Do you ever ask yourself, "Why am I always feeling tired?" or "Why am I feeling bloated?" Well, the answer may be more straightforward than you think! You may need to maintain and balance your gut & digestive health. Gut health can affect your immune support, heart health, cognitive function, sleep, energy, and overall performance.
At Hekate, we don't mind removing the awkwardness around conversations on gut health and digestion so that you can feel confident, empowered, and informed to make the best decision for you. So let's dive right in and talk about gut health and digestion. We know that it can be frustrating not to know what is going on in your body and not know what to do.
Fortunately, functional mushrooms are here to save the day because they are a natural superfood and incredibly gut health-friendly. In addition, they have an extensive list of medicinal properties to enable us to #CultivateGreat in our day-to-day lives.
What Is Your Gut Microbiome?
You may have heard the term "gut" before, but what does that even mean? The gut microbiome is a collection of microorganisms, also known as microbes. These microbes include bacteria, fungi, or viruses that are the digestive tracks in the large intestines.
The gut microbiome acts as a barrier between our mucosal lining to prevent a "leaky gut," which releases toxins and bacteria and pathogens leaking through the intestine wall. "Leaky gut" can also affect inflammation and immune response, leaving the body vulnerable to "bad gut bacteria."
What Are Some Signs of an Unhealthy Gut?
Everyone has a unique microbiome, but there are ways to determine a healthy gut from a not healthy one.
"In healthy people, there are a diverse array of organisms. Unfortunately, there's much less diversity in an unhealthy individual. There seems to be an increase in bacteria associated with disease," says Dr. Gail Hect, chair of the American Gastroenterological Associated Center for Gut Microbiome Research & Education.
The digestive system has over 1,000 different species of bacteria that work toward normal bodily function. In addition to aiding digestion, these microbes help maintain heart health, brain health & function, weight management, and digesting fiber.
Some additional signs of an unhealthy gut include bloating, constipation, heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, loose stools, poor sleep patterns, brain fog, food allergies/intolerances, unexplained weight gain/weight loss, migraines, and headaches.
Why Are Mushrooms Good for Gut Health & Digestion?
Functional mushrooms have been used for centuries worldwide due to their adaptogenic and medical healing properties, especially when it comes to gut and digestive health. Mushrooms are a high profile carbohydrate, making them an excellent option for prebiotics. Prebiotics nourish gut bacteria while probiotics replenish gut bacteria, but both are essential to having a healthy microbiome. Mushrooms have also proven to be a rich source of protein, full of beta-glucans, high in fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory, which support the immune system.
What Are the Best Mushrooms to Improve Gut Health?
Functional mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that improve overall gut and digestive health. Here are some of the best mushrooms and their benefits.
- Promote heart health
- High in anti-inflammatory properties
- Improve sleep and recharge
- Reduce and manage stress levels
- Support the immune system
- Increase mental clarity
- Boost memory and focus
- Enhance cognitive function and brain health
- Reduce and manage stress levels
- Boost energy and vitality
- Support the immune system
- Support gut health
- High in antioxidants
- Enhance cognitive function and brain health
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Support the immune system
- Boost energy and vitality
Turkey Tail Mushroom Benefits
- Rich in polysaccharides and beta-glucans
- Prebiotic abilities to support gut health
- High in antioxidants
- Boost energy and vitality
- Support the immune system
Shiitake Mushroom Benefits
- Rich in polysaccharides and beta-glucans
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Support the immune system
- Good sources of Vitamin D, Potassium, and Magnesium
What Can You Do To Promote a Healthy Gut?
Nowadays, it's easier than ever to make mushrooms part of your daily routine. Our line of performance mushrooms are organic, sports certified, vegan, gluten-free, and GMO-free. In addition, you can be using gut-healthy supplements to have you feel optimal. For example, our products contain an equal blend of chaga, reishi, lion's mane, and cordyceps mushrooms.
Start your day off using the Daily Functional Mushroom Cocoa by simply adding half a tablespoon to your morning coffee, steamed oat milk, smoothies, oatmeal, or, other meals.
Suppose you need something that you can take on the go. In that case, we recommend our Daily Functional Mushroom Capsules to bring wherever you go. You have to take 3 capsules daily to feel the full effects.
Here are some other things you can do to support your gut and digestive health.
- Reduce your stress levels
- Exercise regularly
- Get enough sleep
- Reduce gluten consumption
- Consume alcohol in moderation
- Drink more water
Bottom Line
There you have it; you’ve learned about gut health and digestion and now have ways to balance and manage your gut and digestive health so that you can reach a state to #CultivateGreat every day. Learn more about using functional mushrooms in our beginner’s guide to Functional Mushrooms.
References
Jayachandran M, Xiao J, Xu B. A Critical Review on Health Promoting Benefits of Edible Mushrooms through Gut Microbiota. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Sep 8;18(9):1934. doi: 10.3390/ijms18091934. PMID: 28885559; PMCID: PMC5618583.
Pallav K, Dowd SE, Villafuerte J, Yang X, Kabbani T, Hansen J, Dennis M, Leffler DA, Newburg DS, Kelly CP. Effects of polysaccharopeptide from Trametes versicolor and amoxicillin on the gut microbiome of healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial. Gut Microbes. 2014 Jul 1;5(4):458-67. doi: 10.4161/gmic.29558. Epub 2014 Jul 9. PMID: 25006989.