Lion's Mane Vs. Ashwagandha - Which Is Better?
Which is better for your overall brain health and well-being, Lion’s Mane or Ashwagandha? With so many supplements and natural products claiming to be the best on the market, finding the most effective type of product for you can be difficult.
For some, making a decision can be hard! Both Lion’s Mane and Ashwagandha come with an array of potential benefits, and one might work better for you than for another person. If you’re looking into natural supplements, you likely want to gain the benefits that they could provide.
Whether this is your first time considering Lion's Mane or Ashwagandha or not, you'll be glad to know that we're here to break down the differences between the two. So, to find out more about the potential benefits of Lion’s Mane and Ashwagandha, continue reading. Let’s Ashwa-go!
What is Ashwagandha?
Ashwagandha is an important herb that’s been used traditionally in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine. It’s native to India and the Middle East and is also commonly known as Winter Cherry. This is due to the cherry-like berries that the herb produces.
For centuries now, people have been using this herb to combat stress, promote better sleep, boost energy levels and improve cognitive enhancement and learning. Ashwagandha is well-known for being quite the adaptogen, which, in simple terms, means it can help your body deal with external circumstances.
And it isn’t just herbal hearsay. A study group receiving Ashwagandha saw significant improvement in their sleep quality, mental clarity, and anxiety levels.
This curious evergreen shrub works on your body by restricting the activity of a certain system in the brain that regulates your sleep and stress responses, how cool is that?
This popular traditional medicine has proven to be beneficial for so many people, but what exactly does it have to offer? We’re sure you’d like to know, so let's take a look.
Supporting Muscle Strength and Athletic Performance
Your muscles support you, so it’s only fair to support them too! Although studies are still being conducted to evaluate the effects of Ashwagandha on improving muscle strength and athletic performance, the potential benefits have a great chance of strengthening muscles and promoting better physical health.
However, as of right now, a review of existing studies has picked up that Ashwagandha can increase your max oxygen intake in healthy adults and athletes. So, you can breathe easy knowing Ashwagandha has your back (and your lungs).
In fact, scientists found the herb’s performance so intriguing that they looked into its effects on athletes even more.
They discovered that a dose of 600mg of Ashwagandha daily over eight weeks made noticeable improvements in muscle strength and size. That makes Ashwagandha possibly the best gym buddy, ever!
Great for Arthritis and Inflammation
Athletes aside, Ashwagandha can help more than your muscles. Because of its analgesic properties (painkilling powers), it can block pain signals resulting from things like arthritis and inflammation.
It’s been proposed that Ashwagandha could actually have anti-inflammatory qualities, although this hasn’t yet been proven.
Prevents Neurodegenerative Diseases
First off, neurodegenerative disease is an illness that causes problems in your brain, giving you lots of complicated issues.
One review found that Ashwagandha was able to reduce the risk of developing this type of disease, helping with a range of problems like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, and Huntington’s, to name a few.
This powerful plant can help with these types of diseases because of the way it advances. Such diseases take over parts of the brain and disrupt normal functions. Ashwagandha could potentially prevent these actions from occurring, with the potential to provide amazing focus-boosting benefits.
Reduce Blood Sugar and Manage Diabetes
The thing about Ashwagandha is that it has been used for ages, but scientific studies have yet to prove all of its many benefits. One of these benefits might be its effect on blood sugar levels.
Some small studies revealed that Ashwagandha has the potential to regulate lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Additionally, this popular plant could even help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, although more studies are needed to explore all of its plant powers.
Are There Any Side Effects of Taking Ashwagandha?
Amongst its Ayurvedic uses in the past, stress relief, cognitive-enhancing properties, and helpfulness in the present with all things anxiety and sleep has anyone noticed any side effects? As a general rule, scientists often say that if a medicine works, it will have side effects.
But all the same, you don’t want to be dealing with anything too scary when you’re just trying to look after your body. When it comes to taking Ashwagandha, small to moderate dosages are typically tolerated by most people.
However, it’s important to note that in large doses, Ashwagandha has the potential to cause digestive problems like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. This could be brought on by upsetting the mucous membrane in your gut through inflammation.
Not fun, but also good to know in advance. Now that we know a little bit more about Ashwagandha, let's move on to some of the main benefits of incorporating Lion's Mane mushrooms into your daily routine.
What is Lion’s Mane?
Lion's Mane mushrooms are also commonly known as 'hou tou gu' or 'yamabushitake'. These beneficial mushrooms are large in size and white in colour, with a shaggy appearance.
It's fairly easy to grow Lion's Mane, but when it comes to supplements, it needs to be extracted correctly to get the highest quality Lion’s Mane possible to be able to take advantage of the full effects that it potentially has to offer.
