Science-backed guides to help you improve focus, energy, immunity and long-term health with functional mushrooms.
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Learn the basics and go deeper into the wonderful world of functional mushrooms
Learn the basics and go deeper into the wonderful world of functional mushrooms
Reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) are a functional mushroom prized for their immune-boosting, stress-relieving, and fatigue-lowering properties. Though the jury is still out on the exact efficacy of reishi mushrooms, they’re a common form of supplement, either in capsule, powder, or liquid form.
Cordyceps may support energy, exercise performance, fatigue resistance, and recovery. However, the effects are nowhere near as dramatic as some claims online suggest.
Adaptogenic mushrooms are the latest craze. Reishi is used to wind down, Cordyceps for energy, Lion’s Mane for focus, and Chaga for general resilience. All four are regularly described as “adaptogens,” but what does that term actually mean?
Humans have brewed mushroom teas for thousands of years. Soaking the mushrooms in boiling water or gently simmering them is a way to “extract” the beneficial compounds inside. Just eating the raw or cooked mushrooms might be delicious (or not), but it doesn’t always yield the best results.
Functional mushrooms don’t provide instantaneous effects. The beneficial compounds within these mushrooms gradually build up in the body, causing a cumulative effect. Depending on the mushroom, you may notice subtle changes within a few days. However, the maximum benefits occur after several weeks of consistent use.
Not all functional mushroom supplements work the same way. Some use raw mushrooms in dried or powdered form, while others use extracted mushrooms. The difference is simple: extraction pulls the active compounds out of the fruiting body, giving you a more concentrated and usable form.
“Functional mushrooms” have hit the mainstream. Hardly a day goes by without a new headline promising life-changing benefits. But really, they’re nothing new. In fact, as far back as 3000 BC, Ötzi the Iceman, a mummy preserved in the Alps, was carrying medicinal mushrooms. And, in the far east, they’ve been a staple of Chinese medicine and Japanese herbal traditions for centuries.
Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) might be the most unusual-looking mushroom on the planet. Like a big, fluffy mound of grated Parmesan, it's often eaten raw, dried, or cooked for its medicinal benefits.
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