Mushroom Magic: Health Benefits of Functional Mushrooms

Mushrooms have been having their moment over the past few years and we are absolutely here for it! They can be here to stay, please. In Chinese Medicine these mushrooms have been used for centuries to promote longevity and healing - using their natural adaptogenic properties to adapt to the ways our bodies need their support. We do share evolutionary history with them after all.

S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y: Fungi have the ability to soak up and escort waste from our cells, and do the same in the environment! Mycoremediation is a process referring to using mushroom's and their enzymes to degrade environmentally persistent pollutants (think plastics and wastes with long degradation times) and transform industrial and agro-industrial wastes into products such as feeds in certain cases. This means that with certain wastes, fungi are able to purify the soil/land of pollutants, and degrade materials like plastic naturally without the use of additional industrial processes. We're all for adaptive wellness and environmental sustainability!

W E L L N E S S: The rise in popularity of these mushrooms grew even more over the past year where we saw immense shifts in our day-to-day lives with work and school from home; and in an era of zoom-fatigue and long hours sedentary people were looking for supplements that can support cognitive function, immunity, and gut health. Enter functional mushrooms -  we wanted to deep dive the common mushrooms and their benefits, so here are the most common!

Lion's Mane (Hericeum erinaceuos)

Research shows Lion's Mane stimulates production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a protein that promotes the growth and normal function of nerve cells, making it important for cognitive and neurological health. Compounds in Lion's Mane also possess potent anti-inflammatory properties, and we've seen that long-term inflammation is implicated in many chronic conditions of our time. 

Lion's Mane is best known for supporting:

• memory
• focus + alertness
• nerve health
• creativity
• mood

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)

Reishi, also known as the "Queen of Mushrooms" and the “Mushroom of Immortality” not surprisingly has a variety of benefits. It is an immune potentiator and immune modulator meaning that it helps balance and down-regulate an overactive immune system (in other words, ensures that our bodies are not wasting resources fighting an immune battle that is unnecessary). Research also shows it to support cardiovascular health, and adaptogenic properties. Adaptogenic compounds are those that help our bodies adapt to physical and mental stressors, and reishi helps support calmness and relaxation. Call it the chill out mushroom!

Benefits of Reishi: 

• helping with stress management
• support immunity 
• contain adaptogenic properties 
• relaxing properties
• liver support 
• cardiovascular support (modulates cholesterol deposition in blood vessels)

Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolour)

Turkey tail is one of the most researched mushrooms due to its powerful polysaccharides called beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are acid resistant, so they are able to pass through our stomach in-tact and enter the small intestine where they can act on immune cells to balance the immune system so it does not over or under function, keeping us in optimal health! They also have prebiotic properties which support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and allow for more efficient and effective communication to immune cells. They also function to increase the integrity of intestinal mucosa cells to prevent chronic inflammation and leaky gut which are caused by an overgrowth of 'bad' gut bacteria that shift our immune system into an increased inflammatory state.

Turkey tail is known for: 

• promoting intestinal health
• supporting immunity
• supporting cardiovascular health

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

Reishi is the Queen, and Chaga is known as the "King of medicinal mushrooms." Chaga has been used extensively for centuries by Traditional Healers in North America, Europe and Asia. It contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant and immune modulating activities, the ability to regulate blood sugar levels, act as an antimicrobial and anti-mutagenic (inhibiting mutations of cells). It's antimicrobial properties have been shown to help those with skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and so on. Research also shows it to be gene-protective, so it quite literally supports us at our very base level!

Chaga is known for: 

• immunity 
• potent antioxidant capacity
• supporting graceful aging and skin glow

Cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis)

Cordyceps is known to improve vitality and endurance naturally by supporting respiration, oxygen delivery and ATP (energy) synthesis. Often used in TCM to replenish the kidneys, soothe the lungs, and treat fatigue, modern application uses it to boost energy for workouts because it supports aerobic endurance in athletes, and promite healthy blood circulation. Research also shows it to promote general vitality in elderly populations.

Cordyceps is known for: 

• providing natural energy 
• promoting vitality 

Tremella (Tremella fuciformis)

Tremella is amazing for boosting gut and skin health from the inside out - HELLO! It's been used as a beauty mushroom in Asia for hundreds of years due to its ability to hydrate the skin when consumed. Its high polysaccharide content provides hydration comparable to that of hyaluronic acid, doing this by pulling moisture to the skins surface. The molecules of tremella mushroom are so small that they are readily able to penetrate the skin to provide it with natural moisture and therefore making it more radiant, healthy, and reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles!

It's antioxidant properties also combat free radical damage of the skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots, sun spots, scarring, and brightens the skin by slowing the skin's production of melanin. Tremella also promotes cellular turnover and therefore can reduce the appearance of acne scars!

Tremella's benefits are: 

• supportive of intestinal health 
• incredibly hydrating for the skin
• ability to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and scarring/dark spots on the skin

L E A R N  M O R E:

The documentary Fantastic Fungi incredibly illustrates just how interconnected we are with the fungi world, and how much fungi do for us to maintain the world and our lives! It's certainly worth the rent in our opinion, and if you have Amazon Prime, it's on there! 

This TEDTalk by Paul Stamets deep dives how mushrooms can help replenish damaged land, support our health, and discusses how we are one with fungi. 

Read about how mushrooms support our immunity from our blog here!

Sources: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3942920/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4052754/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6982118/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25746615/