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Mushrooms have long been renowned not just for the impressive benefits they offer, but also for the interesting flavors and textures they add to your meals. You may be well-acquainted with common varieties like Crimini, Portobello and shiitake, but have you ever tried exotic ones, like lion’s mane?

Lion’s mane mushroom has been making headlines recently, with some even calling it the “next superfood”1 due to its wholesome health advantages. You’ll be pleased to know that beyond its quirky, pompom-like appearance, it can offer an array of benefits, particularly for your nerves, brain health and more.

Basic Facts About Lion’s Mane

Most commonly found in East Asia, lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) stands out from other mushroom species because it doesn’t have a cap, gills and a stem — instead, it’s big, shaggy and rather bizarre-looking, with long, white dangling strands that look like a lion’s mane, hence its name. Its main body is thick and compact, but slightly spongy. You’ll often see it growing on the trunks of dead hardwood trees.2,3,4

Also called bearded tooth mushroom,5 lion’s mane earned the distinction “the smart mushroom” for its potential benefits for your brain.6 However, its benefits go beyond that. In a Yahoo! News article,7 nutritional health coach Georgi Grogan comments:

“There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to suggest it [lion’s mane] can help to reduce anxiety [and] depression, and also boost the digestive tract with its antibiotic and antiaging properties.”

The benefits of lion’s mane have been recognized for centuries, particularly in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, where it was used to help ease gastrointestinal disorders and spleen problems, treat liver and kidney diseases, and regulate heart health. Meanwhile, the indigenous populations in North America used lion’s mane as a preventive measure against bleeding.8

The Neuroprotective Effects of Lion’s Mane

Recently, lion’s mane has been recognized for its potential benefits to your nervous system and brain health, with several studies highlighting its neurocognitive, neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties. Lion’s mane stimulates nerve growth factor (NGF) production — this protein helps promote the growth and survival of your neurons.9 Having optimal neural connections improves your cognitive functions, including memory and concentration.

In one review published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews,10 researchers investigated the role of mushrooms on neurocognition and mood. They found that elderly patients who are dealing with mild cognitive impairment experienced improvements in cognitive function after taking a lion’s mane mushroom supplement for several weeks.

Along with the cognitive benefits, there were also indications of improved kidney function, such as “changes in levels of circulating electrolytes (Na and K), and a reduction in creatinine” among the patients.11 The researchers noted that lion’s mane was the only mushroom that resulted in these cognitive and mood benefits; however, these effects were only seen in older age groups, at high doses and long durations.12

A separate analysis published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences highlighted the neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects of lion’s mane supplementation, noting that it has “promising potential as an excellent neuroprotective agent, capable of stimulating nerve growth factor release, regulating inflammatory processes, reducing oxidative stress, and safeguarding nerve cells from apoptosis.”13

The authors note that the beneficial compounds in lion’s mane, mainly terpenoids and polyketides like erinacines and hericenones, were responsible for these effects, as they have “antioxidative, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic properties.”14

Researchers Identify Lion’s Mane’s Brain-Boosting Mechanism of Action

In 2023, researchers from the University of Queensland identified the active compound that’s responsible for lion’s mane’s effect on nerve growth and memory.15 According to Frederic Meunier, one of the study authors:16

“Laboratory tests measured the neurotrophic effects of compounds isolated from Hericium erinaceus on cultured brain cells, and surprisingly we found that the active compounds promote neuron projections, extending and connecting to other neurons.

Using super-resolution microscopy, we found the mushroom extract and its active components largely increase the size of growth cones, which are particularly important for brain cells to sense their environment and establish new connections with other neurons in the brain.”

They found that the compound hericene A acts as a potent memory enhancer by promoting neuritogenesis (formation of neurites, tiny projections that extend from the cell body of a neuron) both in vitro and in vivo, and even in very low concentrations. The researchers said:17

“To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to identify a pro-BDNF signaling-enhancing activity for H. erinaceus and to identify hericene A as an active component for this neurotrophic function in vitro and in vivo.

[W]e suggest that the administration of hericene A from H. erinaceus may be useful to ameliorate brain function and disorder-related pathologies in in vivo neurodegenerative disease models. Although further studies are required to test this hypothesis, our report represents the first step on exploring the potential nootrophic benefits from hericene A compounds isolated from the mushroom H. erinaceus.”

