Immunity is a crucial physiological function of the human body. Once it's compromised, various diseases can take advantage of this vulnerability.

Many people is thinking about what to eat to boost their immunity when they are sick.   And supplements are always the top choice. What are your familiar ingredients for immunity improvement?

Reishi Extract and Beta glucan are one of the most popular ingredients for boosting immune function. Reishi Extract is generally input in kinds of booster drinks or supplements. Beta glucan is a type of prebiotic that is seen in kinds of products with the function of immunity and digestive improvement.

What is Reishi Extract?

Reishi extract is derived from the Reishi mushroom. Reishi extracts contain a variety of compounds, such as polysaccharides and beta-glucans, all of which are believed to contribute to its immunity benefits.

Reishi extract is also known to assist in the treatment of a variety of conditions such as fatigue, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation. Some also use it to support overall wellness and increase energy.

What is β-glucan?

Beta glucan, commonly known as β-glucan, is a type of soluble fiber derived from the cell walls of algae, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and plants. Being a fungi rich in natural polysaccharides, Reishi also is also the resource to extract β-Glucan. It has drawn significant attention for its wide range of biological activities, particularly its ability to modulate the immune system. The structure and source of β-Glucan can impact its immune-enhancing effects. It's considered a safe and effective way to support and strengthen the body's innate immune response.

How Reishi Extract impact the immune system?

1. Enhancing immune function: Reishi extract can stimulate the immune system, promoting the activity of cells that are critical to the immune response, such as T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages. These cells play a key role in identifying and destroying pathogens or infected cells in the body.

2. Modulating immune response: Reishi extract can modulate the immune system, meaning it can enhance or suppress the immune response as needed. This can be beneficial for people with autoimmune diseases, where the immune system is overactive, or for those with weakened immune systems.

3. Anti-inflammatory properties: Reishi extract also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce unnecessary inflammation in the body, further supporting immune health.

4. Antioxidant activity: The triterpenes in Reishi have antioxidant effects, which can protect immune cells from harmful free radicals and oxidative damage, which would otherwise weaken the immune response.

How β-glucan impact the immune system?

β-glucan is recognized as a potent immunomodulator. The mechanism is that β-Glucan stimulates the immune system by interacting with certain immune cells, particularly macrophages and neutrophils the main role for disease fighting.

1. Macrophage Activation: Macrophages are the body's "big eaters". They engulf and digest foreign substances, bacteria, and dead or dying cells. When β-glucan is consumed, it's recognized by receptors on the surface of macrophages. This recognition triggers a cascade of events that result in enhanced antimicrobial activity and the production of signaling molecules that further stimulate the immune response.

2. Enhancement of Neutrophil Activity: Neutrophils are another type of immune cell that is a part of the body's first line of defense. These cells are capable of engulfing microorganisms in a similar way to macrophages. β-glucan enhances the ability of these cells to reach the site of inflammation more quickly and accurately.

3. Activation of Other Immune Cells: In addition to enhancing macrophage and neutrophil function, β-glucan can also stimulate other cells of the immune system, such as natural killer cells and T-cells, further amplifying the immune response.

4. Boosting Antibody Production: β-glucan can enhance the body's production of antibodies, proteins that the immune system uses to neutralize harmful bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances.

Both Reishi Extract and β-glucans are known for their potential immune-enhancing properties.

Reishi Extract: It’s considered an "immuno-modulator," which means it can help regulate and fine-tune the immune system, increasing its efficiency. It's particularly beneficial for those with a weakened immune system or those looking to give their immunity a boost.

β-glucans: These are a type of fiber that also supports the immune system. They're known for stimulating the activity of macrophages, a type of white blood cell that destroys unwanted pathogens in the body.

In terms of which is "better," it's not necessarily accurate to say one is superior since the way a substance affects a person depends on individual factors such as overall health, age, lifestyle, diet, etc. Some may find their body responds better to Reishi, while others may see a more positive effect from β-glucans.

Conclusion

More and more people incorporating Reishi Extract products or β-glucans supplements into their daily routine because of lowering immunity caused by increasing stress and worse environmental living conditions. If you want to extend your product profile list with those two ingredients, welcome to contact us for more information.