7 Mushroom Benefits for Men: Uses for Health
When it comes to health, it’s important to get as specific as you can get. Sure, you could get a general multivitamin that covers all your bases — but why would you do that when you could opt for a specialized men’s multi that is tailored for the specific nutritional challenges that men face?
It’s only natural to want to ensure that any supplements you use can have specific benefits for the unique aspects of your health profile. That’s why we’re here to discuss some of the potential health benefits of functional mushrooms for men. Read on for the answers to your most pressing questions!
7 Mushroom Benefits for Men
No, we’re not talking about the average button mushrooms you might be used to seeing at the grocery store — we’re talking about medicinal mushrooms. These superfoods can provide tons of benefits for everybody, including benefits that are specifically important for men.
It’s important to note here that while we’re here to share general information, we aren’t qualified to give medical advice. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or take any medications, you should speak with a healthcare provider or dietitian to make sure mushroom supplements are a good fit for you.
Now, on to the health benefits of mushrooms for men!
1. Boosts Energy
Everyone needs a little boost of energy from time to time, right? Burnout is far from a gender-specific problem, but men generally do less to mitigate the effects of burnout in their lives. This means that men may need a little extra energy to help fight through the weekdays.
Luckily, shiitake mushrooms are rich in B vitamins, specifically riboflavin (or vitamin B2). All B vitamins are crucial for the body’s energy production pathways, but riboflavin particularly helps by supporting oxygen efficiency and encouraging brain function.
2. Supports Mental Clarity and Focus
Whether your brain feels like mush from staring at an Excel spreadsheet all day or your thoughts are jumbled from a poor night’s sleep, you’re probably looking to support your brain function. Lion’s mane mushroom is here to help.
This edible mushroom contains bioactive compounds that can help support focus, alertness, and overall cognitive function. Lion’s mane can also support the body’s production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which can encourage overall nervous system and brain health.
3. Encourages Emotional Wellness
Many people have trouble navigating the highs and lows of life, but men in particular are less likely to open up about feelings of sadness or anxiety. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there, though. While we wholeheartedly recommend therapy, taking mushroom supplements can also support your emotional well-being.
Lion’s mane mushroom has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years to support mental health, while reishi mushroom is a well-known adaptogen that can minimize feelings of stress. At the same time, Maitake mushrooms are rich in vitamin D, which regulates serotonin production in the brain.
4. Supports Heart Health
Functional mushrooms can also support heart health, which is especially important for men. After all, men are more likely to experience heart attacks at younger ages than women.
Most mushrooms contain compounds that can support overall heart health. Different types of mushrooms can have specific heart health benefits, including:
- Supporting healthy cholesterol levels
- Supporting healthy blood pressure levels
- Supporting healthy blood sugar levels
- Encouraging healthy weight loss
- Encouraging healthy blood vessels
- Supporting healthy potassium levels
Mushrooms like chaga can also provide lots of antioxidants, which can further support heart longevity.
5. Encourages Gut Health
The gut is one of the most important areas of the whole body. Not only does it extract energy and nutrients from food, but it also has profound implications for mental health and skin clarity.
Some mushrooms, such as lion’s mane, are rich in beta-glucans. These are a type of polysaccharide, or carbohydrate, that acts as a type of prebiotic fiber. This fiber is like food for the good bacteria in your gut and can support the overall health of your gut microbiome.
6. Supports the Immune System
Having poor gut health and experiencing stress or burnout can also lower your immune system, putting you at risk of contracting colds and other common illnesses. Luckily, mushrooms like chaga and turkey tail can support overall immune function, helping your system identify pathogens and supporting healthy immune responses.
These mushrooms are also high in antioxidants, particularly chaga. Antioxidants can minimize the effects of free radical damage. This damage, also called oxidative stress, can underlie many serious illnesses and health concerns.
7. Encourages Athletic Performance
Finally, cordyceps can support overall athletic performance. This mushroom won’t turn you into a zombie — instead, it can help you go from feeling like a zombie to an Olympic-level athlete.
Cordyceps can increase VO2 max, a measurement that indicates how well your body uses oxygen during a workout. The higher your VO2 max, the more endurance you’ll have in the gym. This mushroom can also increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is your body’s main source of energy.
Are There Mushroom Supplements for Men?
There are plenty of mushroom supplements on the market, including some marketed specifically toward men. The truth is, that you should look past the marketing and focus on the quality of the supplement.
For instance, does it use mushroom extracts or mushroom powders? Mushroom extracts generally contain more of the bioactive compounds.
Our Mushroom Coffee+ is made for everyone, featuring ingredients like lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms, L-theanine to support focus, coffee extract to provide a rich coffee taste, and collagen to support gut health.
The best part? This mushroom coffee brews up easier than instant coffee. Simply combine it with hot water, stir it up, and enjoy a delicious and sediment-free mushroom supplement.
The Bottom Line
It's important to be aware of the unique issues that you may be predisposed to face. Luckily, mushrooms can have specific benefits for these issues when it comes to men’s health. These include supporting mental clarity, encouraging heart health, and supporting athletic performance.
At Everyday Dose, we know that health isn’t just based on one marker — it involves the complex relationships between many parts of the body and many individual health measurements. That’s why our formula is designed to support both the brain and the gut. To learn more about our ingredients, visit the Everyday Dose blog today.
Sources:
Women Do More to Fight Burnout — and It’s Burning Them Out | HBR
Helping men to help themselves | APA
