What are functional mushrooms?
Functional mushrooms are a subset of mushrooms that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Unlike common culinary mushrooms like button or portobello, functional mushrooms are prized for their bioactive compounds, which may support various aspects of health, including immunity, cognition, and stress management. These mushrooms have been used for centuries in traditional medicine systems, and modern science is beginning to validate many of their traditional uses.
How Functional Mushrooms Work
Functional mushrooms contain a variety of bioactive compounds, including:
Polysaccharides: These include beta-glucans, which are known to enhance immune function.
Triterpenoids: Found in mushrooms like reishi, these compounds have anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties.
Ergothioneine: A powerful antioxidant that helps combat oxidative stress.
When consumed, these compounds interact with the body’s systems to provide their therapeutic effects. For example, beta-glucans can modulate immune cell activity, while triterpenoids may help the body adapt to stress.
What are the types of functional mushrooms?
There are many species of mushrooms that can be classified as functional or medicinal, including, cordyceps, chaga, lion’s mane, reishi and turkey tail, but there are many many more. Different functional mushrooms can be used for different things, these are some of our favourites:
How can I incorporate functional mushrooms into my diet?
Well, if you ask us, we’ll of course say that the best way to consume functional mushrooms is by eating it in chocolate! It’s definitely the most delicious and cacao is a superfood so you’re giving your body even more nutrition. One of the reasons we started Luma Mushroom was that we wanted a better way to get the benefits of the mushrooms without adding supplements to our packed daily routines or putting powders into our tea and coffee that often clumped together or gave it a weird taste. But…everyone is different, so there are loads of ways to incorporate functional mushrooms into your diet, with capsules, powders, tinctures or by cooking up some delicious lion’s mane. One thing we’d recommend is trying to find a local supplier who you trust is growing and harvesting mushrooms sustainably, free from chemicals and is making sure their mushroom growing material goes back into the ecosystem.
As with anything, always read and stick to the dosage guidelines for these products as dosages may vary and check with a medical professional about any interactions with medication. Functional mushrooms also aren’t recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding as there isn’t enough research to determine whether they’re safe.
