Our immune system is one of the most magnificent parts of our body, protecting us from unwelcome foreign invaders every second we are alive. Each day we are faced with many parasitic organisms ready to take advantage of the resources our bodies provide for them. However, as unwelcome as many of these organisms can be, one of the worst ways we can try to combat this, is by trying to kill them.

This is why I am completely not into, nor do I support or promote any kind of chemical anti-microbial agents. What I am into, for the healthiest bodies and planet, is working with our immune system and supporting it naturally for optimal functioning. In this state we can truly achieve a state of optimal health, greatly decreasing our chances of all infectious disease states.

To do this, nourishing ourselves with nutrient-dense, natural food is key, as is having enough quality sleep, water and exercise. But there is also one other way we can give our immune system a boost, especially in times of extra stress or harsh conditions. And that is, through natural immune boosting supplements.

One of these supplements is Kinoko AHCC. Based on the name, you are probably wondering what the heck that is, and feeling it is not sounding natural at all.

Kinoko AHCC is an all natural, dietary supplement made of Oriental mushrooms. Oriental medicinal mushrooms, such as Shiitake and Reishi, have for hundreds of years been used in Chinese medicine for their outstanding health properties. One of these being, boosting the immune system.

Kinoko AHCC is not just a powdered form of these mushrooms, however. It is a proprietary blend of several species of hybridized medicinal mushroom mycelia. AHCC stands for active hexose correlated compound, which is one of the world’s most researched natural immunomodulators developed in Japan. It is uniquely rich in alpha-glucans, a group of polysaccharides which enhance our immune responses. It is thus a food substance, rich in polysaccharides and fiber processed from the mycelia of selected mushrooms, into a rich nutritive extract.

In fact, Kinoko AHCC is one of the most highly researched and tested natural supplements. Kinoko AHCC has been featured in over 25 published studies, as showing outstanding immune boosting properties. The supplement comes in regular 250mg capsules and Gold 500mg capsules.

Being an immune boosting substance is in fact the foundation of how it works. It is not an anti-bacterial or anti-viral substance in any way. It works by stimulating our immune system to better protect itself from foreign invaders. It does this in the following 5 ways:

  • Increasing our cytokines, which activate our immune system
  • Increasing our NK (natural killer) cell activity, which recognize and destroy infected or abnormal cells
  • Increasing macrophage populations, which engulf and ingest bacteria and cell debris
  • Increasing T cell numbers, which are able to recognize previous invaders and destroy them with a specific response
  • Increasing dendritic cell numbers, which initiate an adaptive immune response

WHEN Should Kinoko AHCC Be Taken For Most Benefit?

Boosting or offering support to our immune system is important year round, but especially during the colder, fall and winter months. From about the months of October through March, many people suffer various infections, most notably from cold and flu viruses, or bacterial throat, nose or chest infections.

Kinoko AHCC can also be beneficial to take anytime we are undergoing an increased amount of stress in our lives. This can be at times such as during school exams or work audits, relationship breakdowns or losing a loved one, etc.

Finally, it can also be of great benefit for anyone suffering from various disease states, which deplete the immune system, or could benefit from an immune system boost. The best example and success that has been shown with Kinoko AHCC is in people with cancer.

WHO Can Benefit Most From Kinoko AHCC?

Kinoko AHCC has been shown to be effective in preventing and healing many disease states. Thanks to its early activation of the immune response, it makes us less susceptible to infections and decreases the severity of infections. Research has also found a shortened recovery time and increased rate to clear foreign invaders and survive the infection.

It is used widely and found to be beneficial for the following conditions:

  • Colds
  • Flu
  • West Nile Virus
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections
  • Candida Infections
  • Cancers

Dosage, Taste & General Facts

Kinoko AHCC is gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians. It comes in clear vegicaps, which are easy to swallow. The capsules have no significant taste or odor, rendering them pretty much odorless. It also does not include any chemical flavors, colors or preservatives.

The regular dosage is 4 – 12 capsules daily. Each capsule is 250mg of the active compounds. 1g (4 capsules) is recommended as a maintenance dose and 3g (12 capsules) daily are recommended when fighting an infection. No adverse effects have been reported in clinical studies, even at 3 times higher dosages.

Depending on the source bought from, it can range from about $20 to $60 per bottle. While the higher end may seem steep, if one considers the price of Oriental mushrooms even in a grocery store, I think it isn’t too outrageous for what the product is capable of, and especially if bought for closer to a $30 mark.

It is produced by Quality of Life Labs and a product of Japan.

Effectiveness of Product

Determining the precise effectiveness of a product like this isn’t always easy to prove. I decided to try this product this winter and have not gotten sick, however since I cleaned up my diet a few years ago to only include top quality nutrition, I haven’t been getting sick, before this product. So I am not the best of subjects to gauge the effectiveness of this product at this time.

Now although I could not prove its direct benefits on myself, Kinoko AHCC has been extensively studied in many research studies and tests, both animal and human. The research and literature is quite impressive and this is one of the biggest reasons which make Kinoko AHCC stand out from the crowd. In fact, Kinoko AHCC is widely used in hospitals and clinics around the world, including over 700 throughout Asia.

In conclusion, after having reviewed the literature on this product and trying it myself, I am not aware of any negative aspects that would make this product harmful or a waste to try. In fact, knowing the phenomenal benefits of Oriental medicinal mushrooms, I wholeheartedly support high quality, natural supplements like this as valuable preventative measures or healing aids. I would definitely use this product again myself whether for prevention, or in the unlikely event that an infection of some sort strikes. This is one fantastic example, where we can use the power of natural health to deal with ailments that up to now, our Western medical world always solved through synthetic chemicals.

Ingredients

  • AHCC proprietary blend (mushroom mycelia extract, candelilla plant wax, cyclodextrin (vegetable), microcrystaline cellulose (plant)
  • Vegetable cellulose
  • Magnesium Stearate from plant oil

Packaging

The capsules come in a 60 capsule, #1 fully recyclable plastic bottle, with a flip cap on top.

Price (as of this posting)

Availability

  • In the US, available at some health food stores, like the Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods, as well as several online stores
  • In Canada and internationally available from QualityAHCC.com with free shipping

The Good

  • Excellent immune boosting qualities
  • Backed by rigorous scientific research
  • Shown to prevent & heal numerous infectious disease
  • Vegetarian friendly
  • No after taste
  • No unpleasant aromas
  • Fair price

The Bad

  • Nothing that I am aware of
  • Would be nice if it came in a glass bottle