Understanding the Power of Mushrooms

Amanda Rosenberg, L.Ac

Mushrooms continue to be one of the hot topics for health support these days, even though they have been around and utilized in Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.

Having used mushrooms in my practice and my daily health routine for several years I have found them to be a crucial part of my health care and maintenance. Bring on more mushroom magic! No, I don’t mean those kinds of mushrooms, I mean the medicinal mushrooms thought of as food that have so many health benefits.

Why add mushrooms to your health maintenance routine?

Mushrooms are a powerhouse nutritional source. They offer a wide range of health benefits due to one type of natural fiber called beta-glucans. These potent fibers support the communication pathways in the body involved in immune and gut-brain axis function. Beta-glucans balance or modulate the immune response. Beta-glucans are extremely important for building resistance and long-term vitality. Unless you regularly eat mushrooms, seaweed, and fermented grains, most likely your diet is low in beta-glucans. Beta-glucan content in any mushroom product you are taking is essential for getting the actual health benefit of the mushroom. There’s a lot of information out there and so many different mushroom products to choose from. It can be a bit overwhelming and difficult to know how to choose the right one to take to get the strongest benefit of these incredibly nutritious foods.

Quick breakdown of mushroom products & supplements:

Some companies will use mushroom extracts, specifically the fruiting body, which is the part mainly recognized as the mushroom (or a pure mycelium extract). This is the most clinically researched & supported component of the mushroom, which has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. This is the extract that includes the most potent source of beta-glucans. Many other companies rely on mycelium fermented grai,n which is a lab-grown product with no historical use in traditional medicine, and limited clinical support. It is mainly starch, with very low levels of beta-glucans and actual mycelium. Not that there are no benefits to these products (ie: some mushroom coffees, powders, capsules, etc.) but the benefits are unlikely to come from beta-glucans.

What are mushrooms useful for?

All mushrooms are astringent, meaning they contain vital substances to support the body while flushing out toxins that don’t support health. In this regard, they are extremely helpful for liver and kidney function (adrenal support) & they improve the quality of our blood. All mushrooms are anti-oxidant, anti-tumor & anti-cancer. Recent studies have shown that mushrooms might contain more antioxidants than green tea! Mushrooms are generative and adaptogenic; they enhance your immunity and build your resistance to disease. The benefits of taking mushrooms accumulate over time, like any food or strengthening substance.

Popular medicinal mushroom types and their benefits:

Reishi: Powerhouse adrenal & immune support, sleep support, perimenopause/menopause support, cardiac tonic.

Turkey Tail: Anti-viral, oncology/chemotherapy support, liver & gallbladder chronic disease patterns.

Lion’s Mane: Neurological support: memory/cognitive function/focus/nerve re-growth, microbiome balance & GI support, perimenopause/menopause hormonal support.

Cordyceps: Performance & energy boost, kidney functional support, lung & heart support.

Tremella: Skin health & elasticity, collagen boost, nourishes the kidney/lung/fluids.

Shitake/Maitake/Chaga: Functional foods that support bone health, immunity, GI function, and chronic stress.

How to best incorporate mushrooms into your life:

• Eat them! Eat a variety of mushrooms, any kind you like, 2-3 times a week. All mushrooms have nutritional benefits - the more the better.

• Take daily mushroom supplements (capsules or powdered pure extracts). They can be added to morning beverages, smoothies, juices, soups, etc. Daily capsules are great if you’re not a fan of eating mushrooms. The most benefit will come from eating them as well as supplementing daily with them. Do what works for you!

• Ask your practitioner about which mushrooms would be most beneficial for you. Mushrooms can be utilized for maintenance as well as for specific disease treatment and preventative support.

Amanda Rosenberg, L.Ac
Primary Care, Sound Healing, Healthy Aging

“I believe in the power of the inner healer in us all and the positive effects this medicine has to offer for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. I aim to be a helpful catalyst for my patients to find their body's innate connection to their own healing abilities.”

Schedule with Amanda