Lion's mane mushroom has become a popular tool in diets looking to increase the quality of one's overall health. As a result, lion's mane has been seeing increased consumption rates for its health benefits to the body. In many cases, lion's mane has become a preferred alternative for synthetic supplements as well.

However, the uptick in consumption rates for lion's mane mushrooms has led to concerns about how safe it is to consume the substance regularly. As with any substance, it is ideal to be aware of the potential side effects before adding it to your diet. We hope to inform you of how regularly you should consume lion's mane mushroom with this article.

What is Lion's Mane Used For?

Lion's mane mushroom, known scientifically as Hericium Erinaceus, is recognized for its unusual and relatively unique appearance compared to other mushrooms. However, its appearance is only one factor in its appeal to us, as its health benefits have risen to the forefront of the mushroom's reputation. These benefits are what has driven so many to increase their consumption of lion's mane so that they can reap these benefits, but what exactly are they?

Well, one of the primary benefits that have driven people to embrace lion's mane as a supplement is its neurological effects. There have been studies conducted that have discovered correlations between the compounds within lion's mane mushrooms and the brain's ability to grow new cells. This generation of cells has made lion's mane a potential tool in overcoming crippling neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia. 

Granted, the studies on lion's mane for such conditions were conducted on mice rather than humans, but the results are promising. The mice demonstrated reduced memory loss and developed amyloid-beta plaques, preventing neuronal damage that might have induced mental decline.

Lion's mane mushroom also offers a way of keeping you healthier in the long term by bolstering your immune system against infections or disease. It might seem farfetched that a simple mushroom, fanciful as it may look, has the potential to protect against that sort of thing. But the research has found that lion's mane increases the activity of the intestinal immune system by making changes to the bacteria in the gut responsible for stimulating the immune response. One study even found that mice injected with lion's mane extract had lifespans that were quadrupled despite being injected with lethal levels of salmonella.

Another slightly more practical benefit is the mushroom's ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. But, again, the study was conducted on animals rather than people. Still, the study's results found that lion's mane mushrooms might be able to adjust our bodies to minimize the biological components that contribute to heart disease. Specifically, lion's mane reduced triglyceride levels and improved the body's ability to metabolize fat. In so doing, the body's cholesterol was regulated and improved overall cardiovascular health.

Lion's mane might potentially be able to help alleviate mental health ailments such as anxiety or depression. This is not because lion's mane is a pharmaceutical antidepressant of any sort, but because there is evidence linking these conditions to simple inflammation. Since lion's mane is an anti-inflammatory on top of everything else, it might be able to alleviate any inflammation associated with mental health.

The use of lion's mane mushroom brings with it a wide array of potential health benefits that could significantly improve the quality of life for those who have ingested it. While the research is still being conducted on lion's mane's effects and medical benefits, the results are too promising to dismiss. However, there remains the lingering question of how frequently one can safely consume the mushroom.

How Much Lion's Mane Can We Take?

How much lion's mane can be taken in a given day? Unfortunately, there is no consensus. Some studies are being conducted, and research is ongoing to make this determination. The best we have is a guess at a general range of safe consumption as of this moment. Too little and you won't get the benefits; too much and you may experience adverse side effects.

Currently, the research supports the recommendation that the ideal dosage of lion's mane is anywhere between 500mg to 3,000mg (anywhere from half a gram to 3 grams.) However, the Federal Drug Administration has not properly weighed in on these dosage amounts. So, ultimately it is only advisable to take a lion's mane supplement as instructed on the supplement's container to ensure you are remaining within the bounds of healthy consumption. 

Once you know how much to take in a single sitting, the rest becomes a simple matter of keeping to your schedule. So now we come to the central issue of whether or not a lion's mane supplement can be safely taken daily. The good news is that the answer is "yes." Therefore, it is suggested to take your lion's mane supplements every day but on a defined schedule to ensure the best results and the healthiest outcomes.

While studies are still ongoing to find an appropriate dosage of the mushroom, there seems to be no cap on how much you can take in a day. It does not contain any toxic compounds that we know or recognize. As of now, studies are simply looking to find the best effective dosage to recommend. Even studies attempting to overdose mice found no adverse effects.

When to Take Lion's Mane

The most important detail of any supplement is finding the proper schedule to take them to ensure they work as intended. 

Lion's mane's effect on cognitive functioning can serve as an energizing substance, meaning timing can be key. In other cases, lion's mane supplements can be used to enhance REM sleep. The simple reality is that the effect lion's mane mushrooms have on an individual in this sense will vary from person to person.

