“Of all the organisms in the natural environment, mushrooms stood out as having the greatest potential for use by elite warriors. Those who were familiar with their properties included them as powerful tools to their survival arsenal…”
– Paul Stamets, Mushrooms Hwa Rang and the Martial Arts [1]
The era when all men were actual warriors is probably over. But there’s still something primordially satisfying about the idea of taking life by the horns and doing what’s difficult. Medicinal mushrooms continue to hold tremendous potential for men who desire to battle against weakness, struggle, and self-sabotage.
This may seem too good to be true…but it’s not. Mushrooms offer men both physically-oriented and spiritually-oriented benefits. Here are the details.
- 8 Benefits of Mushrooms for Men
- Reduce Stress
- Balance Nutrition
- Promote Longevity
- Boost Your Brain
- Supercharge Your Workouts
- Protect Your Heart
- Optimise Your Mindset
- Ward Off Prostate Cancer
- Mushrooms for Men: FAQs
- What to Look for In Premium Mushrooms
8 Health Benefits of Mushrooms for Men
Are you a man who wants to improve his health?
If so you’ve probably gotten used to being bombarded by quick fixes: herbal pills that promise to boost T, herbal tinctures that claim to stave off cancer, or even TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
These quick fixes might seem alluring, but they seriously miss the mark. A man’s health isn’t solely predicated on his testosterone levels — there’s a lot more to it than that! Focusing on testosterone alone might seem beneficial in the short term, but in the long run it usually just leads to side effects.
To really optimise health, something more holistic is needed. Something like medicinal mushrooms. Replete with dozens of classes of active compounds and just as many mechanisms of action, these fantastic fungi improve men’s health the natural way.
Keep reading to learn more about 8 ways mushrooms might be great for men. Pay especially close attention to the first benefit — it’s the one that virtually all others flow from.
- Reduce Stress
- Balance Your Nutrition
- Promote Longevity
- Boost Your Brain
- Supercharge Your Workouts
- Protect Your Heart
- Optimise Your Mindset
- Ward Off Prostate Cancer
- Reduce Stress
“Adaptogens are stress-response modifiers that increase an organism’s nonspecific resistance to stress by increasing its ability to adapt and survive.”
– Understanding Adaptogenic Activity, 2017 [1]
Many medicinal mushrooms are adaptogenic in nature. In simple terms that just means they can help your body adapt to and overcome stress. Considering that chronic stress has been implicated as an initial driving force behind hundreds of different disease states, we could probably all use a little less stress in our lives!
Some of the most powerful stress-reducing shrooms include:
- Reishi
- Chaga
- Shiitake
- Maitake
- Cordyceps
- Teethed fungi
- Gilled mushrooms
- Lion’s Mane
- Turkey tail
- Polypore
Of all these fungi species, reishi may very well be the most adaptogenic. Known in China as Lingzhi, or “The Mushroom of Immortality,” reishi may be an ideal shroom for anyone who wants to amplify their masculinity. The ancients believed that reishi could boost a man’s life force, or Qi, by nourishing the body’s “three treasures.”
This all might sound somewhat esoteric, and maybe it is. But modern research shows that reishi really is high in an incredible variety of active ingredients — more than 400 in total! The highlights include:
- Proteins/peptides
- Polysaccharides
- Triterpenoids
- Nucleotides
- Fatty acids
- Mannitol
- Steroids
- Sterols
- Trace elements
A 2007 study summed up the cumulative benefits of these compounds pretty nicely. Reishi may be: [2]
- Radical-scavenging
- Estrogenic activity
- Immunomodulatory
- Anti-atherosclerotic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Chemo-preventive
- Chemoprotective
- Radioprotective
- Sleep-promoting
- Hepatoprotective
- Anti-androgenic
- Anti-angiogenic
- Hypolipidemic
- Hypoglycemic
- Anti-herpetic
- Antibacterial
- Antioxidative
- Anti-fibrotic
- Anti-diabetic
- Anti-ulcers
- Anti-aging
- Antitumor
- Analgesic
- Antiviral
Read more about reishi’s many benefits in our dedicated article here.
