What Is a Tremella Mushroom and What Are Its Benefits
Tremella fuciformis is a medicinal mushroom that is edible. Aside from tremella, it's also referred to as:
- Silver ear fungus
- Snow ear
- Snow fungus
- White jelly mushroom
For health longevity and promotion, it has been used for hundreds of years in China and other East Asian countries medicinally and in food. In China specifically, tremella mushrooms are usually referred to as "Baimuer," "Yiner," or "Fountain of Youth." For Japan, it is "Shiro Kikurage" (white tree jellyfish). Ita Zitting belongs to the Tremellales order, with the Tremellaceae family.
The Advantages of Tremella Mushrooms
A lot of the advantages from this mushroom come from its active biosubstances, including:
- Dietary fiber
- Enzymes
- Fatty acids
- Flavonoid
- Phenols
- Polysaccharides
- Proteins
- Trace elements
Amongst all of those, it is the polysaccharides compounds that are often looked to in terms of the most popular benefits of the tremella mushroom. In 2020, a review was conducted which showed these effects as the best-studied ones:
- Benefiting digestive health
- Enhancing immunity
- Increasing memory and learning capability
- Protecting the liver
- Reducing inflammation
- Regulating blood glucose and cholesterol
- Supporting weight loss
That said, existing research involves animals instead of people or isolated cell lines. Further study is needed in order to properly determine exactly how the benefits translate.
Tremella Mushrooms For Beauty
Traditionally, people looked to tremella in order to improve beauty. The Chinese add it to desserts and soups for the main purpose of improving their looks. This stems from a legend involving Yang Guifei, an imperial concubine who maintained her appearance through consuming the mushroom on a regular basis. She is known to be one of the most attractive women throughout China's entire history.
Mushroom cosmetics are on the rise in today's modern times. It's not uncommon to find tremella in them. Research says skin health as a whole can benefit from tremella's anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. Tremella is also said moisturize and nourish the skin well enough to naturally fight off ageing. In turn, melatonin formation appears to be inhibited. That's ideal for helping the skin to have less dark spots upon application.
Tremella Mushrooms For Health
As mentioned above, further research on actual people is needed when it comes to tremella for health. However, there are already existing findings that are quite promising. In 2018, research was done involving tremella polysaccharides; it appeared to modulate inflammation through macrophages, which are immune cells. Aside from reducing oxidative stress, it also addressed cytokines which are chemicals that foster inflammatory properties.
Last year, in 2021, another study discovered that colonic inflammation in mice was reduced considerably by high doses of tremella polysaccharides. The animals' intestinal flora also seemed to be influenced positively by it.
When more in-depth research involving humans occurs, it's likely that various inflammatory conditions will be managed well through the use of tremella. Additionally, digestive health and conditions like colitis will potentially be handled.
Where do I find Tremella Mushrooms? | Conclusion
Tremella mushrooms inside of our 8 Superfood Powder mix, are a kind of mushroom known by several other names, such as white jelly mushroom. It's been traditionally used for hundreds of years in China and East Asia for beauty and health. Modern research shows promising potential in the way tremella can help with inflammation and digestive health.
Looking for Tremella mushrooms? Tremella mushrooms in Hawaii is one ingredient in the 8 Mushroom Superfood Powder Mix. Shop at Mālama Mushrooms today! We have superfood mushrooms made with aloha.