Mushrooms aren’t just delicious in stir-fries or soups. Some of them come with serious wellness potential. Two standouts in the functional mushroom world are Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps.

Lion’s Mane: Brain-Boosting & Gut-Friendly: If you’ve spotted a fluffy, pom-pom-like mushroom, that’s likely Lion’s Mane. Long valued in Asian medicine, it’s now celebrated for its brain-boosting potential.

Brain & mood: Compounds in Lion’s Mane can stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) — a protein that helps protect and regenerate brain cells. In small human trials, people taking Lion’s Mane reported sharper thinking and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to those taking a placebo (1) (2).

Gut & immune health: Beyond the brain, Lion’s Mane appears to protect the stomach lining, encourage healthy gut bacteria, and support immune function — all linked to overall wellbeing.

Everyday nutrition: On the plate, Lion’s Mane is low in calories, high in fibre, and packed with B vitamins plus minerals like potassium and magnesium. With its meaty texture, it’s often used as a plant-based alternative to seafood.

Cordyceps: Energy, Immunity & Vitality

Cordyceps is known as the “caterpillar fungus,” and has long been prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Today, it’s gaining attention for its potential to boost energy and support overall wellness.

Immune support: Studies suggest Cordyceps can strengthen immune cells, helping your body stay resilient (3). It’s even been linked to supporting recovery in mild COVID-19 cases (4).

Better stamina & breathing: By helping your body use oxygen more efficiently, Cordyceps may make exercise feel easier and improve endurance (5).

Anti-ageing & vitality: Cordycepin- one of its key compounds has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (6), which can support cell health, overall vitality, and even libido.

Cordyceps is easy to enjoy today in capsules, powders, or liquid extracts — perfect for tossing into a morning smoothie or coffee.

Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps may look very different, but they share something in common: a growing body of research suggesting they can support immunity, vitality, and overall wellness. Cordyceps shines when it comes to energy, endurance, and ageing gracefully, while Lion’s Mane is all about brain health, mood, and gut support.

While neither is a miracle cure, adding them to your health regimen, is an easy, delicious way to experiment with natural wellness.

For further information on Lion’s mane & Cordyceps or other health issues, call to see the team at Go Vita, Your Health Shop at 5 North St, Batemans Bay or phone on 44729737. Don’t forget to tune in to Marianne and Go Vita’s Nutritionist Sofia on 2EC after 12.30pm every Wednesday.

References

Lion’s Mane

1.      1.Mori, K. et al. (2009). Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367–372.

2.      2. Nagano, M. et al. (2010). Biomedical Research, 31(4), 231–237.

Cordyceps

3.       3. Dai, Y., et al. (2015). Immunomodulatory effects of Cordyceps on cellular immunity in healthy males.

          4.Zhou, J., et al. (2023). Cordyceps supplementation as an adjunct to medical treatment in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients.

        5.Chen, S., et al. (2010). Effects of Cordyceps on VO2 max and exercise performance in young adults.

6.Tuli, H. S., et al. (2013). Anti-inflammatory and therapeutic potential of cordycepin in human disease models.