In a report published on ScienceDaily, Ramon Martinez-Marmol, a coauthor of the study, highlights the importance of this discovery, saying it hold potential in “applications that could treat and protect against neurodegenerative cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.”18

Ergothioneine — Another Longevity Powerhouse in Lion’s Mane

A sulfur-containing amino acid found in mushrooms, ergothioneine is another standout nutrient that not only promotes brain health but overall longevity, because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and cytoprotectant properties.

Ergothioneine helps reduce cellular damage by eliminating harmful free radicals — its antioxidant properties are actually similar to that of glutathione.19 What’s more, it accumulates in tissues and organs after ingestion, helping minimize and prevent oxidative damage in those tissues over a long period of time.20

As for its benefits for cognitive health, one study published in the Free Radical Biology and Medicine says that having low levels of ergothioneine in the body can increase the risk of neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia, cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s disease. It can also lead to other age-related diseases like cardiovascular disease and eye disease. According to the authors:21

“ET [ergothioneine] is likely to be neuroprotective by a range of mechanisms in vivo. Since complex multifactorial mechanisms contribute to human neurodegenerative and other age-related diseases, this ability to act by several cytoprotective mechanisms can be expected to enhance the efficacy of ET in ameliorating the risk of these diseases.”

According to one study, lion’s mane and oyster mushrooms had the highest ergothioneine levels among seven mushroom varieties that were tested,22 so adding these into your meals is one of the best ways to boost your levels of this longevity nutrient. If you want to learn more about ergothioneine, read my article, “This Mushroom Compound Is a Longevity Powerhouse.”

The Benefits of Lion’s Mane Go Beyond Brain Health

Lion’s mane may also benefit your gut health, as it was found to be a potent prebiotic to help your good gut bacteria thrive. According to Grogan:

“Due to their beta-glucan polysaccharide component, lion’s mane mushrooms are considered a ‘functional food’ that can act as a prebiotic. Put simply, they may help your gut flora (and good bacteria) to flourish while potentially limiting the growth of bad bacteria like H. pylori.”

Helicobacter pylori is a common type of bacteria found in your stomach. It attacks your stomach lining, leading to inflammation and damaging the tissues and your duodenum, the first section of your small intestine. H. pylori can also lead to the formation of peptic ulcers, which are painful sores that form on the upper part of your digestive tract.23

According to a review published in the Journal of Applied and Natural Science,24 animal subjects that were given an aqueous lion’s mane extract had more free mucus in their GI tract, meaning they had better gastroprotection. The mucus acts as a shield that protects the lining from damaging substances, including H. pylori.

But lion’s mane has more to offer beyond your brain and gut — It’s also been associated with helping improve other areas of health. A 2024 review highlighted some of the body-wide effects of lion’s mane, such as:25

Easing depression and anxiety — In one animal study,26 test subjects that were exhibiting symptoms of depression were given lion’s mane orally every day. They found that the mushroom had a “therapeutic potential for treating depression.”

Boosting immune health — Lion’s mane offers bioactive compounds that may promote immunity. According to the researchers, “Mushroom-derived beta-glucans are well-known for their potent immunomodulatory properties, surpassing other types in terms of their ability to affect immune and inflammatory responses.”27

Promoting heart health — Mushrooms offer compounds that help inhibit lipid oxidation, demonstrating an antihyperlipidemic effect. They also contain L-ergothioneine, an amino acid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping boost cardiovascular health.

Helping manage Type 2 diabetes — In one animal study,28 diabetic rats that were given lion’s mane extract had increased serum insulin and reduced glucose levels. It also helped improve the activity of free radical scavenging enzymes.

Reducing cancer risk — Erinacine, another bioactive compound found in lion’s mane, may have antitumor effects, potentially triggering cancer cell death, particularly among gastric cancer cells.

Where to Find Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

While lion’s mane mushrooms are mostly well-known in Asian countries, they grow in North America and Europe as well. In the U.S., you may see them thriving on dead or dying maple, oak or beech trees. According to the Mycelium Society, you can forage for lion’s mane in the late summer, fall and winter — it depends on your location:

“In the southeast, lion’s mane is foraged in winter, while in the northeast, it is found in autumn. The season ends as soon as temperatures drop below 20 [degrees] F, and there are hard frosts.”29

However, don’t be so quick to start gathering lion’s mane — there are areas where foraging mushrooms is prohibited. If it’s allowed in your area, make sure to bring an expert who can help you identify the mushrooms before you pick them. This is particularly important if you are by yourself. To help you identify, harvest and store lion’s mane, here are some pointers, according to an article in CNET:30

