at the recommended dosage. Try it for yourself!
References
- Horio H, Ohtsuru M. Maitake (Grifola frondosa) improve glucose tolerance of experimental diabetic rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2001 Feb;47(1):57-63. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.47.57. PMID: 11349892.
- Masuda Y, Inoue H, Ohta H, Miyake A, Konishi M, Nanba H. Oral administration of soluble β-glucans extracted from Grifola frondosa induces systemic antitumor immune response and decreases immunosuppression in tumor-bearing mice. Int J Cancer. 2013 Jul;133(1):108-19. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27999. Epub 2013 Feb 15. PMID: 23280601.
- Fukushima M, Ohashi T, Fujiwara Y, Sonoyama K, Nakano M. Cholesterol-lowering effects of maitake (Grifola frondosa) fiber, shiitake (Lentinus edodes) fiber, and enokitake (Flammulina velutipes) fiber in rats. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2001 Sep;226(8):758-65. doi: 10.1177/153537020222600808. PMID: 11520942.