Can Lion’s Mane Mushroom Affect Your Moods?

Every one of us is subject to mood changes and differences in thoughts and feelings from day to day. Nothing is constant. And our moods are probably the least constant part of being a human.

Moods can be unpredictable, or, for some people, they can follow a familiar pattern. One thing is certain: if moods were an animal, they’d be a chameleon. Shifting their presentation in response to the environment and making the most extreme changes when mating or in direct competition. 

So mood changes are definitely normal. But for some people, they can create daily struggles. Mood disorders and issues relating to low mood can negatively affect your life and relationships. But is there anything you can do about it?

There’s no magical cure for mood swings or low mood, although there are prescription medications that can help some people with the symptoms. But if you struggle with your moods and prefer to avoid anti-depressants, there are some natural, healthy ways to do this. 

This blog discusses how Lion’s Mane supplements affect mood and how you could use this simple and super-effective mushroom to improve your life and emotional well-being. 

Lion’s Mane And Your Brain

The hippocampus is a tiny seahorse-shaped tissue structure nestled in the middle of your brain. Just above your spinal cord. Your hippocampus is crucial in processing memories and influencing your emotional responses. It is responsible for regulating your emotions and impacting your moods.

So it goes without saying that good brain health and a healthy hippocampus can go a long way to supporting your mood regulation. 

One of the surprising benefits of taking Lion’s Mane mushroom supplements is the improved regeneration of your brain cells. This is down to the erinacines contained within Lion’s Mane. Studies have found that erinacines increase NGF (nerve growth factor) in your brain. NGF prevents and treats nerve damage, and it’s vital in maintaining healthy neurons.

Taking Lion’s Mane supplements supports your brain health. It helps your little hippocampus seahorse to ride those waves of emotion, regulate your mood and keep you on an even keel. 

Inflammation And Inflammatory Moods

Inflammation is a hot topic right now. You’ve probably seen articles pop up everywhere about the dangerous effects of inflammation in your body.

And it’s not without good reason that it’s being shared far and wide. Inflammation is the cause of so many health problems. And scientists are now finding evidence that inflammation in the brain is a root cause of symptoms of depression, anxiety, fatigue and low energy. 

Anti-inflammatories can help relieve some chronic inflammatory conditions in the body, but they can also cause some serious side effects. And when it comes to brain inflammation causing irritability and low mood, your doctor can only prescribe anti-depressants. If you think inflammation could be the cause of your irregular moods, you’ll probably be interested to learn that Lion’s Mane is a natural and effective remedy for inflammation in the body and the brain. 

Several studies have been done on the effect of a Lion’s Mane supplement on tackling chronic inflammation. One scientific study focusing on inflammation caused by obesity showed that Lion’s Mane had an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages and prevented adipose tissue inflammation in obese patients.

The anti-inflammatory properties include polysaccharides and beta-glucans, and these compounds also have a positive effect on mental health and emotional regulation. One study focusing on menopausal women showed that the group of women who were given Lion’s Mane supplement had noticeably reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression after just 4 weeks.

Gut-Mood Connection

How does your gut affect your mood? It’s nothing to do with gastrointestinal issues making you miserable, although having an unhappy digestive system is enough to make anyone a little moody. It’s actually much deeper than that.

If you haven't heard of it before, the gut-brain axis is a communication network that links your gut with your brain. It works in both directions, so what affects your gut will affect your brain and vice versa. 

Because of this connection, you must nurture your gut health and your intestinal microbiota to support your body's ability to produce neurotransmitter precursors to reach your brain. Making this connection efficient and robust can directly influence your emotional well-being. 

Some researchers are even now calling the gut the “second brain” because of the gut’s incredible influence on brain health.  

Previous research on Lion's Mane has proven its beneficial effect on the gut microbiome. The proteins and alpha-glucans in lion’s mane act as a prebiotic to feed your intestinal microbiota and support your gut microflora. Lion’s Mane also contains anti-bacterial properties that help to balance your gut health and reduce unwanted pathogens. 

One study involving rats showed that treatment with Lion’s Mane restored a biodiverse and healthy gut microbiome in a relatively short time. 

Remember that this connection works both ways. It’s well-known that chronic stress and anxiety negatively affect your digestive and gut health. So improving your gut health improves your emotional well-being, and a happier and less stressed you will also improve your gut health!

Lion’s Mane contains adaptogens that help to lower stress hormones and increase your body’s resistance to physical, biological and chemical stress. Adaptogenic mushroom supplements can help reverse stress-related changes to your dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters leading to improved mood.

Snooze Improves Moods

Just like the gut-brain axis, sleep and mood are intricately woven together in a bidirectional relationship. When your sleep is disturbed, your mood will be affected, and when your mood is disturbed, your sleep will be affected.

Sleep is vital for supporting your daily functioning and emotional regulation. When you don’t get enough of it, you become more emotionally responsive and more sensitive to stress. You’ve probably seen the evidence of this in an overtired toddler, screaming in the supermarket or when you’ve had to go to work after a restless night, and it feels like everyone is out to ruin your day. 

So what can you do to improve your quality of sleep and, in turn, improve your moods?

There are sedatives and sleeping meds that can send you off into a deeper slumber. But these kinds of remedies can have nasty side effects and long-lasting negative effects on your sleep. 

Studies have shown that Lion’s Mane is a natural, effective, safe supplement to improve sleep. A double-blind placebo-controlled study conducted in Italy in 2019 found that 8 weeks of Lion's Mane supplementation improved mood disorders of a depressive-anxious nature and sleep quality.

Better sleep means less stress, and less stress means better sleep!

Mood And Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is a leading cause of mental health issues and mood disorders. It’s an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen cells and antioxidant mechanisms. So the antidote to oxidative stress is anti-oxidants. 

Lion’s Mane mushroom is a natural source of potent antioxidants. These antioxidants can help neutralise free radicals and protect the body from oxidative damage. A recent study from 2019 showed that Lion’s Mane supplement had neuroprotective and antioxidant properties that help tackle oxidative stress in the body.

It’s also believed from one study that the antioxidants in Lion’s Mane may help promote learning and memory, possibly by strengthening your brain cells and stimulating the growth of new neurons.

Just one tiny fungus can help create stability and balance in your body and brain for a less moody you.

Improve Your Moods With Lion’s Mane…

So if you’re looking for a safe and effective, natural supplement to support your moods and emotional well-being, Lion’s Mane can do the job! 

With its potent effects on brain health, gut health, stress levels and better sleep, it’s one mushroom you don’t want to underrate.

To see how Lion’s Mane can improve your health and quality of life, try our high-quality capsules and start seeing results as early as 4 weeks!