Reishi Mushroom

What Does Reishi Mushroom Do?

Reishi mushroom, scientifically known as Ganoderma lucidum, is a functional fungus revered in traditional medicine as the "Mushroom of Immortality." In the context of performance nutrition, it functions as a powerful adaptogen that helps your body maintain homeostasis and manage the physiological stress of high-intensity training.

• Adaptogenic Stress Management: Reishi helps modulate the body's cortisol response, preventing the jagged energy crashes often associated with high-stimulant pre-workout formulas.
• Immune System Support: Rich in beta-glucans, it enhances the activity of white blood cells, ensuring your training schedule isn't interrupted by seasonal illness or overtraining-induced immune suppression.
• Enhanced Oxygen Utilization: Some evidence suggests that reishi can improve oxygen uptake and reduce fatigue, potentially extending your time to exhaustion during aerobic or anaerobic sessions.
• Anti-Inflammatory Action: The triterpenes found in reishi help mitigate systemic inflammation, which can lead to faster recovery times and reduced muscle soreness between workouts.

Clinical vs. Gym Bro Dosing

Key Insight: To get the most out of your reishi, ensure your supplement specifies "dual-extract" or mentions both water and alcohol extraction. This ensures you are receiving the full spectrum of bioactive compounds, including both water-soluble beta-glucans and fat-soluble triterpenes.

Side Effects & Warnings

• Digestive Sensitivity: Some users may experience mild stomach upset, bloating, or nausea, particularly when consuming concentrated extracts on an empty stomach.
• Dryness: In rare cases, reishi can cause a dry sensation in the mouth, throat, or nasal passages.
• Blood Thinning: Reishi may have mild anticoagulant properties, which could increase the risk of bruising or bleeding in sensitive individuals.

Tip: Because reishi has a naturally calming effect on the central nervous system, it is a perfect addition to "non-stim" pre-workouts or late-night training sessions where you want to perform at your peak without ruining your sleep quality.