Can adaptogenic mushrooms like Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Chaga help boost your immune system and support the body’s natural defense against COVID19 and other viruses?
Having a weak immune system equates to having a high probability of contracting airborne illnesses such as COVID19, so it's important to consider how to be naturally strong against all viruses. This reality is an even more important consideration since high levels of stress, anxiety and fear all typically lead to trouble sleeping, increased irritability, lack of appetite and ultimately to a weakening of the body’s natural defense mechanism, or immune system.
In today’s world, the levels of stress and anxiety are off the charts and one simply cannot afford to have a weak immune system. Diet, exercise, and spirituality are all critical factors in staying happy and healthy because these factors typically equal having a strong immune system. In fact, interest in how to strengthen one’s immune system has never been higher than it is now driven by fear of the COVID19 virus. But, what is really involved in terms of strengthening one’s immune system? What does this mean and how can it work? Can one's diet choices really positively or negatively impact her immune system?
You are what you eat. Most of us have heard this saying for years, but how many of us really stop to think about what this means and why nutrition is so important. Certain foods are not good for certain people due to a variety of food allergies that are more and more common as consumers eat more and more processed and pesticide-ridden food. Generally, based on gut or skin response, each of us knows what does or doesn’t “work” for our body in terms of food and any resulting inflammatory response. However, the addiction to taste is a very powerful one. While it may be tempting to continue eating foods that we enjoy but which are not good for us, continuing to eat inflammatory foods can cause chronic inflammation which weakens the immune system and defense against viruses like COVID19. Avoiding an inflammatory diet is why nutrition is the number one area to address when one chooses to take action toward increasing his or her immune system.
Once a balanced diet free of allergens is implemented, supplementing that diet with additional foods known to support a strong immune system should be considered if the goal is to maximize the immune system. Mushrooms such as Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Chaga are all strong options to naturally support a stronger immune system, but why are they among the best immune boosters?
People have discussed for years how early life exposure to a variety of bacteria and viruses is necessary to formulate the body’s natural response mechanism, known as the immune system. It’s thought that early exposure to potentially harmful bacteria and viruses may help the body build the immune system by strengthening the body’s NK cells and lymphocytes; which serve to incapacitate viruses and harmful bacteria and by strengthening T-helper cells, which work to eliminate disease-causing pathogens. In fact, vaccines were originally designed with this philosophy in mind (a slight exposure builds immunity) though nowadays most vaccines are filled with a variety of other chemicals.
Mushrooms, like Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Chaga, may support the body’s natural defense against COVID19 and other viruses. For instance, Cordyceps benefits the body by helping it develop stronger NK cells, stronger lymphocytes and increases the number of T-helper cells in the body. Reishi mushroom benefits can be seen by it's supporting the defense against viruses such as COVID19 by containing beta-D-glucan which is a polysaccharide that stimulates the immune system. Studies suggest that Reishi benefits positively by supporting an antiviral response to the herpes virus due to its acidic protein bound polysaccharide (APBP). Lion’s Mane mushroom benefits as a natural antioxidant that has also been shown to support boosting the immune system by boosting intestinal activity, which supports protecting the body from pathogens that might enter via the gut. Chaga mushroom benefits as effective support for strengthening the immune system in that Chaga encourages the growth of beneficial cytokines (proteins) which help regulate the immune system and by stimulating white blood cells to defend against viruses and bacteria.
Adaptogens are foods, typically fungi, herbs and spices, which when consumed help our bodies better adapt to constantly changing environmental conditions including an improved immune response. As showcased here, the adaptogenic mushrooms, Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Chaga, hold great promise as being among the best immune boosters for a path to overall health and wellness. In order to make consuming these immune-boosting, adaptogenic mushrooms easy and enjoyable, Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Chaga are all featured by tea supplier, Packed with LIfe, in the great-tasting Packed With Life Immune A Tea; along with 12 other organic adaptogenic herbs and spices. Available at the PackedwithLife.com online tea store.
Since consuming four different immune-supporting mushrooms on a daily basis is challenging for most people, putting them all into one great-tasting herbal tea bag has made it easy to support a strong immune system against viruses such as COVID19. Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane and Chaga all work in an immune booster tea to collectively deliver a bodily response which helps the immune system performance via:
● Stronger NK cells
● Stronger lymphocytes
● More T-helper cells in the body
● Immune health of the gut
● Growth of new cytokines (proteins)
● Stimulating white blood cells for immune strength