Benefits of mushrooms and ashwagandha

Mushrooms and cognitive performance

Mushrooms are really hot in the supplement industry, and for good reason. Mushrooms have been shown in several recent studies (including this one) to improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. In other words, mushrooms help you think better.

While there is very good reason to believe that mushrooms can help brain function, other claims about mushrooms show promise but need further evaluation. There are studies currently underway evaluating mushroom benefits in the areas of increased immune function (including cancer-fighting power), cardiovascular benefits, and physical endurance.

Here is an interesting note: In regard to cognitive function in particular, the older you are, the more beneficial mushrooms seem to be.

If you choose to try to get more mushrooms into your diet, current science suggests that you should probably go for variety rather than focusing on just one type. Gone are the days when you had only one option in the grocery store. Experiment and have fun while trying varieties such as reishi, turkey tail, chaga, shiitake, white button, and cordyceps. And of course, if you don’t eat a lot of mushrooms in your diet, you can purchase mushroom supplements.

Ashwagandha may improve aerobic fitness

A recent clinical trial showed that supplementing with ashwagandha doesn’t have much of an effect on muscle size or strength, but it can improve VO2max, a measure of aerobic fitness.

In our opinion, for many reasons, ashwagandha is an enormously impressive herb, and one that many should consider adding to their supplement regimen. It has been the subject of many clinical studies and has numerous documented health benefits, including stress relief, improved sleep, and sexual health.

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