Lion's Mane Mushroom Benefits for Brain Health

Lion's Mane Mushroom: The Cognitive Enhancer

Lion's Mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) has been a hot health supplement for the past decade, yet few understand how it works. Unlike many nootropic supplements, Lion's Mane's benefits aren't instant or flashy. I’ll take you through the story behind the fungus to find out what makes it unique.

Hericenones and erinacines work on the brain

Lion's Mane contains hericenones and erinacines, which are able to cross the blood-brain barrier to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). The brain can make its own NGF — a protein that directs neurons to grow, repair, and form stronger connections. Unlike many nutrients, NGF does not decline with age just because of aging, rather, it declines due to factors like chronic stress and poor sleep. By increasing the availability of NGF — the lion’s mane helps your brain stay healthy and even improve into adulthood. The supplement market is awash with products that promise same-day brain gains. Lion’s Mane delivers no such sensation. Studies have shown Lion’s Mane benefits appear over weeks, not hours. Even the most patient supplement users can be disappointed by the gradual process of growth signaling, and sometimes quit before the window in which any benefits could appear. This is why the supplement market misunderstands the Lion’s Mane, and why so many people quit it. Without the same-day sensation, it's easy to believe nothing is happening. Advocates of lion’s mane will tell you this is the case — the private effects have nothing to do with how you feel. Likewise, most studies about lion’s mane show how long-term, consistent supplementing leads to brain support.

Fickle Minds and Marketing

A larger problem might be how the supplement market sells Lion's Mane, especially to customers who are new to the field. Neuroglobe highlights a major marketing misunderstanding: many products pair Lion's Mane with caffeine and other stimulants for the promise of immediate cognitive benefits. This can mislead consumers who do not know better than to expect quick cognitive changes from lion’s mane, rather than the gradual benefits it provides. Unfortunately, this marketing gimmick is common, and a lot of people have given up on lion’s mane as a result. One viewer commented that, when read about the mushroom, they expected the same quick results as caffeine and other stimulants, but experienced nothing. Explaining the mushroom’s key ingredients and how they work on the brain, promoting it as a tool to put into your routine, instead of a one-time improvement.

Modulating a Dietary Dietary Supplement

Lion's Mane supplements are often marketed as a powder, like the product Feelyvb's yogurt blend, with 980mg of lion’s mane per serving. As a powder it can be easily incorporated into your diet. There are many Lion's Mane supplements available, and everyone needs to know how to choose the best one. First, ensure the supplement is a standardized extract, not just raw powder, which is often taken from wild, rather than cultivated, mushrooms. The supplement should be grown in the USA and certified third-party tested. Neuroglobe recommends a dose of 980mg to 2400mg of lion’s mane, split into three doses.

The Manufacturer’s Role

At the close of this, the reader has to be aware that neuroglobe has an interest in telling you lion’s mane gives no immediate results. There are a few reasons why it would make sense for a supplement company to tell you not to use their product. The main one being that the customer is more likely to get the best results if they understand how the product works, and how they should expect to use it. This is why, among other supplements, including the ones lion’s mane is commonly paired alongside, neuroglobe will warn you about the flashy marketing you’ll see everywhere else.

The Business of Brain Health

The most common marketplace feedback from users of Lion’s Mane supplements is one of disappointment and confusion. Most users expect quick improvements in brain health and cognition, but what they get is actual health improvements to the brain, and the brain, in particular, does not need a caffeine jolt to do its job best. The brain health market tends to be driven by brands that respond to what the customer wants, and so long as the customer is demanding instant improvement to mental health, the supplier is going to supply it.