If you are one of those individuals energized by lion's mane, you will want to schedule your consumption of the supplement in the morning. This will allow you not only to reap the associated medical benefits of the lion's mane mushroom but to enjoy a nice boost of energy throughout the day. In some ways, lion's mane might prove to be more effective than your daily cup of coffee.

If you are in the latter camp who instead do not receive any energy boost from the lion's mane mushroom, you might consider using your supplements to enhance your REM sleep. In that case, you would want to take your supplements anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour before you go to bed. This way, you enjoy a more restful sleep while, again, reaping the associated benefits of lion's mane mushrooms.

In addition to determining what time you start taking your supplements, it helps you keep taking them on a regular schedule so that your progress on the supplements is not hindered. This can be critical in making sure the supplements work as intended and provide you with all the benefits that the mushroom is known to have.

How to Take Lion's Mane

Now you know that you can take lion's mane every day and, honestly, should, it becomes a question of how you can take it and introduce it to your system. Like most supplementary nutrients, lion's mane can be taken in multiple ways and can therefore be introduced in the manner of one's preference.

One of the primary forms of lion's mane is its powder form. Powdered mixes are one of the leading supplement forms globally and are not exclusive to lion's mane. If you prefer using powders, you might already know that lion's mane powder can be placed in beverages as the most straightforward form of consumption. 

Taking a few teaspoons of lion's mane powder mix and adding it into your morning coffee can make it an energizing way to start your day and boost the health effects of the mushroom in your system. You can also use it as a way to mix up a tasty smoothie or shake that you can drink on the go to ensure you always have what you need from the mushroom.

Powdered mixes are not the only option. You might not realize it from the mushroom's unusual appearance, but the mushroom is entirely edible. Therefore, you could easily eat the mushroom with your everyday meal and take advantage of all the benefits it can offer as a tasty accouterment to your supper. They can be sautéed, marinated, and spiced to maximize the flavor of the mushroom. There is only one issue with electing to eat the mushroom itself, and that is that it only grows in certain areas, meaning it might be hard to come by unless you live in one of these areas.

The final and most common method of taking lion's mane is to use capsule supplements to get your daily dose whenever and wherever you are. Capsules are one of the most common supplement tools globally. They are easily purchased from markets worldwide, so, unlike the raw mushroom, getting ahold of a bottle of lion's mane capsules is extremely simple. The average capsule will contain half of the dosage recommended by the instructions on the container, meaning two capsules plus a glass of water will give you your daily dose in less than a minute. 

The capsule method offers the greatest ease of use for introducing lion's mane into your system. You can take them on the go, and they are not as time-consuming as blending a smoothie or cooking a meal. However, you should take lion's mane in the way that best suits your preference and needs.

Side Effects

As always, we feel it is essential to address the potential side effects of any and every supplement we offer and discuss. It is possible to have too much of a good thing, pretty much no matter what the good thing is. In the case of lion's mane, the side effects are virtually non-existent.

We know this because studies were conducted that introduced 2.3 grams of lion's mane extract to the diets of rats every day. After one month of testing, no side effects were observed in the rats, indicating that lion's mane mushroom consumption is safe. However, just because a substance has no side effects does not mean it does not carry some form of risk.

The reality is, it does not matter if a substance lacks any side effects in and of itself if you are allergic to it. If you have a mushroom allergy, you should avoid lion's mane, full stop. There have been recorded instances of people with mushroom allergies suffering from troubled breathing or a sudden onset of skin rashes after ingesting or being exposed to lion's mane in some capacity. Obviously, these are symptoms that are best avoided if at all possible.

At the end of the day, only those with fungal allergies have to worry about suffering any adverse effects from lion's mane. If you are not among this demographic, then you can safely enjoy lion's mane and all of its associated supplements without fear.

Wrapping Up

Lion's mane is a mushroom bursting with the potential for bringing about a happier and healthier version of yourself. It can keep you healthy both physically and mentally, making it something of a super supplement. But taking in a new supplement can always be an uncertain experience if you do not have all the details. For lion's mane, you can enjoy a safe supplement that you can take without fear of consequence every day.

The lion's mane mushroom benefits may be in their infancy, but the potential is too great to ignore. Knowing that you can take it safely every day will allow you to maximize the mushroom's benefits. 

As always, we urge you to consult with your primary care physician before starting a new regimen with a previously unused supplement. At the very least, insofar as lion's mane is concerned, make sure you do not suffer from a mushroom allergy. So, please stay happy and healthy so you can realize a Nu you.