Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake Mushroom Extract Blend Mushrooms like lion’s mane, chaga, cordyceps, turkey tail, and maitake have long been revered in Eastern cultures for promoting immune strength and heart health. They are a natural source of beta-glucans, which have been shown to have immuno-stimulating effects and have been part of traditional oriental medicinal practices for thousands of years.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are high in beta glucan and have been shown to activate innate immune responses. This mushroom blend offers a combination of three species that have been used in Eastern medicine for centuries. Some health brands also produced a combination of mushroom powder extract containing a potent dose of Reishi, shiitake and maitake mushrooms. This vegetarian capsule also contains a plant sterol complex and an anti-caking agent, so it is easy to swallow. Several species of mushrooms have been studied for their health benefits, and reishi, shiiitake, and maitake mushrooms have been well-documented in scientific studies.

Why reishi, shiitake and maitake blend?

Mushrooms have long been regarded as functional foods with potent antitumor, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are three of the most commonly consumed mushrooms and they have each been shown to have value for the immune system. In one study, Tiralongo et al tested nine commercial preparations of reishi, shiitake and maitake mushroom extracts for their ability to stimulate the expression of cytokines in human white blood cells. They found that combinations of mushroom extracts produced better results than any single preparation. Tiralongo and co-workers analyzed nine different commercially available preparations of these three species and combined them to generate a product with the highest b-glucan: a-glucan ratio and b-glucan: total glucan ratio.

The reishi shiitake maitake mushroom extract blend from Naturealm contains a 1:1 ratio of reishi, shiitake, and maitake mushroom powdered extracts. The ingredients are encapsulated in vegetable capsules. They are free of gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast, preservatives, salt, artificial colors and flavors. In addition to this reishi shiitake maitake blend, Naturealm also makes Sacred 7 mushroom extract which is a blend of the fruiting bodies from seven different medicinal mushrooms including Chaga, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Maitake, and Cordyceps.

Reishi known as the “king of mushrooms”, is a red, spore-forming mushroom that grows in hot and humid environments in Asia. It has powerful antiviral and immune-enhancing properties and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 2000 years. Reishi was first written about in ancient herbal texts, and has been used for thousands of years in traditional Asian cultures, It has a rich supply of triterpenes and polysaccharides, as well as a unique compound called ganoderic acid, that may help modulate blood sugar levels. it is also an adaptogenic herb that supports the parasympathetic nervous system promoting relaxation and stress reduction. Other benefits include enhancing immune system function, supporting a healthy liver, promoting sleep and a calm mind, and boosting Qi.

Shiitake mushrooms is a popular gourmet mushroom and have a rippled fan-like shape and add a meaty flavor to meals, have been used in Asian cuisine for hundreds of years. It is a great source of b-glucans and the antioxidant lentinan, which may support healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Shiitake mushrooms have been studied for their longevity effects and have been shown to have a variety of beneficial effects in the body including supporting healthy liver function and maintaining cholesterol already within a normal range. The lentinan, which helps to modulate the activity of certain cells in the body that are involved in promoting healthy liver function and boosting the immune system. It has also been found to increase natural killer (NK) cell activity and has been shown to inhibit the growth of a specific cancer cell type in mice.

Maitake is is another fungus that native to the mountains of Japan, where it can be translated to mean dancing mushroom. Its fruity taste and woody aroma make it a tasty addition to soups and stews and has been used as a tonic in traditional China and Japan to promote longevity. It is also a good source of B-glucans and a natural immunostimulant. The mushrooms in this formula are grown on a wood medium, rather than rice or grain, to improve their nutritional profile.

Several studies have demonstrated that beta-glucans from these mushrooms are able to directly stimulate the immune system to increase cytokine production in white blood cells. A recent study on the effects of a reishi, shiitake, and maitake blend showed that the combination produced a greater response than the individual extracts did when tested separately. The blend’s b-glucan content was higher than that of the individual extracts. The results show that the three mushrooms work together to stimulate a potent immune response. That’s why these functional mushroom powder blend are more popular.

Ye Tao