There is strong evidence that functional fungi support overall health, while helping with the recovery process after strenuous exercise. But when is the best time to take mushrooms after a workout for optimal recovery? Muscle pain usually peaks between 24 and 72 hours after the exercise period, so consider using mushrooms immediately after exercise, to help support the recovery process. Reishi mushrooms are one of the most impressive varieties when it comes to inflammation. These types of fungi may have stronger anti-inflammatory properties than aspirin.
They can also help lower blood pressure. Why this medicinal mushroom? The bamboo mushroom (Phallus indusiatus) is a tropical mushroom that belongs to the stinky horn family that sports a bell-shaped hat and a long, elaborate skirt in the shape of a net. Medicinal mushrooms represent a powerful clinical tool for the safe and controlled reduction of inflammation. These natural supplements to reduce inflammation in the body have no major side effects, unlike other common treatments, such as NSAIDs.
Medicinal mushrooms are immunomodulatory substances, capable of adapting to the individual needs of the patient, and are supported by extensive scientific data. In addition, many compounds of highly diversified chemical structures with anti-inflammatory activities have been isolated and purified from different types of fungi. Unlike other medications and herbal treatments, medicinal mushroom supplements will have a very low risk of any significant interaction with existing medications. Table 1 lists most of the well-known fungal species reported in the literature as having anti-inflammatory activities, together with their bioactive compounds and the solvent applied for extraction.
Polysaccharides represent the major class of bioactive compounds found in fungi and have been reported in most edible types. Fungi are a very large and diversified group of macrofungi that belong to basidiomycetes and ascomycetes; with a cell cycle that includes the formation of sexual spores. For example, a Reishi mushroom supplement can regulate inflammatory mediators such as non-cytokine, NO and PGE2 pathways in a signaled manner, while inhibiting NF-K-B signaling. In addition to the above bioactive compounds, anti-inflammatory peptides of different molecular weights have been isolated from fungi.
Compared to traditional treatment options for chronic inflammation, medicinal mushrooms are an effective and safe form of anti-inflammatory treatment. As a clinical tool for treating inflammation and chronic conditions, medicinal mushrooms have been gaining more attention for several decades. The latter belong mainly to ascomycetes and generally grow in a symbiotic relationship with a host plant such as ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMM). She suggests replacing mushrooms with half the meat in casseroles, pasta sauces, Sloppy Joes and other dishes.
Table 2 summarizes some of the biological studies carried out with different compounds having anti-inflammatory activities isolated from fungi. In fact, most human clinical trials investigating medicinal fungi have included hematological and biochemical safety biomarkers (including liver and kidney) and have not reported pathological abnormalities or moderate, severe or severe adverse events.
