• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • meet the team
  • blogger resources
  • Contact Me
My Account
Member Dashboard
40 Aprons Premium (Ad Free!)

40 Aprons

Delicious, Healthy-ish Meals for the Whole Family

  • All Recipes
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Cooking Basics
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Meal Prep
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Baking
    • Crockpot
    • Grilling
    • Instant Pot
    • Sous Vide
  • Dietary Needs
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30
  • Cuisine
    • American
    • Asian
    • Indian
    • Italian
    • Mediterranean
    • Mexican & Latin
    • Southern
Home Blog Health + Wellness

All About Lion’s Mane & Its Benefits

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 09/05/20 Updated: 01/16/22
Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Lion’s mane is a mushroom full of amazing benefits! From its immune-boosting properties to its potential to fight dementia and Alzheimer’s, to its ability to lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety, lion’s mane is a fungus that should definitely be on your radar.

Lion's mane mushroom with a text overlay about lion's mane benefits

Please keep in mind that we are not doctors or medical professionals, and we always highly recommend speaking to your own doctor prior to starting or taking any supplements or making lifestyle changes. NOTHING in this article is medical advice and should not be taken as such. These are simply general concepts, not prescriptive information or health advice. We cannot emphasize this enough! Proceed at your own risk.

What Is Lion’s Mane?

Lion’s mane is an edible mushroom native to North America, Europe, and Asia. They get their name from their long, thin spines, which resemble (you guessed it) a lion’s mane. They are especially common on beech trees and other hardwoods in the late summer and early autumn.

Health Benefits?

  • Immunity booster
  • Helps with depression and anxiety
  • Helps manage diabetes
  • Reduces inflammation
  • May help repair damage to nerve cells
  • Could help prevent dementia

Immunity Booster

Research on lion’s mane’s immunity-boosting properties in still in its early stages, but animal studies show that lion’s mane can improve the body’s intestinal immune system. This system helps prevent and fight illnesses that enter the body through the digestive system.

Helps with Depression and Anxiety

While only a very small amount of human research has been done, early animal research shows that lion’s mane can stimulate the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for processing of long-term memory and emotional responses. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also help with symptoms of depression.

Helps Manage Diabetes

Studies in mice show that even in small doses, lion’s mane can lower blood sugar. Besides causing blood sugar levels to be too high, diabetes can also cause nerve pain in the feets and hands. Lion’s mane has been shown to reduce that pain.

Reduces Inflammation

As an anti-inflammatory, lion’s mane can help reduce the impact of diseases caused by chronic inflammation, like heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer. They are especially helpful in inflammation-caused illnesses in the digestive system.

May Help Repair Damage to Nerve Cells

Research has shown that lion’s mane might be able to help grow and repair nerve cells. It may even be helpful to people who have suffered a stroke. However, research is still ongoing and there have thus far been no trials on humans.

Could Help Prevent Dementia

Studies have shown that lion’s mane contains several ingredients that can help grow new brain cells, something that declines as we age. Animal studies show that it decreases memory loss and may even prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Other Lion’s Mane Benefits

  • May help fight cancer
  • Improves energy levels
  • Good for heart health
  • Full of antioxidants
  • Good for preventing stomach ulcers

How Do I Take Lion’s Mane & What Should I Expect?

Lion’s mane does not taste very good, and while some people may recommend adding it to your coffee, there are no added benefits for ingesting it that way. Do yourself a favor and get a capsule or pill form and avoid that gross taste.

Side effects appear to be minimal, although some people report rashes or breathing problems after taking lion’s mane. This was more than likely due to an allergic reaction to lion’s mane.

Precautions

Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement or vitamin plan to make sure it’s a healthy choice for you. In particular, if any of the following apply to you:

  • Allergic to mushrooms or fungi: Avoid lion’s mane since it is a mushroom.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding: There has not been enough research done on how lion’s mane affects people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so it’s best to consult your medical professional prior to taking it.

More From Health & Wellness

  • How I Beat Depression Naturally
  • All About Astragalus
  • Immunity Boosters
  • Self-Care When You’re Stuck Inside
  • All About Cordyceps

Hey – you’ve made it this far, and now we’re best friends! Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!

Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

Read more...

You may also like...

  • All About Turkey Tail & Its Benefits
  • All about palo santo
    All About Palo Santo - The Benefits and How to Use it
  • How I Beat Depression Naturally

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

What’s Popular?

Reusable meal prep trays with sweet potato, scrambled eggs, and sausage for a whole30 breakfast

Whole30 Breakfast Meal Prep

Crispy, golden air fryer tater tots in a large white serving bowl next to a small ramekin of bright red ketchup.

Air Fryer Tater Tots

Overhead view of marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet

Marry Me Chicken (Chicken in a Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce)

Instant pot chicken and rice in a bowl

Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

In Season

Whole30 In-n-Out burgers close up

Whole30 Burgers – Burger Joint Style (Paleo, Low Carb)

Overhead photo of keto chicken tortilla soup in a rustic bowl

Keto Chicken Tortilla Soup (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

Air fryer chicken wings on a platter with sauce

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings in Buffalo Sauce

Instant pot frozen chicken breast - easy chicken recipes for dinners with few ingredients

Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breast

As seen on:

More Goodies + NO Ads!

Become a 40 Aprons Premium Member!

All the 40 Aprons content you love - now even better.

  • Member-Exclusive Recipes
  • Meal Plans & Grocery Lists
  • eBooks
  • NO ADS!
Join now

Privacy Policy

Accessibility

Disclaimers

Contact

© 2023 40 Aprons
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
16 shares