What’s with all the Mushroom Hype?

What’s with all this mushroom talk recently?

In nature, there is an enormous variety of mushrooms. Of course, mushrooms are not all made equal. Some mushrooms are downright poisonous. Other mushrooms are tasty and used in a variety of food dishes, while “magic mushrooms” are psychedelic!

Today we are speaking about special mushrooms. These have been used since ancient times, particularly in the Far East, as medicinal mushrooms to treat a wide range of diseases, ranging from seasonal colds through diabetes and all the way to cancer. These special mushrooms – the functional mushroom superfoods – are now also becoming increasingly popular in our Western culture.

Mushrooms are naturally teeming with phytonutrients that work together to bring about both specific beneficial effects and overall well-being.

The 4 super mushrooms

1. Reishi mushroom

Reishi has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years as a “chill pill” mushroom. In fact, it is an adaptogen which enables you to beat stress and get restful sleep. Reishi also boosts the body’s immunity.

Reishi does have a naturally bitter taste, so it is often paired with organic cacao powder to make an exceptionally healthy hot chocolate drink, especially ideal as part of one’s pre-bed routine.

Another way of incorporating Reishi into your diet is by adding it to soups or ramen dishes.

2. Cordyceps mushroom

Another mushroom that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries is cordyceps. This super-mushroom enhances athletic performance by boosting energy, endurance and stamina.

Cordyceps can easily be blended into smoothies and protein shakes, or brewed into tea.

3. Chaga mushroom

Chaga is different from the other super-mushrooms because it grows in cold environments, the likes of Canada and Siberia. The flavour and colour is similar to roast coffee.

Chaga overflows with antioxidants and beta-glucans, which help boost the immune system. It is believed to play a role in fighting inflammation, lowering blood sugar, reducing blood pressure, alleviating arthritis and even preventing or slowing the progression of cancer.

The best way to consume Chaga is to mix it with hot water as an alternative to tea and coffee. You can also include it in your baking recipes. Check out our latest Chaga Mushroom Cookies recipe.

4. Lion’s Mane mushroom

This super-mushroom gets its name from the way it looks – fair and fluffy like the mane of a lion. Lion’s mane is a nootropic – boosting concentration, creativity, focus, memory and productivity during our busy working days and when studying for exams. It’s not surprising therefore that lion’s mane has long been used by Buddhist monks to help them focus during meditation.

Lion’s mane protects against neurological diseases such as dementia. It also has strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immune-boosting abilities, and has been shown to help lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, ulcers and even cancer.

Lion’s Mane powder can be added to smoothies, shakes or hot drinks such as coffee and cocoa. It blends particularly well with other mushroom powders and with organic cacao powder to create a delicious, nutritious mushroom hot chocolate.

Mushrooms have existed and evolved for billions of years, pre-dating other plants or animals. Super mushrooms like Lion’s mane, Chaga, Cordyceps and Reishi offer a wealth of potential health benefits.

When choosing the right super mushrooms for you, you need to consider your specific health goals and objectives, while also ensuring that you opt for high quality mushrooms that are grown organically, just as nature intended. 

+boost 100% certified organic mushroom powders provide you with a top quality, easy and convenient way of incorporating these superfoods into your diet.