The focal point of this section, however, is that medicinal mushrooms reduce stress. And, once excess stress has been taken out of the picture, adaptogenic mushrooms can provide several male-specific benefits. They may normalise hormone production, heighten physical prowess, and so much more.
The dual calming + energising nature of many medicinal mushrooms also makes them great for sleep. Many mushroom users report a newfound ability to sleep throughout the night and wake up feeling refreshed.
- Balance Your Nutrition
Mushrooms are one of nature’s best sources of antioxidants. They’re also one of the few non-animal vitamin D sources out there (mushrooms make vitamin D in their ‘skin’ much as we do).
Most mushroom species are also rich in:
- Iron
- Zinc
- Niacin
- Copper
- Selenium
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Pantothenic acid
The zinc present in some fungi varieties may be especially beneficial for men. Zinc promotes male sexual function and fertility more directly than almost any other nutrient. [3]
- Promote Longevity
Modern research is slowly-but-surely lending credence to the idea that mushrooms promote lifespan and healthspan. They may not make one quite as immortal as the ancients believed, but many of the compounds found in them really can extend longevity!
What compounds, you may ask? Antioxidants — and not just any antioxidants. Many mushroom species are rich in something called glutathione, an antioxidant that’s normally produced by your own body to fight off free radicals. Increased glutathione levels may project the brain, liver, immune system, and skin (don’t forget, the skin is an organ, too) from the normal wear-and-tear of aging. [4]
If antioxidants like glutathione and ergothioneine are what you’re after, consider the Chaga mushroom. It’s one of the very richest sources of these compounds.
- Boost Your Brain
Brain health is of utmost importance for largely obvious reasons. If your brain isn’t functioning at its best, it won’t be able to properly direct your body. Even mild cognitive problems like brain fog can form a metaphorical, well, fog over the way you see the world, dimming your ability to identify and act on opportunities.
“If I only had an hour to chop down a tree,” Abraham Lincoln once said, “I would spend the first 45 minutes sharpening my axe.” The tree is your daily activity — the axe is your mind.
Mushrooms improve brain function in a myriad of ways. Some are nootropic, some are adaptogenic, some are both; some help your body upregulate fat-burning, while others promote focus.
Lion’s Mane is likely one of the top mushroom species for anyone who wants to improve their cognitive function. Studies have identified two compounds in Lion’s Mane, hericenones and erinacines, that have potent neurotrophic properties. [5] These compounds stimulate new neural connections much like root growth stimulator helps plants strengthen and connect their root cells.
Some experts, such as the Paul Stamets character we mentioned earlier, recommend stacking Lion’s Mane with B vitamins and psychedelic mushrooms for added effect. Yet even Stamets attests that this mushroom has potent neuroplastic effects all on its own.
Long-term Lion’s Mane users say the shroom can be used to wean off of coffee, energy drinks, or other side-effect-ridden substances. If you want to boost your brain the holistic way, look no further.
- Supercharge Your Workout Routine
Mushrooms contain a slew of compounds that seem to support athletic performance. Their polysaccharides may improve athletic endurance, while their testosterone-boosting qualities mean they might also improve strength and power.
Cordyceps mushrooms are particularly great for athletes. These shrooms have been shown to increase aerobic capacity and reduce muscle fatigue after as little as one week of use. [6]
Cordyceps may also prevent the damaging effects intense exercise often has on your body’s immune system. Athletes who take cordyceps regularly may be able to maintain their innate immunity — even if they’re training a little too intensely.
Turkey tail mushrooms are also thought to have this type of effect. In fact, any mushroom species rich in beta-glucans or other polysaccharides likely has immune-preserving properties.