These mushrooms are normally used for both culinary and functional purposes in different regions of the world. Overall, they’re widely regarded as a positive shroom that can do a lot of good. Especially since science experts have started to pour in support for these ferocious fungi.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms possess some compounds that have health-promoting effects on the body, including your brain, heart and gut. But what else does it do?
Help Relieve Inflammation
It’s true, Lion’s Mane is rich in antioxidant compounds which help the body combat both free radicals and inflammation (the bad guys of the body).
Inflammation is a natural defensive process, but if it persists for a long time or is left untreated, it might lead to the development of various diseases like diabetes and heart disease. So, anything that can help our bodies overcome unnecessary inflammation is a big plus.
According to research, Lion's Mane ranked fourth among 14 varieties of mushrooms in a 2012 study analysing their therapeutic potential, with moderate to high antioxidant activity. Well done, Lion’s Mane!
Prevent Ulcers and Boost Digestive Health
Do you suffer from frequent tummy aches or toilet troubles? These useful mushrooms might be your answer. Lion’s Mane extract has been shown to have antibacterial properties which could help prevent bacterial infections and improve digestive health.
Things like stomach ulcers may be caused by bacterial overgrowth and damage to the stomach lining due to NSAIDs. When combating stomach ulcers, the aim is to reduce the bad bacteria while boosting the good bacteria.
Taking Lion’s Mane as part of your diet can do just that, as it’s been proven to restrict the growth of a particular belly bug called H.pylori, protecting your stomach lining and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Boost Immune Health
Speaking of your stomach and your immune system, did you know that Lion’s Mane can help strengthen your overall immune health?
Lion's Mane contains powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, acting as a strong protector by standing up to the bullies of inflammation and oxidative stress.
According to even more scientific research, this smart shroom can increase your intestinal immune activity, too.
That means your body will be prepared for anything. This positive effect is further boosted by Lion’s Mane’s ability to boost the growth of good gut bacteria, so your gut is healthier than ever.
Improve Memory and Brain Health
Memory is a precious ability, but as we age, our body’s ability to form new brain connections means worsening mental capability and decreased memory retention.
Fortunately, Lion’s Mane has been proven to contain bioactive compounds like hericenones and erinacines, which can boost the growth of brain cells.
This is important, as it’s those brain cells that hold your memory! Lion's Mane could also improve cognitive function, overall thinking power, and mental health. With so many potential health benefits, what's not to love about Lion's Mane?
Relieve Depression and Anxiety
To dive into the mental health side a little more, animal studies have discovered that Lion’s Mane mushroom extract is actually able to relieve the symptoms of depression.
A few studies have noticed the regenerative effect Lion’s Mane has on brain cells, which can help with associated emotional regulation. So, if you struggle with anxiety or depression, why not try Lion's Mane to possibly improve your mental health?
Are There Any Side Effects of Taking Lion’s Mane?
When we compare Ashwandha to Lion’s Mane’s symptoms, how does the latter stack up?
Well, the adverse effects of the Lion's Mane mushroom or its extract have not been investigated in human trials. Although general observation in other studies has shown that they seem quite harmless.
We’ve seen that even at doses as high as 2.3 g per pound (5 grams per kg) of body weight per day for one month or lower amounts for three months, no side effects have been seen in rat tests.
But, of course, if you know you have a sensitivity to mushrooms (ever broke out in a rash after ramen?), then you should probably follow common sense and avoid taking Lion’s Mane as you might get a similar allergic reaction.
When it comes to how Lion’s Mane interacts with other medications, it’s important to know who exactly should and shouldn't take Lion’s Mane supplements. If you have any concerns about taking Lion's Mane it could be useful to speak with a healthcare professional.
What's the Verdict?
When we boil it down (that’s a little mushroom extraction joke!), Ashwagandha and Lion’s Mane can both help to relieve stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, promote enhanced cognitive function, better your physical well-being, and boost brain function.
Both herbs and shrooms contain natural properties that have been investigated for their potent health-promoting abilities, although Lion’s Mane has a little more science to back up its benefits.
It’s fair to say that the addition of these supplements to your balanced diet can improve your well-being and health in several specific ways.
Do You Want to Give Lion's Mane a Go?
If Lion's Mane sounds like something you're interested in trying, you'll be glad to know that we can help.
Here at TwentyTwo, we offer super-strength, organic Lion's Mane capsules. Both UK-grown and 100% natural, our trusted Lion's Mane capsules can be bought in packs of 30, or 60; ideal for both newcomers and regular users.
We understand the importance of high-quality, pure-fruiting body mushrooms. We want our customers to experience the array of potential benefits that this super shroom has to offer!
All of our capsules are fully vegan and alcohol-free, making them suitable for all individuals.
Having gained significant attention in recent years, we believe that more people are starting to see great benefits from Lion's Mane.
If you fancy learning more about our wonderful Lion's Mane capsules and how to incorporate them into your supplement regimen, feel free to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!
