Want to Stop Obesity? Eat Mushrooms

Finding effective ways to tackle obesity seems to be at the top of the list of most wanted health solutions, especially since obesity is currently considered a threat to the health of the public. As a result, there are many studies that examine the potential of numerous foods and herbs in treating obesity. One of them is a recent research done on mushrooms, which are long known for their beneficial effects on human health, but only since recently have been found to be a great aid in the combat against one of the worst “modern” diseases – obesity. The new research has shown that these healthy umbrella-like fungi, in particular their liquid extract, may be a potential remedy for obesity.

Ganoderma Lucidum’s Ability to Cure Obesity

The study that was conducted by Chang Gung University, Taiwan, examined a type of mushroom calledGanoderma lucidum, known as mannentake or reishi in Japan and as lingzhi in China. The extract of Ganoderma lucidum, a type of mushroom which has been used for more than 2,000 years now in traditional Asian medicine, is considered to possess the ability to shield our bodies from excessive weight gain, by a process of reversing inflammation caused by obesity as well as metabolic dysfunction. It was a laboratory study on mice, the results of which showed that this mushroom has the power to correct the unhealthy microorganisms in the guts of the mice. In fact, these microorganisms are believed to be the main culprits for the appearance of obesity in the rodents, which was as a result of their high fat diet.

The Study

The study was carried out by researchers from Chang Gung University and other institutes in Taiwan, and the University of the Pacific and Rockefeller University in the US. It was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

According to the new study done in mice, this particular mushroom has been found to alter the composition of bacteria in the gut and thus help treat obesity. There were six groups of mice fed either a high-fed diet or a normal diet for two months. Out of these six groups, one was fed a high-fat diet along with an extract made from the Lingzhi mushroom, and another was fed the same diet but without the extract. After two months, the results showed that the group which was given the mushroom extract gained less weight than the other group.

“Given the good safety records of Lingzhi, and the fact that it is similar in composition to other mushrooms that we consume regularly, Lingzhi may be considered by the general population as a convenient strategy to lose weight, along with other known approaches, such as calorie restriction, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle,” said John D. Young, study co-author.

However, a study on humans would be required to see if it is safe and effective.

The findings of this study were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. Even though the researchers had taken advantage of the ancient reputation of the mushrooms as an effective treatment for a number of digestive issues, the research they carried out also gave way to a more important realization that involves gut microbes. Based on the findings, gut microbes have a huge role in obesity and other obesity-related illnesses. Although the scientists are still unsure about which causes the which – obesity or unbalanced gut microbes – they are almost certain that prebiotics and probiotics can help protect the body against the negative health effects.

Mushroom Benefits 

The study conducted on rodents brought to light the positive effects that the lingzhi mushrooms have on gut bacteria. They were able to reduce the amount of fat accumulation and weight gain despite the mice eating a high fat diet. The lingzhi mushrooms were also able to reduce inflammation, which is often associated with insulin resistance, cancer, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes.

Given the fact that about 500 million people are obese and 1.4 billion are overweight around the world, researches like these become our only hope in finding effective ways to treat and prevent this “modern day” disease. This mushroom research may turn out to be the solution that scientists have been searching for many years now, and perhaps it can help reduce the current prevalence of obesity. As the scientists already reported, an experiment on human subjects still needs to be conducted to see if this treatment is effective and safe, but they are hopeful that the outcome will be positive.

Nevertheless, mushroom and mushroom extracts should by no means be considered a miracle cure, and even if they prove to be an effective cure for weight gain in humans, a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables combined with regular exercise will still be the best way to combat obesity.