The mushroom market is booming, and varieties such as lion's mane are becoming more popular than ever. More and more women, including supermodel and actress Gisele Bündchen are looking to lion’s mane for a more holistic way to alleviate their menopausal symptoms.
Gisele, 43, who was a Victoria’s Secret model and has two kids with American football star Tom Brady, told her Instagram followers that she has been taking lion’s mane for a while, and has found that it really helps her focus and boosts her energy and loves taking the vegan capsules by Gaia Herbs
And the experts rate it too. Menopause often brings a lot of uncomfortable changes such as hot flashes, mood swings and sleep disturbances, but emerging research suggests that lion’s mane mushrooms can offer relief from these symptoms.
© Manny Hernandez"Lion's mane is packed with compounds that support brain health and mental clarity,” explains Rhysa Phommachanh, healthcare expert at Landys chemist. “Consuming the mushroom as a daily supplement can be beneficial for menopausal women, as it may help alleviate symptoms such as mood swings and brain fog. Its neuroprotective properties also support mental health by promoting nerve growth and enhancing cognitive function."
Lion's mane in menopause
One of the most significant and debilitating challenges during menopause is the cognitive decline that some women experience. Memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog are common complaints. But studies have shown that lion's mane mushrooms can help alleviate these symptoms and improve memory.
Menopausal women often face mood swings and anxiety too, and another great side effect of taking lion’s mane is its anxiety-reducing and antidepressant effects which also been proven in studies.
Lion's mane for sleep
Sleep disturbances are another common issue during menopause. Insomnia, night sweats, and restless sleep can significantly impact quality of life. Lion's Mane helps to improve sleep due to its calming effects on the nervous system.
EXPLAINED: Why can't I sleep during menopause? The real reason
How to take lion's mane
So what’s the best way to take lion's mane? "Lion's mane can be taken in many different ways, depending on personal preference," explains Rhysa. “It is available in pill or capsule form, and many people prefer capsules to avoid tasting the mushroom and the need to measure the correct dosage.”
© Bowonpat SakaewExperts advise to consider your symptoms before deciding the time of day to take your lion's mane supplement. For example, if you experience brain fog, take it in the morning to take advantage of its cognitive and energy-boosting effects throughout the day. To help a disturbed sleep, taking it in the evening would be more beneficial.
Experts agree that for menopausal women the most noticeable benefit of taking lion’s mane is an improvement in cognitive function and mood stability. In studies, women have reported better focus as well as a reduction in anxiety and sleep disturbances. Lion’s mane has beneficial effects on nerve growth factors and neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, and can help alleviate symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and anxiety.
Love midlife? Join Second Act today!
HELLO! originally launched its Second Act hub to reframe midlife and beyond as a celebratory, exciting new chapter full of endless possibilities. From inspirational tales of women who refuse to fade into the background, to valuable advice on navigating relationships, finances and health issues – we've featured them all. And such has been the overwhelmingly positive response from readers, we are now turning the hub into a FULL and FREE community where women like you can come together to shape something truly inspiring.
The cornerstones of the community will be two brand new newsletters. One monthly and one weekly. We are really excited about the monthly newsletter which will be themed and written by one of our roster of leading Second Act voices, including our editor at large, Rosie Green. The content will be reserved exclusively for Second Act subscribers.
We are also launching a monthly mentoring series, in the form of a five-minute video sent directly to your inbox featuring financial professionals, hormone specialists, life coaches and more. Again, it will be reserved exclusively for subscribers.
Below we have listed the inaugural benefits, and more will be added as we grow and shape the community. If you wish to help us shape our community, please take part in our one-slide survey here.
Member benefits
- Monthly newsletter written by one of our Second Act experts
- Weekly newsletter curating the best of our online Second Act articles
- Monthly mentoring videos
- Ask the expert
- Competitions
- Lots of exciting benefits to come...
Sign up to HELLO!'s Second Act newsletter today. This community is as much yours as it ours!
