Gut health is the foundation of your overall physical health. We are becoming increasingly aware of this fact. Many people try to improve our gut health in natural ways, but can medicinal mushrooms help with that? They contain many unique active substances that are good for the gut. You can read more about them in this blog.

Using medicinal mushrooms to support your gut health

Your gut (and gut flora) are responsible for much of your health. They are the basis of your resistance, your energy levels and even your mental well-being. When there is an imbalance, it can lead to a variety of different symptoms. Many chronic conditions stem from poor gut health.

Unfortunately, digestive complaints are becoming more common. They are mainly caused by stress, the fast pace and poor dietary choices. Long-term use of medication, poor sleep and harmful environmental influences can also have a negative effect on your gut. Eventually, all these factors and the development of chronic inflammation can lead to PDS (irritable bowel syndrome), for example.

There are trillions of microorganisms in the intestines, including fungi, viruses, bacteria and parasites. These make up the microbiome. Not only is this important for your gut health, but it is also linked to mental well-being, the immune system, regulating a healthy weight and blood sugar levels. But how can you support your gut health and what can medicinal mushrooms contribute to it? It turns out that some of these mushrooms contain substances that can be very helpful for microbiome health.

Mushrooms for microflora

Eating mushrooms regularly can help promote your gut health. A recent review found that consuming mushrooms is good for the diversity of the intestinal flora and may cause a change in its composition. Medicinal mushrooms are very rich in various substances with very powerful effects. Below you can see which mushrooms are suitable to use if you want to support your gut health.

Chaga and Maitake

Do you suffer from digestive complaints? Then take Chaga or Maitake as a supplement. They can help relieve intestinal complaints and support the good bacteria in the intestines. Furthermore, they can be used against viral infections and candida, which can cause all kinds of intestinal complaints.

Reishi

Prebiotics are a good way to provide additional nutrients to the intestinal flora. They are dietary fiber that the bacteria need to grow and flourish. Research shows that Reishi has prebiotic properties. These fibers can serve as nutrition for the good bacteria in the intestines. Furthermore, reishi has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which may make it very useful in chronic intestinal inflammation. Possibly, reishi can also contribute to maintaining a healthy weight.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane, also called the Whig Mushroom, is one of the medicinal mushrooms that can also be used to improve intestinal health. It naturally has antibacterial properties that can help protect the intestines from ulcer damage. Many people suffer from ulcers in intestines or stomach. Often behind this is the bacterium H. Pylori, which attacks the protective mucus layer of the stomach. There is then an overgrowth.

When you use Lion’s Mane, the active ingredients prevent the growth of H. Pylori. They also have a protective effect on lining of the stomach and intestines, research shows. This medicinal mushroom is even more effective against stomach ulcers caused by alcohol than regular remedies. On top of that, Lion’s Mane also had no side effects at all.

Shiitake

Shiitake is one of the medicinal mushrooms regularly used in cooking even in our country. But just because it is not exotic does not mean it could not also be particularly medicinal. Shiitake has antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. In addition, the mushroom helps support the immune system. It contains the polysaccharide lentinan which is very potent against fungi and parasites.

A more robust gut health

Your gut health may not be at the top of your list of priorities. Many people are more likely to think about exercising, getting your rest on time and simply eating healthy. And while that contributes a lot, good gut health makes you feel more comfortable in your own skin and allows you to age healthily. So it’s definitely worth paying a little more attention to your gut. You can do that by using medicinal mushrooms, but also in the following ways:

• Eat more fiber: Fiber is food for the good gut bacteria. You get them by eating more fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains.
• Eat variety: Eating a variety of foods also gives your gut flora more variety, which means better gut health. For example, eat vegetables for lunch or a salad with your dinner. The more vegetables, the more good bacteria in your gut.
• Fermented foods: These types of foods are rich in pro- and prebiotics and enzymes, which support your gut health. Examples include kefir, sauerkraut, pickles and tempeh.
• Use herbs and spices: these also contribute to a varied diet and are rich in micronutrients, which are good for your gut flora.
• Eat healthy and as few processed foods as possible: Foods that are highly processed are rich in sugar and saturated fats and contain far fewer nutrients. If you choose this often, your microbiome will suffer. So make your meals yourself with fresh produce.
  

If you want to take better care of your gut health, you now have plenty of tips to do something about it. If you’re looking for a good supplement of medicinal mushrooms, check out our shop!