The lion’s mane mushroom is a type of mushroom increasing in popularity because of its nutritional content. It can be purchased in its raw form, or as a supplement.
“Lion’s mane, also known [scientifically] as Hericium erinaceus, has been used in East Asia for centuries as food and medicine,” says Monique Richard, a registered dietitian-nutritionist in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Many helpful plant compounds can be found in the lion’s mane fruiting bodies (the part we recognize as the mushroom) and mycelium (the mushroom’s root-like structure).
“Lion’s mane contains a number of compounds that may have beneficial effects on the body, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and nerve growth factors,” says Lindsay Delk, RDN, who practices in Houston and specializes in the connection between food and mental health.
The active ingredients in lion’s mane include polysaccharides, erinacines, hericerins, steroids, alkaloids, and lactones. “These ingredients help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and inflammation, and they [help to] promote the growth and regeneration of nerve cells,” Delk says.
In particular, lion’s mane has been linked with stimulating a protein known as nerve growth factor (NGF). “Nerve growth factor is essential for brain health and neuron conductivity,” Richard says. Neuron conductivity refers to the ability of nerves to transmit impulses through the nervous system.
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