In a thoroughly different study, Reishi, a Chinese mushroom (also known as Ganoderma lucidum, Lingzhi, or Ling Zhi), was shown to cause a significant post-ingestion increase in plasma antioxidant capacity with peak response at 90 minutes. This means that Reishi can cause increase in urine antioxidant capacity in just 3 hours.
Published in 2004 by the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, the results of the study indicate that Reishi intake causes an acute increase in plasma antioxidant capacity.
Reishi is a powerful antioxidant. In another laboratory study, Reishi significantly elevated the free radical scavenging ability of blood and was so strong that even after the Reishi extract was absorbed and metabolized the scavenging effect still continued.
Dr. Vladimir Kupin of the Cancer Research Centre in Moscow found a compound in Reishi called GLB 7 which served as the main proponent in decreasing the production of oxygen free radicals. This makes Reishi more effective as a free radical scavenger than isolated refined compounds.
A laboratory study with fruit flies also showed just how powerful an antioxidant Reishi is. The flies, which have a very similar genetic make up to humans, were used in experiments to prove that Reishi significantly lengthened the life span of those that had been fed Reishi compared to controls.
Back to: Antioxidants and Skin Care