Last but not least, mushrooms may empower martial artists. Here’s one more revelating quote from mycologist Paul Stamets:
“In ancient Korea, the Hwarang (the ‘Flowering Knights’) were a warrior elite, trained in the warring arts as well as philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and herbology. […] Prominent within many Buddhist temples are representations of medicinal mushrooms, particularly Ganoderma lucidum, also known as [Lingzhi], the Mushroom of Immortality, and the Tree of Life Mushroom.” [7]
- Protect Your Heart
Medicinal mushrooms may also protect the heart from various forms of stress. Between their antioxidants, immune boosters, vitamins and minerals, and more, it’s hard to say exactly what makes mushrooms so good for cardiovascular health.
Mushroom consumption may support healthy levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, homocysteine, and other crucial cardiac makers nonetheless. Shiitake mushrooms may be especially good for your heart. Considering that men typically become susceptible to heart attacks earlier than women do, this is a big deal.
- Ward off Prostate Cancer
Mushroom consumption has been positively correlated with reduced risks of prostate cancer.
A massive 2019 study published in the International Journal of Cancer recruited over 36,000 men between the ages of 40 and 80 over the course of 13-25 years. Researchers took note of each participant’s food and beverage intake throughout this decades-long process. Here’s what they found: [8]
- Men who consumed mushrooms 1-2 times/week had an 8% lower risk of prostate cancer than those who did not.
- This 8% disparity was seen regardless of the men’s fruit, vegetable, meat, or dairy consumption.
- The antioxidant ergothioneine present in some shrooms (particularly oyster, king oyster, shiitake, and maitake) may confer anti-cancer properties.
- Optimise Your Mindset
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.”
– Marcus Aurelius
One of the most essential prerequisites to being a warrior, whether a literal one or a metaphorical one, is mindset.
A strong mindset transcends the cognitive health we mentioned earlier. While cognitive function might be an important part of one’s mindset, it’s exactly that: only a part.
This particular benefit of mushrooms may be less quantifiable than the ones listed above, but it’s no less real. Many medicinal mushroom users (particularly long-term users) say they’ve become more thoughtful, more creative, more empathetic, and more centered within themselves. Might mushrooms have a rebalancing effect on the human psyche, much like they do on the ecosystems they inhabit? Maybe…
Mushrooms for Men FAQs
What are the active ingredients in mushrooms?
That depends on what mushroom species you’re talking about! Most mushrooms derive at least some of their power from nutrients like calcium, potassium, selenium, and vitamin D. Medicinal mushrooms also contain powerful antioxidants like beta-glucans.
Are mushrooms good for weight loss?
Some people that mushrooms’ energising properties make them good for weight loss, particularly if said shrooms are paired with a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
Can mushrooms combat heart disease?
While we can’t make medical claims, some mushroom species are associated with improved heart health metrics.
Can mushrooms halt or reverse Alzheimer’s?
Regularly consuming mushrooms may reduce one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s later in life. It’s not clear if mushrooms can actually reverse Alzheimer’s, however.
What to Look For in Premium Mushrooms
Regardless of what type(s) of mushrooms you decide to try, it’s important to end up with a high-quality product. Here are some tips on how to go about accomplishing that.
- If buying fresh mushrooms, try to go organic
- Cook your mushrooms in healthy fat to activate their fat-soluble nutrients
- If buying mushroom supplements, prioritise mushroom powders over extracts
- Also be sure the supplemental product you’re looking at has been lab tested for glyphosate and heavy metals
- Consider sourcing. Unless you live in Asia, your best bet is to look at European-made brands. At Hirsch Organic we source our 100% organic mushroom powders from some of Europe’s best cultivators.
Mushroom Benefits for Men: Closing Thoughts
With so many masculinity-boosting benefits, it’s easy to see why the warrior classes of days of old sought out medicinal mushrooms. They’re anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, pro-endurance, pro-strength, and pro-mindset! Perhaps they should join canines in the pantheon of man’s best friends — maybe someday.
