11 Benefits of Functional Mushrooms

Functional mushrooms are special kinds of mushrooms that are harvested and used for their medicinal and therapeutic properties. These functional mushrooms can be found in beverages, soups, beauty products and even some desserts. Functional mushrooms are characterized by their spore-bearing structure, they also bear fruits above the ground. The commonest functional mushrooms you can find include; Cordyceps, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, and Chaga.

Benefits of functional mushrooms

There are numerous species of functional mushrooms but there are health benefits common to all of them, these include the following;

#1: They provide a burst of energy- functional mushrooms contain lots of polysaccharides that can increase strength and stamina. They also provide complex carbs and non-digestible fibers that increase energy. Aside from increased energy and stamina, functional mushrooms such as Reishi can help to fight chronic fatigue syndrome and can also protect blood vessels from serious damage.

#2: They strengthen the body’s immunity- They promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut, thus they increase probiotics that fight harmful bacteria and virus.

#3: They inhibit inflammation- Inflammation can be triggered by allergies or invasion of certain harmful elements.

#4: They help in regulating blood sugar, reduce high cholesterol buildup, and regulate blood pressure levels.

#5: They help to rejuvenate the skin, making it supple and radiant.

#6: They offer protection for vital organs such as the liver. Mushroom species such as Reishi have been used in preventive medicine for decades, especially for preventing the growth of cancerous tumors.

#7: functional mushrooms help to reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

#8: They help in lowering the risks of terminal diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases.

#9: Functional mushrooms are antibiotic in nature. Functional mushrooms such as Lion’s mane are highly lethal to micro-organisms.

#10: They protect brain tissues and improve cognitive functioning. Lion’s mane is known for speeding up the repair of brain tissues, and it supports neural growth which is the key to enhancement in brain’s cognitive capabilities. Functional mushrooms can also reduce the risks of brain-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

#11: Functional mushrooms like Shaga are known to reduce the flow of bleeding. They can also speed up the recovery of those suffering from auto-immune disorders. Shaga can help in alleviating the symptoms of diabetes, and people who have just had surgery can consume the functional mushroom tea to speed up their recovery.

How to use functional mushrooms

The functional mushroom tea is perhaps the most popular way to use functional mushrooms in your food. You need to collect the original mushroom and dry them before breaking them into chunks. Grind the chunks of mushroom into powder before adding them to your coffee grinder or alcoholic beverage. If you are preparing a tea, you need to place the mushroom in the tea infuser, and into a mug before adding hot water. Steep the mix for about 5 minutes or longer if you want more concentrated mushroom tea. You can remove the mushroom after 5 minutes and add honey or brown sugar before consumption.