Tag Archives: health trends

The Power of Reishi Mushroom for Kids: A Natural Wellness Boost

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As parents, we always want to ensure that our children are healthy and happy. One way to support their wellbeing is by incorporating beneficial natural supplements into their diet, such as reishi mushroom. Reishi, also known as Ganoderma lucidum, is a medicinal type of mushroom long revered in traditional Chinese medicine for its numerous health benefits.

With International Youth Day 2024 right around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to explore the benefits of reishi for kids, and why incorporating this powerful mushroom into their diet can be a game changer in promoting their overall health.

1. Immune System Support

One of the most well-known benefits of reishi for kids is its ability to support and strengthen their immune system. Reishi mushrooms contain compounds called beta-glucans and triterpenes, which have been shown to enhance the body’s immune response and help fight off infections. By incorporating reishi into your child’s diet, you can help boost their immune defences, making them less susceptible to common illnesses like colds and flu.

2. Allergy Relief

For children who suffer from allergies, reishi is a natural remedy that can provide relief. While it can boost an immune response, it can also calm an overactive immune system, making it an “immunomodulator,” a substance that helps the immune system find balance. This mighty mushroom also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help alleviate symptoms of allergies such as sneezing, itchy eyes, and congestion. By reducing inflammation in the body, reishi can help your child breathe easier and enjoy a better quality of life, especially during peak allergy seasons.

3. Improved Sleep Quality

In today’s fast-paced world, many children struggle with sleep issues. Reishi has calming and stress-reducing properties that can help promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. Whether it’s for difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night, reishi mushrooms can help your child unwind and drift off to a restful night’s sleep.

4. Mood and Behaviour Regulation

Another remarkable benefit of reishi for kids is its potential to help regulate mood and behaviour. Reishi mushrooms contain adaptogenic compounds that can help the body adapt to stress and promote a sense of calmness and wellbeing. For children who may experience mood swings, including anxiety and overwhelm, adding reishi to their daily regimen can help support their emotional balance and mental clarity.

5. Cognitive Enhancement

In addition to its physical benefits, reishi has also been studied for its potential cognitive-enhancing effects. The compounds found in reishi mushrooms have been shown to support brain health, improve memory, and enhance cognitive function. This may be at least partially due to the mushroom’s calming properties. A calm mind is clearer and more focused. Reishi can help your kids sharpen their focus and support healthy cognitive development.

6. Safe and Natural Remedy

One of the greatest advantages of reishi for kids is that it is a safe and natural remedy with minimal side effects. Unlike many over-the-counter medications that can have harmful effects on children’s health, reishi is a gentle yet potent remedy that works in harmony with the body’s natural processes. By choosing reishi as a holistic approach to supporting your child’s health, you can rest assured knowing that you are giving them a safe and effective solution.

The benefits of reishi for kids are vast and varied, making it a valuable addition to their daily wellness routine. From immune system support to cognitive enhancement and beyond, Reishi mushrooms offer a multitude of health benefits that can help your child thrive and flourish. Harnessing the power of this ancient medicinal mushroom will help you provide your child with a natural, holistic approach to health that nurtures their well-being on a deep level. Embrace the magic of reishi and unlock the countless benefits it has to offer for your little one’s health and vitality.

Remember, if your child has complex medical issues or is taking prescription medication, consult with a healthcare professional before introducing any new supplements or remedies into their routine to ensure they are safe and appropriate for their individual needs.

Mushrooms: One of the Top Five Natural Health Trends

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The New Year is here. And, for countless Canadians, with it comes the usual resolutions to eat better and live a healthier lifestyle. But with so many options to choose from, it can quickly become overwhelming, sabotaging your health goals before you even have a chance to start. I’ll get to the mushroom part, but first here are all of the top five natural health trends for this year.

Sprouts

Sprouts will be taking root and for a ton of good reasons. For starters, they are super low in calories and fats, not to mention an easily digested and absorbed source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, sprouts have been shown to improve digestion, increase metabolism, boost skin health, support the immune system, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, and so much more. With so many great benefits, it’s easy to see why this healthy food trend will be sprouting up all over the wellness landscape this year.

Plant-based dairy alternatives

Plant-based alternatives are exploding in popularity, quickly moving into the mainstream. So, if you’re looking for a great dairy substitute, there are plenty of healthy options to choose from including a wide range of products made from rice, almonds, coconut, cashews, soy, flax seeds, hazelnuts, hemp, and more. Plant-based dairy alternatives are a great source of calcium, vitamins A, D and E, and are perfect for anyone with food allergies, lactose intolerance, or who follow vegan diets. You can even make your own at home!

Digestive enzymes

By now, you’ve probably heard about enzymes and how necessary they are to your digestive process. But sometimes we don’t produce enough natural enzymes, and that can lead to bloating and gas, and possibly even ulcers. Adding digestive enzymes to your diet will help break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, helping to properly absorb the healthy nutrients found in the food we eat. Of course, it’s not a good excuse to binge eat, but digestive enzymes may help you digest the occasional buffet, celebration dinner or enjoy foods that you may otherwise find challenging to digest (e.g. dairy, legumes).

Smart carbs

Carbs have been getting a bad rap for a while, but that’s all about to change. Hold on a moment. No one is suggesting it’s okay to wolf down an entire cake or a box of cookies—food that is full of refined carbohydrates is full of empty calories, with next to no nutrition in them. No, what I’m talking about is smart carbs—real power foods that are actually good for you (as long as you choose them carefully). So this year, skip the junk food isle and choose healthier carb options like fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds, nuts, and whole grains.

Mushrooms

Last, but certainly not least, mushrooms will be stepping out from the shadows and into the spotlight from coast to coast this year. These fantastic fungi have been revered for thousands of years in Asia because of their many health benefits and healing properties, leaving many Canadians to wonder why they haven’t added mushrooms to their diets sooner.

Reishi mushrooms, for example, are brimming with curative compounds like triterpenes, alkaloids, sterols, and various key polysaccharides. Japanese red reishi has been used to prevent and treat cancer and cardiovascular disease, boost cognitive activity, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and detoxify the body.

As one of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s top herbal remedies, it’s time to make this once “for royals only” herb a household name. While it’s possible to get dried reishi mushrooms, slice thinly, and brew as a tea, it’s much easier (and palatable—this herb is bitter!) to get it in a high quality capsule form.