Reishi Mushroom

Overview

Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), known in China as Ling Zhi, is a medicinal mushroom with a long-standing reputation as a tonic for vitality. Unlike stimulants such as caffeine, Reishi works quietly and cumulatively, supporting the foundations of energy, resilience, and emotional steadiness.

Within the BRAIN Diet framework, modern research links these effects largely to its polysaccharides, alongside other bioactive compounds that help modulate stress and immune balance—key influences on long-term vitality. Traditionally reserved for emperors and scholars, Reishi is valued not for quick stimulation but for its ability to restore depleted reserves and support recovery and balance [1][2].

Key Nutritional Highlights

• Reishi supplies fungal polysaccharides studied for immune-modulating properties [1]
• Mushroom polyphenols and triterpenes contribute antioxidant nutraceutical mechanisms [2]
• Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), known in China as Ling Zhi, is a medicinal mushroom with a long-standing reputation as a tonic for vitality. [1]
• Unlike stimulants such as caffeine, Reishi works quietly and cumulatively, supporting the foundations of energy, resilience, and emotional steadiness. [2]
• Modern research links these effects largely to its polysaccharides, alongside other bioactive compounds that help modulate stress and immune balance—key influences on long-term vitality.
• Traditionally reserved for emperors and scholars, Reishi is valued not for quick stimulation but for its ability to restore depleted reserves and support recovery and balance.

Food Context

Sourcing

• Store in a cool, dry place away from light to preserve bioactive compounds

Preparation

• Available as dried mushroom, powder, extract, or tea
• Extracts may provide more concentrated bioactive compounds than whole dried mushrooms
• Can be consumed as tea, added to soups, or taken as a supplement
• Traditional use emphasizes cumulative, long-term benefits rather than immediate effects

Recipes

no recipes found

Nutrient Tables (per 100 g)

Core nutrients

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g	% RDA per 100 g
Energy	33 kcal	—
Protein	2.2 g	—
Total fat	0.4 g	—
Carbohydrates	6.8 g	—
Fibre	3.1 g	—

Key micronutrients

Nutrient	Amount per 100 g	% RDA per 100 g
Iron	0.7 mg	4.1%
Zinc	0.5 mg	4.5%
Magnesium	10.5 mg	2.5%
Selenium	0.4 µg	0.7%
Calcium	0.4 mg	0%
Potassium	375.9 mg	11.1%
Vitamin B6	0.1 mg	6.2%

Bioactive compounds

Values below are often from specialist compositional databases or literature, not the standard USDA panel. Asterisks (*) refer to source notes at the bottom of this section.

Compound / class	Amount per 100 g	Notes
ALA	671 mg	—

Note: Bioactive-compound values vary substantially by cultivar, species, cocoa or oil percentage, processing, and brand formulation. Show quantitative values only where a defensible source exists; otherwise prefer qualitative presence statements or ranges in source notes.

Reference intakes: US Dietary Reference Intakes for adults (19–50 years; using the higher of male/female values where they differ).

Data provenance (core / micronutrient panel): USDA FoodData Central, Mushroom, beech, FDC ID 2003603, API, per 100 g edible portion, last checked 2026-03-14

Substances

Substances in this food: editorial (Overview / literature) plus analytical (nutrition table).

10 substances in this food

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates with immune-modulating and gut microbiome supporting properties

Vitamin B3 (Niacin; Niacinamide)

NAD+ precursor; supports mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP production

Fe²⁺

Iron

Oxygen transport; dopamine synthesis (tyrosine hydroxylase cofactor)

Zn²⁺

Zinc

Cofactor in neurotransmission and antioxidant enzymes; dopamine modulation

Mg²⁺

Magnesium

Enzymatic cofactor (>300 reactions); neurotransmitters; mitochondria; redox balance

Se^2-

Selenium

Antioxidant enzyme cofactor (GPx); supports redox balance

Ca²⁺

Calcium

Bone health; neurotransmission; interacts with vitamin D and K2

K⁺

Potassium

Electrolyte for nerve transmission, muscle function, and blood pressure regulation

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine → PLP)

PLP cofactor for neurotransmitter synthesis; relies on brain PDXK activation

ALA (Alpha-Linolenic Acid)

Essential omega-3 precursor; limited conversion to DHA/EPA

References

[1] Reishi supplies fungal polysaccharides studied for immune-modulating properties. Starck et al. 2024. Mushrooms: a food-based solution to vitamin D deficiency to include in dietary guidelines

[2] Mushroom polyphenols and triterpenes contribute antioxidant nutraceutical mechanisms. Boots et al. 2008. Health effects of quercetin: From antioxidant to nutraceutical