“You’ll know it’s ripe by feeling the mushroom. If it’s spongy and soft, you’re good to go. Take a knife to remove the mushroom while leaving the roots. When you return home, cook the mushrooms immediately or store them in a paper bag in your fridge for up to three days,”

But how does this mushroom fare in terms of flavor? Apparently, lion’s mane has a “hearty and satiating” taste; Pamela Smith, RDN, a registered dietitian and the founder of Shaping America’s Plate, describes its sweet flavor to be similar to that of shellfish like scallops, lobster meat or crabmeat.31 When grated, it looks similar to lump crab meat.

Lion’s mane is spongy, which is why it’s so great at soaking up flavors. Simply sauté it in a bit of butter, salt and pepper for an easy side dish. You can also use it to make crab cakes or fish stew. It also works as a replacement for shredded chicken meat, like in pot pies, casseroles or even pasta dishes.

If your area does not allow foraging for mushrooms, you can try checking specialty stores to see if they stock this type. You can also buy lion’s mane in supplement form, if you’re after the benefits.

Mushrooms Are a Superfood, so Add Them to Your Repertoire

Remember that lion’s mane is just one variety that can offer superb benefits. In fact, mushrooms in general are considered superfoods because of their impressive nutrient profile. According to Smith, they are a potent source of B vitamins like biotin and niacin, glutathione and other antioxidants that protect against chronic diseases.32

I highly recommend adding mushrooms to your nutritional plan as they are an excellent addition to nearly any meal. However, it is crucial to choose organically grown mushrooms as fungi easily absorb air and soil contaminants. Growing your own is also an excellent and far safer option than foraging for wild mushrooms.

Aside from lion’s mane, other mushrooms that can offer health-boosting advantages include shiitake, pine mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, porcinis, king boletes, chanterelles and enokitake.33 Each of these have a distinct flavor profile, making them a versatile addition to various dishes — try a few and have fun cooking them in your kitchen!

Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published February 23, 2017.

People think of time as moving along a fixed linear pathway, but in reality, time, including how fast or slow it moves, is all a matter of perception. This is why watching a movie you love feels like it flies by, while to another person who finds the movie boring, it moves tediously slow.

Other peculiarities have also been observed, such as how time moves faster as you get older and it’s possible to lose track of time entirely if you’re engrossed in a task. Likewise, when French geologist Michele Siffre conducted an isolation experiment in the 1960s, it showed that our perception of time changes depending on our circumstances.

He lived in a dark cave, alone, for two months, but when his team came to get him, he thought he’d only stayed for 35 days.1 Further, when he counted off an estimation of 120 seconds while living in the cave (via a phone that only worked one way), he counted for a full five minutes.2

In an interview with Cabinet magazine, Siffre said, “I psychologically experienced five real minutes as though they were two … There was a very large perturbation in my sense of time … My psychological time had compressed by a factor of two.”3

‘Time Doesn’t Exist Outside of Our Own Experience of It’

It’s interesting to note that when Siffre was asked what he thought caused the dramatic disconnect between actual time and his perceived psychological time, he said:4

“That’s a big question that I’ve been investigating for 40 years. I believe that when you are surrounded by night — the cave was completely dark, with just a light bulb — your memory does not capture the time. You forget.”

In some ways, what he experienced is similar to what happens when you’re immersed in an activity you love and suddenly realize you lost track of time. In The Atlantic, senior editor James Hamblin, M.D., wrote:5

“We conceptualize time through metaphors that project it along a straight line — before and after, long and short, earlier and later — as a function of how our perceptions relate to other perceptions. In the same way, the accuracy of any given clock is only relative to other clocks. Because time doesn’t clearly exist outside of our own experience of it, there are ways to manipulate that experience.”

He used Siffre’s experience with time after sensory deprivation as one example, as well as the hallucinogenic drug peyote, which is known to cause changes in sense of time, such as time passing more slowly, as another. Being diagnosed with a terminal illness also changes your perception of time.

“I can’t generally advise spending years on peyote or full-time isolation in a cave,” he noted. “The most practical examples of manipulating time perception come from the common observation that the more we think about time, the slower it goes.” Hamblin wrote:6

“In his treatise, The Principles of Psychology, William James wrote, ‘A day full of excitement, with no pause, is said to pass ‘ere we know it.’ On the contrary, a day full of waiting, of unsatisfied desire for change, will seem a small eternity.'”

