Coriolus, also known as Coriolus versicolor, outcrops, Trametes versicolor or turkey tail mushroom, is a treeA fungus that grows on decayed tree trunks in temperate climates. Although this mushroom does not achieve the same popularity as mushrooms such as reishi or polyporus, it is, thanks to itsits health benefits, it is a common part of traditional Chinese medicine. In the next installment of our series on medicinal mushrooms, we'll take a closer look at Coriolus.
What is coriolus?
As mentioned in the introduction, Coriolus is a woody mushroom, which means it uses wood as a source of nutrients. Coriolus is most commonly found on the dead trunks of deciduous trees and on their stumps. Its occurrence is common in temperate climates around the world. It is therefore not a problem to find it in the Czech Republic, where it is also common. The fruiting bodies of this fungus are easy to spot because they are always found in large clusters and have a typical semicircular shape. They are also characterised by their variegated colouration, as individual fruiting bodies typically have several bands of different colours on them. Interestingly, the colour of this mushroom changes and gradually darkens with age. Coriolus has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for several millennia. This is due to its beneficial effects on health, with its ability to boost human immunity being the most emphasised.
What are the proven effects of Coriolus?
Let's pause for a moment on the beneficial effects of Coriolus. What do scientific studies tell us about what benefits Coriolus has to offer?
High antioxidant content
Coriolus contains a high amount of antioxidants and flavonoids. Antioxidants are extremely valuable in the fight against free radicals, which have a number of negative effects on human health. We have discussed this issue in more detail in our comparison of the bestbest antioxidants, in which we discussed in detail the individual health benefits that antioxidants offer. Worth mentioning are, for example, the slowing down of the signs of ageing, anti-inflammatory effects and the prevention of many diseases.
Strengthens immunity
One of the most interesting substances contained in Coriol is polysaccharide peptide (PSP), which significantly strengthens the immune system. This substance may be the reason why Coriolus has been such a well-respected medicinal mushroom for many years. It is also worth mentioning the polysaccharide Krestin, which has similar effects to PSP.
Supports the health of the intestinal microflora
We've written extensively about the importance of gut microbiota in our article The Microbiome is More Important Than You Might Think. Its proper functioning is reflected in our immune system, our ability to digest food, and quite possibly in the functioning of our brain or heart. In short, the microbiome is extremely important and its role in the body is by no means to be underestimated. According to studies, Coriolus helps to increase the levels of certain bacteria in the gut microbiota, specifically Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, thereby contributing toFor example, it helps to alleviate symptoms of diarrhoea, aids digestion, strengthens the immune system or reduces the risk of high cholesterol.
Other benefits
There are, of course, many other health benefits of Coriol. One of them is the possible positive effect on athletic performance. There is also talk of its ability to improve insulin resistance or fight bacteria. It is no coincidence that Coriolus has been one of the mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine for many thousands of years. Its effects have been observed for countless generations, and if it offered no health benefits, it would have been long forgotten.
Side effects and disadvantages of coriol
Coriolus is generally considered to be a completely safe mushroom, with no negative effects proven. Studies show that with some reasonable dosage, there is no reason to worry about adverse health effects. However, it can be assumed that excessive consumption of Coriol may cause, for example, diarrhoea or nausea. This is, of course, true of absolutely every food.
How to dose Coriolus?
So what dosage should you stick to if you want to start taking Coriolus? Although there is no officially set dosage, it is generally recommended to take 1 to 3 grams of Coriolus per day. However, it is often stated that it is advisable to take Coriolus for 5 days and then skip it for two days. In terms of timing, it is ideal to consume Coriolus on an empty stomach. However, it can be added to your favourite drink, for example. Along with Coriolus, it is also advisable to increase your intake of vitamin C for better absorption of all the active ingredients.
Which Coriolus to take?
Which product is worth reaching for if you are interested in Coriolus? First of all, we do not recommend inexperienced mushroom pickers to pick mushrooms on their own in the woods, as this could backfire badly. Fortunately, there are plenty of quality and reliable products on the market that you can turn to. The first of these is BrainMax Pure Turkey Tail (Coriolus) powder. This one contains pure Coriolus powder with organic certification. You can easily add it to any lukewarm beverage, for example. If you prefer to take Coriolus on its own, you will find the capsule form much more appealing, which you just need to wash down with water. In this case, we recommend, for example, Coriolus in optimal concentration from MycoMedica. One pack contains 90 capsules made in the Czech Republic. Similarly, we recommend BrainMax Turkey Tail (Coriolus) extract, which contains even 100 capsules in one pack. The downside of these products, however, is that they cost considerably more money compared to Coriolus powder. In terms of effect, however, there is nothing to fault them.
Final summary
Coriolus is one of the most important medicinal mushrooms used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is especially valued for its antibacterial effects, its support of the immune system or perhaps its positive effect on the microbiome. Although this mushroom can also be found in the Czech Republic, we recommend that you reach for proven products from reliable producers. When following the recommended dosage, which is about 1 to 3 grams of Coriol per day, there is no need to worry about negative side effects.
For today's article, that's all from us. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us in the comments.
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Sport has been my lifelong passion, I have been close to it since I was a child. For a long time I was primarily involved in athletics, which also eventually led me to the gym. Every good sprinter knows that to get one tenth of a start, he must therefore sacrifice hundreds of hours in training. And it was this toil behind the curtain, which no one sees, that was my greatest passion.
Every kilo in the gym helped me to move a little closer to my goal and I fell in love with the gym very quickly. Even though I don't race anymore, nothing has changed in my relationship with uncompromising training.