Surprise, surprise: Herbal remedies are seeing a massive spike in popularity due to the pandemic. People are more concerned about what’s on their plates and keenly observe the ingredients they add to their pantries.
This plant-based revolution has managed to amp up the game for vegan restaurants too. And with good reason. It is now scientifically proven that a plant-based diet is beneficial for human health and our planet.
With good thoughts for health in mind, we have nominated Lion’s Mane Mushroom to enlighten our readers with its benefits and how they can add it to their diet.
What is Lion’s Mane Mushroom?
Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), also known as bearded tooth fungus and mountain-priest mushroom, is an edible mushroom that grows on dead hardwood tree trunks. It's highly nutritious and offers plenty of medicinal benefits. It holds a prestigious spot in the Traditional Chinese Medicine system where they call it the ultimate tonic. They believe that it provides full-body-benefit by reaching almost all the vital organs of the body, including the brain, kidney, heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.
What are the benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom?
Lion’s Mane is a medicinal mushroom that has been claimed to help with various diseases and disorders. Most people can’t grab this shaggy mushroom due to its rare availability so they use its extracts to reap the most of its benefits. Some of the benefits that are backed by science include:
- Boosts the Immune system
- Reduces free radical load to curtail oxidative stress
- Reduces inflammation
- Prevents the risk of heart diseases
- Provides nutrition for the brain
- Protects against the onset of dementia
- Relieves anxiety and depression
How to use Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Adding Lion’s Mane Mushroom to your diet could be the best decision of your life. Its mystic appearance is packed with a galaxy of flavors that you might be missing out on if you still haven’t started using it.
The easiest way to make it a part of your life is by grabbing its tincture and adding it to your water or tea. Or you can also purchase its powdered form from your organic grocery stores and snow it over your smoothies, shakes, coffees, or soups.
However, the most delicious way to work around Lion’s mane is by cooking it. Those earthy overtones are more than enough to remind you of a good long day on the beach that ends with lobster dinner. Its closeness with seafood has made it a substitute in vegan recipes.
Either saute it alone or with your favorite veggies and enjoy a meal full of flavors. You can also saute it with the apples to spark an exciting flavor. For a spicier venture, try dry rubbing the chopped lion’s mane with the spices of your liking and stuffing it in your tacos. To make your stuffing stronger and more flavorful, salt the chopped slices and leave them in the fridge overnight or for 24 hours. This draws out the moisture oh-so-flawlessly, giving your taste buds a ride full of sapid moments.