Dec 18, 20193 min read

5 Things You Should Know About Mushrooms

Updated: Dec 21, 2019

Group of Mushrooms — Photo by Andrew Ridley on Unsplash

When you first think of a mushroom, a few things might come to mind:

That time you ate magic mushrooms in college, or last weekend
A new life in Super Mario.
Death Cap = literal death.
Trying to avoid a dad joke about being a ‘fun-gi.’
A topping on your pizza.

But we’re not here to make a pizza, or enjoy a night of video games (at least for the sake of this post). Functional mushrooms have been popping up in natural food stores and health blogs within the last few years, when, in fact, mushrooms have been used medicinally for centuries. We’ve compiled a list of five essential things to know about medicinal mushrooms.

1. The Oldest Living Organism

Mushroom’s history spans millennia. Archeologists have found evidence showing how Egyptians considered the mushroom food for royalty. Then there’s 6,000-year-old Ötzi the Iceman who carried around a medicine kit predating the oldest-known Egyptian remedy by one or two thousand years. This ‘kit’ contained a birch tree fungus called Piptoporus betulinus. When consumed, short-lived diarrhea acts as an antibiotic due to an oil that is toxic to intestinal parasites due to a chronic illness. Ancient Greeks believed that mushrooms provided strength for warriors in battle, and the Romans perceived them as the “Food of the Gods.” It’s also known in Chinese culture as an “elixir of life.”

2. Many Species

There are around 46,000 species of mushrooms, about 25 can add flavor to your favorite dish, and hundreds of fungi are known for their medicinal properties. However, it can be rather tricky to tell the difference between edible and medicinal mushrooms. Many of the common edible species have therapeutic properties, and several used for medical purposes are also edible.

3. The Ultimate Superfood

Now more than ever, people, doctors included, are starting to pay more attention to how different foods help us prevent illnesses and fight diseases. The word superfood has become a household staple these days, and the mushroom is getting the superfood gold star! This super-fungus is high in antioxidants, beta-glucans, and polysaccharides, making them one of nature’s most perfect foods. Not only are they loaded with healthy nutrients, but those nutrients are easily absorbed. A unique, powerful antioxidant that’s been getting recent attention is L-Ergothioneine (ERGO). Acting as a natural way of nutritionally supporting your body’s immune system to fight off diseases ranging from cancer to HIV AIDS. ERGO appears to be a far more powerful antioxidant than other substances such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E.

4. Types of Medicinal Mushrooms

As mentioned earlier, there are many types of mushrooms with medicinal benefits, and we’re going to focus on the six mushrooms that can be found in our capsules and powders.

Turkey Tail: The perfect ingredient for stimulating the immune system.
Chaga: Lower your “bad” cholesterol and fight inflammation with this powerhouse of antioxidants.
Lion’s Mane: Battling severe brain fog? Clear it up with this powerful brainfood that almost aids with concentration and memory.
Shiitake: This heart-healthy fungus also helps with lowering cholesterol.
Cordyceps: Feeling low on energy? This aids in the stimulation of both energy and libido.
Red Reishi: Known as “nature’s Xanax,” this is one of the oldest used fungi’s helping with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

5. Improving Quality of Life

The National Center for Biotechnology Information cites a journal showing that “Mushrooms act as antibacterial, immune system enhancer and cholesterol-lowering agents. Additionally, they are important sources of bioactive compounds. As a result of these properties, some mushroom extracts are to promote human health and are in dietary supplements.” After seeing just a few of the benefits from the mushrooms we use at Moonrize, it’s evident that these powerful ‘shrooms pack a punch when it comes to improving your overall health.

In recent years, the main focus has been on various immunological and anti-cancer properties of certain mushrooms, they also offer other significant health benefits, including antioxidants, anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering properties, liver protection, as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. These properties have attracted the interest of many pharmaceutical companies, which are viewing the medicinal mushroom as a rich source of innovative biomedical molecules.

Now that you’re a little more versed in function/medicinal mushrooms, you can see why we’re so excited to teach you about the many ways this fungus can help you feel and live your best life. At Moonrize, our goal is to bring the benefits of this versatile fungus in combination with other botanicals to create a super supplement to support your overall well being. Head over to our Shop section to find the correct formula for your needs and invite medicinal mushrooms into your daily regime.

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