Functional Mushrooms For Female Hormonal Challenges
From PMS and changing moods to sleep disruption and menopause, hormonal shifts can affect how you feel day to day. Hifas da Terra nutritionist Amy Hill explores how functional mushrooms may offer...
At Face the Future, we know self-care goes far beyond skincare. From how we sleep and manage stress to how we support our bodies through every hormonal shift, wellbeing is deeply personal and constantly evolving.
That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Amy Hill (MSc, BSc, ANutr.), Nutritionist and Mycotherapy Consultant at Hifas da Terra, as our guest author. With her expertise in nutrition and functional mushrooms, Amy explores how carefully selected natural supplements may help support women through hormonal changes, from premenstrual tension to menopause, while also considering mood, sleep, stress and overall wellbeing.
In this guest blog, Amy shares her insight into the adaptogenic power of functional mushrooms and how they can play a role in a more holistic approach to female hormonal health.
As told by Amy Hill (MSc, BSc, ANutr.)
As women, we often face significant health challenges throughout our lifetime in relation to our sex hormones, which can impact our mental and emotional health. Although more awareness for the public of perimenopause and menopausal symptoms (triggered by declining levels of progesterone and oestrogen) is increasing, there is still a lack of support for the women who are experiencing the symptoms of menopause, which often include:
- Hot flushes
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Increased inflammation
- Incidence of urogenital infections
However, even women younger and not yet at the stage of menopause face health concerns related to sex hormones and reproductive health, such as premenstrual tension, mood swings, anxiety and insomnia.
More women are seeking natural support in the form of supplements to holistically manage their hormonal imbalances. And it is true that some natural remedies, such as functional mushrooms and herbs, can provide adaptogenic support for our hormones, emotional wellbeing and immunity.
Support for Menopausal Symptoms
A 6-month clinical trial led by Dr Santiago Palacios (Gynaecologist) and Hifas da Terra investigated the effectiveness of Hifas-Menopause (a natural supplement combining functional mushrooms: Reishi, Cordyceps sinensis extracts and Lion’s mane), probiotics, and botanical extracts of Ashwagandha KSM-66 and Green Tea) in 20 post-menopausal women.
After taking 2 capsules a day of Hifas-Menopause for 6 months, the women experienced a significant reduction in symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, urogenital symptoms and emotional instability.
Clinical evaluations using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) showed significant benefits for the following menopausal symptoms:
- 57% reduction in hot flushes and night sweats.
- 52% reduction in muscle and joint discomfort.
- 63% reduction in perceived cardiac discomfort.
- 71% improvement in depressive mood and a 68% reduction in irritability.
- 51% fewer sleep disturbances.
- 53% reduction in physical and mental fatigue, likely due to the ability of Cordyceps sinensis extract to enhance energy production to combat exhaustion.
- 79% improvement in urinary-related complaints.
- 46% reduction in vaginal dryness.
- 31% improvement in overall sexual function.
Overall, there was a reduction of menopausal symptoms by 37% within the first month and up to 56% after six months of supplementing with Hifas-Menopause.
Hifas-Menopause is a hormone-free formula which targets both physical and psychological balance by utilising bioactive molecules from mushrooms and herbs to modulate hormones and mental-emotional wellbeing.
The research positions the Hifas-Menopause nutraceutical as a scientifically backed option for managing menopausal symptoms. It is also compatible for women who are taking HRT.
Balancing Female Hormones and Premenstrual Tension
Maintaining hormonal balance is essential throughout a woman's life cycle, and many women struggle in the luteal phase of their cycle (prior to their monthly bleed) with increased irritability, mood swings and a decreased tolerance to cope with stress.
This is where natural functional mushroom supplements from Hifas da Terra can help. Concentrated extracts of Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis) mushrooms act as adaptogens for both sex and stress hormones.
Mushrooms work best when supplemented daily and consistently, for a minimum of 2-3 months. This gives them time to rebalance and optimise systems in the body, such as endocrine (hormone) systems and the immune system.
For women dealing with Premenstrual Tension (PMS), Hifas-Equilibrium is particularly effective. It contains concentrated Reishi and Cordyceps sinensis extracts and Lion’s mane mushroom. These mushrooms synergistically support mental-emotional health by enhancing GABA production (AKA what helps slow down your central nervous system, to regulate feelings of stress and anxiety) and reducing the over-production of cortisol.
Daily supplementation of Hifas-Equilibrium over time (2-3 months) can help to alleviate mood swings, stress and anxiety which are often heightened during the luteal phase. Furthermore, the Reishi extract in them can help reduce pelvic inflammation and associated pain, providing relief during the menstrual cycle.
Mood, Stress, and Sleep Quality
Stress and sleep quality are deeply intertwined with women's hormonal health. Reishi mushroom is known for its calming effects, for promoting a feeling of relaxation and for its ability to help you have a restful night’s sleep. Mico-Rei - which is an organic and highly concentrated extract of Reishi mushroom contains bioactive compounds that influence the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, AKA the body’s central stress response system.
Functional mushrooms also help regulate the production of cortisol (the primary stress hormone). Reishi is particularly effective at reducing anxiety and stress by enhancing GABA production, a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on the brain.
Inflammation in the brain can worsen symptoms of anxiety, depression and brain fog. Functional mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, which reduce inflammation caused by oxidative stress. They also contain Beta-D-Glucans, which can balance immune function by reducing pro-inflammatory immune markers, which are often elevated during periods of chronic stress.
Functional mushrooms for a good night’s sleep
In a 3-month study of 30 women with insomnia and impaired sleep quality, 2 capsules per day of Hifas-Equilibrium (a synergy of concentrated Reishi and Cordyceps sinensis extracts with Lion’s Mane powder) resulted in:
- A 75% reduction in the number of women suffering from sleep-onset insomnia (whereby it took them more than an hour to fall asleep).
- Doubled sleep quality in just three months.
- Almost half of the women who were using sleep medications stopped taking it.
Reishi extract has demonstrated sedative potential without the side effect of drowsiness or fatigue. Another clinical trial with Mico-Rei (a highly concentrated organic Reishi extract by Hifas da Terra) showed it can reduce sleep onset time (AKA the time it takes to fall asleep) by almost half.
In this study, participants with insomnia were supplemented with 2 capsules per day of Mico-Rei for 16 weeks and at the end of the study, there was an average increase of 2 hours of sleep per night, and half of the participants no longer suffered from insomnia.
No matter which stage in life, it seems women of all ages can benefit from the adaptogenic power of functional mushrooms for hormonal, immune and mental-emotional equilibrium. Be sure to choose a quality brand of supplements like Hifas da Terra, the leading mushroom bioscience company in Europe with over 27 years of expertise and clinical research.
Why Hifas da Terra?
Hifas da Terra invests 62% of profits into clinical research to prove the safety, quality and efficacy of their medicinal mushroom supplements, which are manufactured to the highest standards, GMP-certified (like pharmaceuticals), certified organic, grain-free, vegan and proven not to interact with medications.
In addition to using certified organic growing methods, Hifas da Terra performs triple analytical safety checks on their mushrooms and the final products to guarantee purity and safety. At Hifas da Terra, we also have specially selected and clinically researched medicinal mushroom strains.
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