There are all sorts of different supplements you can take these days and the sheer amount of choice can be a little overwhelming. When you don’t quite know where to begin, it can often lead to paralysis of action… and you end up not taking anything at all!
As superfoods go, however, mushrooms are certainly up there with the very best of them so if you’re yet to add them to your diet, now might be an excellent time to start.
Health benefits of upping your mushroom intake include protecting against dementia, relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression, protecting against ulcers in the digestive tract, reducing heart disease risks, managing diabetes, potentially helping fight cancer… the list goes on!
You can, of course, hit the kitchen and start whipping up mushroom feasts for the whole family to enjoy and there are all sorts of delicious recipes to enjoy, whether you want to serve up a stroganoff, whip up a wellington or sup on some mushroom soup.
But one very quick and easy way to ensure you’re getting your mushroom hit without having to worry about adding them in at mealtimes is to consider taking mushroom powders and supplements.
Arguably, it’s even better to enjoy your shrooms in powder or extract form if you want to take them for the associated medicinal benefits, because different benefits come from different kinds of functional mushrooms… and you may struggle to find the appetite to eat them each day.
It’s also worth noting that different manufacturing processes can affect the beta-glucan content of your products, the biologically active compounds that give your mushrooms the health benefits you’re looking for, so always double check that the beta-glucan content is there before you buy.
The Power Of Mushroom Powder
As the name suggests, mushroom powder is what you get when you dehydrate and grind whole mushrooms. You can use the product in myriad different ways as a nutritional supplement, putting it in coffee, smoothies, stews, soups, sauces… the only limit is your imagination!
All sorts of different mushrooms can be used to make these powders (more on this later on!) and the resulting products boast impressive nutritional content, increasingly used by health-conscious individuals as a preventative measure against a range of different health conditions.
These powders contain everything from protein complex carbs to B vitamins, copper, selenium, iron, potassium, antioxidants, prebiotics, beta-glucans, alpha-glucans and other bioactive compounds that are specific to the type of mushroom used (including the likes of sterols, peptides and triterpenes).
As you delve deeper into the wonderful world of mushrooms, you’re also sure to come across mushroom extract powder, which contains lots of nutrients taken from the mushroom fruit body and mycelium.
Once the mushroom has been harvested, it’s dehydrated and ground up before being placed in a solvent, usually either hot water (if you want to extract water-soluble compounds) or alcohol (if you want to extract alcohol-soluble compounds).
The mushroom powder then sits in this liquid for a specified amount of time before being drained and the liquid retained, with the mushroom solids discarded. This liquid is then cooked down and reduced to a standardised concentration, either to be sold as a liquid (or tincture) or to be processed even more.
For example, it can be sprayed and dried to create a mushroom extract powder. In some quarters, it’s thought that this extract powder is the best way to reap the health benefits from functional mushrooms that you’re looking for.
However, other camps are staunch in their belief that while some active compounds like beta-glucans can be found in high concentrations in extract powders, other benefits are lost along the way.
Here at Detox Trading, our mushroom powders are all pure powders with no bulking agents included in the manufacturing, so they’re not technically considered to be extracts. But we believe that as long as the proper care is taken during the growing and harvesting stages, the end product will always be of particularly high quality.
We do also sell mushroom extracts in capsule form, however, which are high strength and concentrated, made using either hot water or alcohol depending on the particular mushroom variety.
Ultimately, when it comes to deciding which mushroom powder products to go for, it will all come down to what your health and wellbeing goals are.
If, for example, you simply want to get a standard dose of beta-glucans each day to support your immune system, extract powders may be the way to go.
But if you’d rather gain a broader range of health benefits, including prebiotics and fibre, a whole mushroom powder could be the better option, as you’ll also receive the nutrients and bioactive compounds that you’d get in extracts.
Alternatively, you could take both whole mushroom powders and extracts in capsule form at the same time, so you have all your bases covered no matter what!
4 Of The Best Mushrooms To Try
It can be difficult to know where to begin when first adding new supplements to your diet, so here are some of the most popular mushrooms to try first. Just see how good you could feel!
Turkey tail
Turkey tail has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to support general health and wellbeing – and it seems that the Western world is now starting to sit up and take note of all the antioxidants, compounds and minerals that can be found in this particular mushroom!
It’s thought that turkey tail can be taken to improve gut health, support immune function and reduce inflammation, as well as having the potential to ward off cognitive decline, balance blood sugar, fight infections, reduce fatigue and even support athletic performance.
This mushroom contains high concentrations of polysaccharide-K and polysaccharide peptides, both of which are immunomodulators, which means they can simulate and balance the immune system, warding off disease and fighting infection.
As for gut health, this is a particularly good mushroom to go for, as it acts as a prebiotic and helps promote the growth of good bacteria that drives healthy digestion. By balancing out your gut microbiome, you can support your immune system, improve your digestive health and reduce your risk of developing certain gastro-related diseases.
Reishi
In traditional Chinese medicine, reishi mushrooms are lauded as ‘the mushroom of immortality’ and they’re well renowned for the potential health benefits they can bring… so they’d be an excellent one to start adding into your diet.
Reishi are chock-full of bioactive compounds like beta-glucan (which is very rich in fibre) and lots of different antioxidants, helping to stimulate white blood cell production and support your immune system.
But it’s not just your physical health that reishi can boost, it’s your mental health as well. Fans of this particular mushroom praise it for its ability to alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression, so if you’ve been struggling in this regard you may want to consider taking reishi supplements in some form or other.
Chaga
Chaga mushrooms can be found growing on the bark of birch trees in colder places like Siberia, Russia, northern Europe, Canada and Alaska, resembling a lump of burnt charcoal on the outside… but break it open and you’ll find a lovely soft core in a lovely warm orange colour.
In terms of health benefits, it’s thought that chaga can help fight inflammation and support your immune system, safeguarding you against harmful bacteria and viruses by stimulating white blood cell production.
Scientific studies have also been done that suggest chaga can help prevent and fight cancer, as well as lowering blood sugar levels, and lowering cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
Lion’s mane
An especially interesting looking mushroom, lion’s mane can be found growing in forests throughout Europe, Asia and North America – and it looks much like its name would suggest… an impressive white fringing protruding from the side of the tree.
If it’s an excellent all-rounder of a mushroom you’re looking for, one that covers your physical, cognitive and emotional health, lion’s mane could be a brilliant choice, with studies showing that it can help support heart health, liver health and kidney health, while regulating blood sugar, reducing high blood pressure, fighting fatigue and even potentially slowing the biological ageing process.
From a mental health perspective, it’s also thought that lion’s mane can help ease feelings of depression and anxiety, so if you are prone to such conditions you could try adding it into your diet to see how you feel.
Finally, some studies have shown that it has the potential to protect against dementia and Alzheimer’s, since it contains certain compounds that can improve both brain health and function.