TAIWAN: A team of researchers in Taiwan said, that the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum,which is being used as a ingredient in the Chinese medicines for centuries, has the ability to reduce weight gain.
The research published in the Nature Communications, said that Ganoderma lucidum slowed weight gain by altering the bacteria in the intestines of Animals. The reports suggested that the mushroom can be used to fight obesity.
Researchers at Chang Gung university said that the Mushroom G,lucidum has been used since Centuries in China as a medicine. Experts say, that the science was good but may not yield effective results.
The researchers experimented the effectiveness of the Fungus on Mice, by feeding them with high fat content diet. The results showed that Mice that were fed with high-fat content for 2 months, have increased by 45g whereas Mice that were fed with high dose of mushroom extracts have increased by only 35g.
The team said, that the Mushroom extracts can be used to treat chronic inflammation, body weight gains and insulin resistance [type 2 diabetes] in obese individuals. However, the team added that it needs further testings.
Professor Colin Hill, of a renowned university in Ireland said, “I like the idea of some of these stories coming up. I like the idea of revisiting the traditional medicines. The microbes in gut certainly involve in weight gain and weight loss. However, i don’t think that a mushroom extract in a can of coke will help us to reduce weight”, the BBC reports.