Depression Slows Down Time, ‘Flow’ Makes You Lose Track of It

Alan Burdick, author of “Why Time Flies,” revealed that when you’re busy, you tend to sense time as going faster than when you’re bored. Similarly, a study of more than 800 people revealed people with depression reported a slower subjective experience of time.7

As for why depressed people feels time is dragging, it’s due to a slowing down of the internal clock or because they have difficulty being in the present moment or entering a state of consciousness known as “flow.”8

Flow, according to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is the secret to happiness and occurs when you are completely absorbed in an activity (often one that involves creativity).9 When you’re immersed in flow, your sense of time becomes distorted because nearly all of your brain’s available inputs are devoted to the activity at hand, Csikszentmihalyi states.

If you’re depressed and unable to fully give your attention to the present moment, and as a result find time is agonizingly slow, mindfulness-based therapies are very helpful, particularly in cases of a depressed perception of time.10 Interestingly, mindfulness also slows down your perception of time while helping you to appreciate your surroundings.

How Busy You Are Alters Your Perception of Time

If you’re too busy, flying through your daily routines on autopilot mode, you will feel like your day is over in the blink of an eye.

Neuroscientist David Eagleman, Ph.D., adjunct professor at Stanford University, explained that your mental engagement changes your perception of time, and when you’re engaged in mundane activities your brain isn’t taking in much new information. As a result, time passes quickly.11 One of the areas of the brain responsible for emotion and memory is the amygdala.

The more detailed the memory the longer the moment appears to last. This is one of the reasons why it feels like forever when you’re stuck in traffic, but your memory of the event will be that it passed quickly, as you didn’t lay down any new memory.

This is where mindfulness comes in, as staying in the moment slows down the passage of time. Steven Meyers, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Roosevelt University in Chicago, told The Huffington Post:12

“Mindfulness allows people to appreciate their surroundings and leads to the feeling that time is passing more slowly. Paying attention to events that are pleasant or interesting certainly enhances our mood and allows us to savor positive experiences.”

Mindfulness Slows Down Time

Practicing “mindfulness” means you’re actively paying attention to the moment you’re in right now. Rather than letting your mind wander, when you’re mindful, you’re living in the moment and letting distracting thoughts pass through your mind without getting caught up in their emotional implications.

Add mindfulness to virtually any aspect of your day simply by paying attention to the sensations you are experiencing in the present moment. Techniques used to become more mindful include:13

Paying focused attention to an aspect of sensory experience, such as the sound of your own breathing

Distinguishing between simple thoughts and those that are elaborated with emotion (such as “I have a test tomorrow” versus “What if I fail my test tomorrow and flunk my entire class?”)

Reframing emotional thoughts as simply “mental projections” to let your mind rest

Meyers added in The Huffington Post:14

“Time slips by because we are blindly going through the routine of our day … There are a range of remedies for this situation. Some people feel a sense of accomplishment if they set personal goals for themselves and work towards them in a purposeful way. Others need to be on the lookout for certain events — like appreciating a kind behavior from another person — to punctuate time passing.”

Staying Busy Benefits Your Brain

Keeping a packed schedule makes it feel like your days fly by, particularly if you don’t make it a point to be mindful, but doing so offers significant benefits to your brain. Research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience suggests that the saying “the busier the better” is true, at least as far as cognition is concerned.15

Greater busyness was associated with better cognition, particularly for episodic memory. It didn’t matter if the study participant was 50 or 89 years old, having a busier schedule was linked to improved memory and better brain processing, reasoning and vocabulary.

The researchers pointed out that busy people have increased opportunities for new learning, which has been shown to promote the retention of new neurons in the brain’s hippocampus. In addition, busyness promotes the development of neural scaffolding and consequently facilitates cognition, according to the researchers, while promoting the development of brain reserves and the use of more efficient cognitive processing.16

There are downsides to being overly busy, of course, like chronic stress and burnout. Along those lines, healthy eating is often one of the first things to suffer when life gets busy, so it’s important to stick to the basics in this regard — focus on filling your plate with real, unprocessed foods, preferably organic and locally grown, and avoid resorting to convenience and fast foods, energy drinks or excessive amounts of caffeine to keep going.

However, a busy lifestyle is also a positive one if you stay mindful and engage in activities that lead to flow. The more engaged you are, the more you will feel as though you’re living your life beyond the constraints of time instead of by them.