Anti-Infectives: Mushrooms, and One Supplement for People Allergic to Fungi, Molds, Yeasts, etc

Mushrooms have gotten a lot of attention in recent years for their ability to put the innate (“border guard”) immune system on alert for detecting and fighting viruses from the very start of the infection.

Beta-glucans are the most-studied mushroom ingredients, with different types having varying abilities to fight off infections.

For people allergic to mushrooms, yeasts, molds, etc. (as I am), InviteHealth has a beta-glucan supplement extract derived from algae, called Beta Immunity, and its website offers a discussion of it. I tried it and have no problems with it. Thank you Jerry Hickey!

Here’s an extensive but readable report: “Medicinal Mushrooms Going Viral,” from the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation.

It notes that different mushrooms have different abilities. And the author emphasizes the role of mushrooms in activating Natural Killer cells (NK cells) at the earliest stage. Jerry Hickey at InviteHealth talked about the roles of neutrophils and macrophages at the earliest stages, with NK cells becoming dominant only after about three days. Perhaps NK cells start early, but need a few days to build up to effective volume.

Life Extension has several magazine articles on mushrooms, all free. Here’s the website. You can click on the entries for [supplement] products and for news. LE’s supplements feature extracts.

Other manufacturers also offer supplements.

Here are search results for Swanson Vitamins, featuring extracts. If you want powdered mushrooms, search for “mushrooms.”

iHerb offers a mixture of powder and extract in the same search.

Good Health to You!