Boost your Health with Mushrooms!
Kathy TimmermanisDid you know… mushrooms can offer much more than a tasty pizza topping?
There are many varieties of mushrooms, beyond the ones we see in the grocery store, that are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that enhance immunity, bone strength, regulate mood, help with sleep, boost digestive health, and make skin radiant. Many of these mushrooms – that we might not eat primarily for taste or as food – are referred to as medicinal or functional mushrooms, and we can consume these for their health promoting benefits.
Medicinal/functional mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in ancient medicine. We can consume some of these as food (such as Lion’s Mane) … but some are more typically consumed as tea, tincture, or in a supplement powder. Let’s have a look at some individual mushrooms …
Lion’s Mane
Large, white, pom-pom shaped mushrooms known for culinary use and cognitive support—productivity, clarity, focus, memory, and overall brain function. They may also support the immune system and help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Cordyceps
Associated with boosting metabolic rate, aiding muscle recovery, reducing inflammation, and supporting cardiac and respiratory systems—often positioned as a tonic for energy, vitality, and endurance (a popular pre-workout supplement).
Reishi
Traditionally used to help the body manage stress, enhance mood, improve sleep quality, and support immune function; often referenced for antiviral activity and broader wellness applications.
Chaga
Rich in antioxidants and often used to support the immune and nervous systems as well as brain health.
Many functional mushrooms are considered adaptogens, helping the body adjust to stressors and find balance. They can also act as prebiotics, nourishing beneficial gut microbiota to support overall digestive health.
How to consume functional mushrooms
Some varieties are available fresh for cooking; rarer types are easier to find dried or powdered. Dried mushrooms can be reconstituted for recipes or brewed as tea. Powders mix well into hot beverages, smoothies, and even baked goods.
Heartfull Herbals blends
Through our Heartfull Herbals line, we’ve created a Beetroot Latte mix that combines energising beetroot powder with brain-supporting lion’s mane and cordyceps, plus ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom—an absolutely delicious herbal latte that can also help reduce caffeine intake (which can impact gut health). Interested in chaga? Try our Forest Chai herbal tea with chaga, turkey tail, rooibos, vanilla bean, and ginger.
Click here to shop the Beetroot Latte Mix and other herbal products.
