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The Benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms & How to Use Them
Uncategorized | April 15, 2018
Mushrooms are more than just a food you can cook up or use as a replacement for coffee. There are some varieties known as medicinal mushrooms that work on a deeper level.
Energy and Stress
They are what’s known as adaptogens, and are becoming widely popular. Adaptogens change the way our body deals with stress. Instead of our energy bouncing up and down nonstop and disrupting the balance of our hormones, it becomes even. Whether you’re overstressed from work or recovering from an intense workout, an adaptogen helps to bring your body back into balance, giving you coffee-like energy but without the caffeine.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a plant based eater or hard-core carnivore- the adaptogenic properties of medicinal mushrooms work for almost everyone.
Sleep
Need a little help before hitting the hay? Give mushrooms a try! Some varieties contain triterpenes, active substances that help to support our endocrine system, which in turn balances our hormones. If keeping hormones like cortisol in check is too challenging, then introducing medicinal mushrooms that are rich in triterpenes can help to restore order. When everything goes back to the way they should, it’s easier for your body to relax. Once it’s lights out, you’ll then be able to achieve that deep, slow-wave sleep that helps to further balance your hormones and restore your body. (Remember: better sleep = lower stress = balanced weight, energy, and mood!)
Immunity
Medicinal mushrooms are also good for supporting our immune system. With the flu season fast approaching, it’s important to do whatever you can to avoid getting sick, especially during the holidays. Medicinal mushrooms contain beta-glucans, which are like adaptogens for our immune system. They help to enhance our immunity and keep it strong without over-stimulating it. Think of them like a weight for the immune system to lift in order to grow stronger.
But that’s not all- they also pack in even more benefits that may just surprise you. According to WebMD, “Beta glucans are used for high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Beta glucans are also used to boost the immune system in people whose body defenses have been weakened by conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, or physical and emotional stress; or by treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy. Beta glucans are also used for colds (common cold, flu (influenza), H1N1 (swine) flu, allergies, hepatitis, Lyme disease, asthma, ear infections, aging, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease, Fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.”
If that alone isn’t enough to make medicinal mushrooms a superfood then I don’t know what is!
Which Medicinal Mushroom to Choose?
It can be a bit confusing when it comes to deciding which type of medicinal mushroom is best for you! Here’s the top 4 for you to choose from based on their benefits:
- Reishi: High in triterpenes, great for sleep, anxiety, energy balance, and hormones.
- Cordyceps: Non-cortisol-spiking energy, coffee replacement, and anti-stress.
- Chaga: Rich in beta-glucans, boosts the immune system.
- Lion’s Mane: Great for brain health, supporting memory and cognition.
These mushrooms can be taken as a supplement or powdered blends, like the ones sold at Four Sigmatic. Tell me if you’ve ever taken one of these before, or which one you’re thinking of trying out.
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Private Member |
I have reishi at home but cannot say if I see any changes. I used it regulary for about 2 months. Recently, I have been naughty and do not take it regulary.I read you need to take it long term an o daily basis to feel the benefits.
Private Member |
yilan city, taiwan, taiwan
I order fresh Lion’s Mane from this farm in central Taiwan and saute them with butter and use like scallops or lobster in recipes. I also have been drinking mushroom coffee and cocoa from Madre Labs. Specifically, the cocoa is unsweetened with reishi and cordyceps. I add stevia and its nice at the end of the day/meal when I want something sweet. The coffee is called CafeCeps and is instant coffee with again reishi and cordyceps. I actually notice an immediate difference if I am having a particularly stressful day (single mom, middle school teacher, running errands on my lunch break). If I drink this coffee in the afternoon, I can still sleep at night (unlike regular coffee) and I feel less like I got the wind knocked out of me.
Private Member |
montana, united states
Lion’s mane is so delicious!
Private Member |
montana, united states
I take mushroom tinctures daily, Turkey Tail, chaga or blend with shiitake and reishi. I’m a cancer survivor and these give me added immunity and stress relief. I never got a cold or other sickness during my treatment in 2015 and still haven’t to this day. I cook with all kinds of mushrooms but mostly shiitakes for reducing breast cancer risk.
Private Member |
just an additional info for those who would like to use reishi (I did lot of research about it). There are a lot of no good reishi mushrooms on the market. Important thing is it has to be an extract (mushroom itself wont have any benefits) and the extract needs to be processed by double extraction (water and alcohol). Extract should be at least 12%. Also it is important that the extract is made from an organic mushroon planted in healthy environment (as if it would grow e.g. close to the traffic, mushroom would absorb all the bad stuff) and needs to grow from the wood. Especially, do not buy reishi produced in China as it is mostly planted in a bad environment and it allgoes in to your body. Very important.
Private Member |
Dear Gabriela, thank you for the information. May I also ask you for some place to order the “good and healthy extract” online? Thank you for your help, Gwen
Private Member |
Hi Gwen, I live in Australia, so I order mine from a Herbalist Glenn living in Queensland. I have contacted him and asked him all questions and I have a strong trust in him and his poducts. His web is customisedhealth.com.au But certainly you will be able to find good products in U.S. as well. Just ask a trader about how he grows his mushrooms and how he makes his products etc. and also look for the reviews of his poducts.
Private Member |
Thank you Gabriela 🙂