Boost Your Immune System with Red Reishi Mushrooms

by Dr. David Minkoff November 05, 2021 3 min read

Mushrooms growing on the side of a tree in the forest.

Immune Boosting Benefits Of Red Reishi Mushrooms

The importance of having a well-functioning and healthy immune system has become increasingly obvious in recent times.

Sadly, everyone seems to have a different answer as to how you should go about strengthening your immune system. When you go to your local health and wellness shop, you might see twenty or thirty products that tout their “immune boosting” powers. An Amazon search reveals thousands of results.

Well, we’re here to tell you about an effective and ancient remedy that has been in use for over two thousand years: the red reishi mushroom.

The Immune-Boosting and Health-Inducing Characteristics of the Red Reishi Mushroom

The red reishi mushroom has been known in Asia for centuries as an effective herbal remedy for those that are elderly or ill. These mushrooms have long been known as the “immortality herb” or “long life herb.” It has gone by many names, including Ganoderma, Lingzhi, or Ling Chi.

Red reishi has been rated as the top medicinal herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, with ginseng in second place. Some sources even report that at one point, it was traded for its weight in gold and was only available to emperors.

Why?

Because this incredible mushroom is known to be:

Immune boosting
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-cancer
Antioxidant (helps eliminate free radicals)
Adaptogenic (helps the body promote homeostasis and resist stressors)
Neuro-regenerative (promotes healthy nerve function and to regenerate damaged nerves)
Nootropic (improves cognitive function)

This astonishing and unique mushroom contains over 200 bio-active ingredients and unique compounds that are among the most biologically active available from any plant in the world. [1]

Let’s discuss two of the most potent and important and almost “magical ingredients” in red reishi mushrooms:

Red Reishi and Beta-glucans

Beta-glucans are specialized forms of polysaccharides – complex sugar molecules that have unique effects on human physiology. They are often found in bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and other plants. [2]

The beta-glucans that occur naturally in red reishi mushrooms are known to:

Boost your immune system [3]
Help treat and stop the spread of cancer [4,5]
Improve digestion through the growth and strengthening of probiotic bacteria [6]

Red Reishi and Triterpenes

Triterpenes are another of the “magic” ingredients in red reishi mushrooms.

Chemically speaking, they are unsaturated hydrocarbons made up of six isoprene units.

In normal-person speak, they are bio-active and natural molecules that offer astonishing benefits for the human body.

The three most well-known groups of triterpenes in red reishi include ganoderic acids, lucidernic acids, and sterols. Some of these natural molecules are precursors to steroids and provide an all-natural alternative to medicinal steroids.

Triterpenes have been shown to:

Reduce inflammation [7]
Assist your body in fighting off cancerous tumors [8,9]
Reduce cholesterol and LDL [10]

Further Health Benefits of Red Reishi Mushrooms

While there are many herbal remedies and mushrooms that may have health benefits, only one has earned the title “The King of Fungus” – the red reishi mushroom.

How did this rare mushroom earn such a moniker?

Because the wide range of health benefits available through proper use of this mushroom are simply astounding.

Some of the additional health benefits of red reishi mushroom include:

Suppressing inflammation and allergic reactions [11]
Protecting and strengthening your nervous system [12]
Reduce feelings of fatigue, headache, and irritability [13]
Help prevent illness and injury through the elimination of free radicals [14]
Supporting healthy liver function [15]
Supporting proper brain function and help to protect against seizures [16]

Okay – I’m Sold – How Can I Get This Incredible Mushroom?

The Red Reishi mushroom is very rare in nature but has become more accessible in recent times as method of cultivating it in a controlled environment has been developed.

If you try to eat the mushroom itself, you might find yourself offended by its bitter and woody taste.

Thankfully, the nutritional benefits are available in red reishi extracts that exist in various teas, supplements, and oils.

But beware: many companies have tried to cheat and manufacture low-quality supplements that omit the beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other health-inducing ingredients. [17]

BodyHealth’s Perfect Reds is a delicious, organic, and high-quality phytonutrient and superfood drink that includes ideal levels of real, effective red reishi extract.

When it comes to boosting your immune system and maintaining a healthy body in these trying times, it takes a team effort: proper nutrition, exercise, and supplementing the essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are severely lacking in today’s commercial food industry.

Learn how Perfect Reds combats exhaustion and fatigue by employing nitric oxide here.

At BodyHealth, we are dedicated to continually researching and providing the highest quality, organic, and natural supplements to support overall wellness and health.

Watch for next week’s article on the incredible benefits of whole grape resveratrol!