6 Mushrooms That Are Superfoods

Superfood mushrooms are becoming more and more popular in the health and wellness industry. However, it’s not just recently that these mushrooms have “sprouted up” into the medicinal and fitness scene.

Mushrooms have been used in most Eastern medicine for thousands of years. Many Chinese herbal medicines and remedies incorporate mushrooms into them, mostly for their healing and therapeutic properties. Mushrooms have been claimed to boost the human immune system and helps in soothing many ailments.

Here are six of the best superfood mushrooms you can find nowadays.

Lions’ Mane Mushroom

The Lion’s Mane mushroom is sometimes also called “the smart mushroom”, and this speaks of its many benefits to mental health and overall brain support. Some of the most well-known benefits of this mushroom include mental clarity, increased memory sharpness, alertness, and overall brain support.

The Lion’s Mane is able to provide these benefits mostly through the ingredients which it is abundant of, including natural nutrients such as Ediciones and hericenones which could support cognitive and neurological health. Using Lion’s Mane mushroom has become increasingly popular as a way to stay focused,
creative, and mentally alert. It also acts as an antidote whenever you feel distracted, and when brain fog starts to set in and clouds your thinking.

This mushroom is best taken before starting your workday, prior to studying for a test, or even before you set out to have a marathon gaming session with your friends. The mental boost Lion’s Mane provides could really help you gain an edge in these situations.

Turkey Tail Mushroom

The Turkey Tail mushroom has been one of the most researched functional mushrooms in recent times for its powerful immune system boosting capabilities.

Turkey Tail is nutrient-rich with natural polysaccharides, beta-glucans, and various antioxidants which support both gut health and the body’s overall disease-fighting capabilities.

This mushroom has been brewed for over thousands of years in Chinese and Eastern medicinal cultures, and despite its name, contains no animal elements at all. It is good for vegans and vegetarians alike who are looking for a nutrient-dense, healthy supplement for their body’s overall wellness and health.

Reishi Mushroom

The mushroom is sometimes known in traditional Eastern medicine as the “mushroom of immortality”. This could be due to the Reishi mushroom’s wide range of health benefits pertaining to the body’s immune system and its energy-boosting capabilities. Reishi contains many powerful natural ingredients including beta-glucans which could support the immune system’s functionality.

The mushroom works with your body in managing everyday physical, mental and emotional stressors by balancing your physical and mental states in a natural and healthy way. This could be mostly due to Reishi containing a compound known as triterpene which helps support and regulate a person’s mood.

This superfood mushroom can be taken at any time of the day and in many forms. An example would be the mushroom being in powdered form to easily add to shakes and smoothies, hot tea or coffee, or mixed with oatmeal, salads, and sauces or soups. It would also be taken in capsule form as a direct food supplement.

Chaga Mushroom

This mushroom is sometimes called the “King of Medicinal Mushrooms”. This is because the Chaga mushroom can be said to stand out amongst mushrooms with antioxidant ingredients due to its powerful free radical-fighting capabilities. It has been used extensively by traditional healers all around the globe over many years.

The mushroom is nutritionally dense, containing beta-glucans, amino acids, potassium, zinc, calcium, and various vitamins such as vitamins B, D, and biotin. This mix of health-boosting ingredients all work together in fighting oxidative stress and could help regulate body inflammation.

Besides being a powerhouse for the body’s immune system, the Chaga mushroom even works as a remarkable beauty supplement. It has been used to support the regeneration of the body’s hair, skin, and nails, and could be said to be an anti-aging superfood as well.

Maitake Mushroom

“Maitake” means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese, and it has been said that the mushroom got its name after people danced around with happiness after they found Maitake mushrooms in the wild hundreds of years ago. Even though this mushroom has been used all over China and Japan for thousands of years, its popularity only started to spread over the last two decades.

Fitness experts, health buffs, and people from all ages and walks of life have been praising this mushroom for its ability to possibly help increase the health, vitality, and longevity of those who take it.

The main reason the Maitake mushroom is seen as a health food is that it could possibly affect the overall immunity of a person against sickness and disease. This is due to the many vitamins and minerals present in them. In fact, these mushrooms are rich in antioxidants, beta-glucans, vitamins B and C, copper, potassium, fibre, and amino acids. These are some of the minerals your body would need in order to maintain itself in tip-top condition, as well as be able to fight off infection and the development of disease.

Maitake mushroom extract would seem to be a very good supplement for those who would want to keep a fit and healthy body, away from any potential disease or sickness. Not only does Maitake extract brings a multitude of positive and healthy effects, but it could also help in the cure and prevention of certain ailments one could suffer from in their lives.

Cordyceps Mushroom

The Cordyceps mushroom has been known as a functional mushroom for energy and endurance and is an ideal start for any person’s busy day. It has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine as a natural energy and vitality elixir, supporting the body by increasing energy, endurance, performance, stamina, and vitality.

The mushroom contains cordycepin and other natural bioactive compounds and supports the availability of oxygen in the body. This could improve blood flow which is a key factor in improving the body’s energy levels and athletic performance.

Besides being an excellent spark to start the day, Cordyceps could also be taken as an afternoon pick me up, or as a pre-workout supplement. You could add this mushroom to your breakfast, pre-workout shake, post-workout smoothie, or even in your late afternoon coffee. The benefits you can gain from it could be felt any time of the day.