As we hit the winter months, it is notoriously the time of the year where our immune systems and mental health can take a dive.  Couple that with another lockdown before Christmas, and I think we need all the help we can get to feel better about ourselves and boost our immunity.

As a heart centred business owner, coach and yogi, it is so important to me to maintain balance and wholeness in my life. To keep my mind sharp, clear and focused and my body healthy, I indulge in a regular diet of meditation and a side of mushrooms.

In fact, did you know that medicinal mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years!

Mushrooms are also prebiotic, boosting the microbiome’s beneficial bacteria, improving digestion and overall health. In fact, independent research shows that certain varieties of mushroom are also our best dietary sources for potent antioxidants. Mushrooms also pack a serious nutritional punch, providing a great source of vitamin D, essential for strong immune system function.

These tend to be taken as powders these days, you can find these fungi in all different forms – one of the easiest ways to get your mushroom fix is to add a spoonful to whatever’s on the menu — be it your morning smoothie, veggie stir-fry, or warming soup.

The list of health benefits includes brain booster, hormone helper, antioxidant powerhouse; however, each mushroom is unique and provides its own distinct health advantages.

Note that these shrooms aren’t a cure-all. And I am not a doctor, but having spent some time learning different cultures on my entrepreneurial and spiritual journey, I am open to the idea of adopting wellbeing ideas outside of the norm if it means my health is at its peak.

So, if you are interested, let’s take a dive into some of the mushrooms I regularly sprinkle on my 5 a day.

1. Reishi.

If you need to chill the F out… then this is the shroom for you. This mushroom has calming properties – thanks to mood boosting compounds of triterpene. This can help alleviate anxiety, ease depression and encourage better sleep. But triterpenes’ positive effect on the nervous system doesn’t stop there. Reishi can promote healing and sharpen focus, too. This favoured fungus is one of the most popular medicinal mushrooms, and for good reason. Reishi may be able do it all: aid in weight loss, keep the immune system in check, and may even fiercely fight cancer cells.

Try it: Use a spoonful of reishi powder to make a hot, healing cup of tea, or add it to your favourite chocolate desserts. (Really, people swear by this combo.)

 2. Lions mane

If you are having trouble with mental clarity – unsurprising at the moment, then try lion’s mane. Packed with antioxidants and strengthens the immune system like most medicinal mushrooms, however lion’s mane is rare in the fact that it fosters the production of the bioprotein nerve growth factor (NGF) and myelin (an insulation around nerve fibres).  Both NGF and myelin are absolutely crucial to brain health. An imbalance in them can contribute to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. This miraculous mushroom has also been shown to improve cognition in a small human study, memory, increase concentration, and alleviate anxiety and irritability.

Try it: Add a spoonful of lion’s mane to your cup of yerba mate for an antioxidant-packed cup of energy and mental clarity.

3. Chaga

Chaga mushrooms are an antioxidant powerhouse, making them excellent contenders for fighting free radicals and inflammation. This dark black mushroom combats oxidative stress(which is linked to skin aging), may prevent or slow the growth of cancer, and has been found to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol. Most of the studies on chaga are done on human cells and mice, but the signs point to this shroom being good for you — inside and out.

Try it: Add chaga powder to your morning smoothie or make a frothy, warming chaga chai latte.

4. Shiitake

Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular mushrooms in the world, so if you are already cooking with these mushrooms then you are already experiencing the health benefits – namely healthy blood pressure and circulation.

Hearty and versatile, shiitakes can be consumed raw or cooked. These mushrooms are particularly good for the heart. Revered in Asia for centuries for their potent medicinal properties, shiitake mushrooms have become a symbol of longevity in some cultures.

Try it: Add a spoonful of shiitake powder to your favourite recipes for a burst of umami flavour.

5. Turkey Tail

Turkey tail contains a compound called polysaccharide-K (PSK) that stimulates the immune system. PSK is so effective that it’s an approved anticancer prescription drug in Japan. Turkey tail has been shown to improve the survival rate of people with certain cancers, fight leukaemia cells, and improve the immune system of people receiving chemotherapy.

Turkey tail contains a wide variety of phenol and flavonoid antioxidants which help promote your immune system health by reducing inflammation and stimulating the release of protective compounds. Turkey tail mushroom may also positively impact gut bacterial balance by enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria while suppressing harmful species. Turkey tail mushroom may also improve insulin resistance, help fight pathogenic bacteria, reduce inflammation, treat HPV and boost exercise performance.

Try it: Add a spoonful of turkey tail for an immune-boosting smoothie. Feeling adventurous? Try your hand at making some turkey tail ale!

6. Cordyceps

Feeling low on energy or need a pre-workout boost? Cordyceps is the fungus for you. This mushroom is known for being very stimulating — for both energy and the libido.

Cordyceps can also help the body utilise oxygen more efficiently and enhance blood flow – which is especially helpful for athletes or those who regularly work out. This mushroom has been shown to not only improve exercise and athletic performance, but also speed up post-workout muscle recovery.

Try it: Add a spoonful of Cordyceps to your favorite pre- or post-workout meal for a boost in energy or quicker recovery.

7. Psilocybin

Psilocybin (or magic) mushrooms taken in a safe, controlled and nurturing environment, can offer increased intensity of emotional experiences, increased introspection, and altered psychological functioning in the form of “hypnagogic experiences,” which is the transitory state between wakefulness and sleep. Brain imaging studies show that a psilocybin trip is neurologically similar to dreaming, which gives you a good idea of the mindset you’re entering when undertaking a psychedelic experience.

During a psilocybin experience, you can expect to experience perceptual changes, synaesthesia, emotional shifts, and a distorted sense of time.^[1] Perceptual changes can include visuals such as halos around lights and objects as well as geometric patterns when your eyes are closed. You may also experience vivid colours, tracers, distorted vision, and a sense of the world breathing around you. Thoughts and emotions can change, too. It’s not uncommon to have a sense of openness to thoughts and feelings that you avoid in your everyday life, as well as a sense of wonder and delight with the world.

Whilst I am not a doctor, I am fascinated by the research being undertaken on how magic mushrooms can have an effect on a individuals state of mind. To the point that I am running my own legal retreat in 2021 for businesses leaders and creatives. For example a microdose (an unnoticeable dose, which many people incorporate into their weekly routines), can enhance levels of creativity, energy, and focus, and decrease levels of stress, anxiety, and emotional instability.

So, adding a spoonful of mushroom powder to your favourite recipes is a great way to reap their magical health benefits. It’s also best to keep the dosage just at that — a spoonful, or 1 to 2 tablespoons per day. Even if you do feel a boost in your health, it’s never a good idea to increase your intake, especially since these mushrooms are still waiting more trials to verify their benefits.

Always talk to your doctor beforehand to confirm if adding medicinal mushrooms to your diet is safe, especially if you’re using certain medications or are pregnant. And do a little research about the fungus that tickles your fancy before committing. Certain mushrooms can cause side effects like an upset stomach or allergies.

With all of these amazing medicinal mushrooms to choose from, which one are you most excited to try first?