4 Medicinal Mushrooms You Should Consider Taking Daily
THE CHALKBOARD MAG
Mushrooms, they’re not just for omelettes anymore. You might have heard that the medicinal mushrooms trend is on the rise.
To refresh ourselves on our shroomy knowledge, we’re throwing it back to this micropanel from last fall between mushroom guru, Tero Isokauppila of Four Sigmatic and our EIC, Suzanne Hall to wring every last drop out of Tero’s insights on one of the weirdest plant trends your parents will probably try this year.
Here’s the best of what we learned from Tero…
CHAGA : Morning Pick-Me-Up
Known as the “king of mushrooms”, chaga is an incredible immunity booster. Tero referred to this mushroom as an “antioxidant” bomb, specifically calling it out as a top source of melanin — an antioxidant that most people know of as it relates to the skin. Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies and the first barrier against pathogens. As such, taking chaga regularly serves as a “body guard” for our inner and outer wellbeing. It is traditionally made into an earthy tea that can be used as a coffee substitute. Tero recommends sipping on some chaga to start the day.
LION’S MANE: Brain Food
Lion’s mane is a match made in heaven for morning coffee. These medicinal mushrooms are considered “nootropics” — also known as “smart drugs” — which are taken to improve alertness, focus, and overall cognitive ability. According to Tero, ingesting a little lion’s mane daily (it’s totally safe!) gives your nervous system and brain a boost to make you “more of what you already are.”
CORDYCEPS: Pre-Workout Boost
Discovered by ancients and beloved by athletes, cordyceps is known to provide energy without extra stimulation. This mushroom helps increase oxygen intake up to 20% which naturally boosts mental and physical energy. Cordyceps help us breathe more, making it perfect for a pre-workout boost or general energy jolt throughout the day without draining adrenals or beelining to a crash later.
REISHI: Stress-Busting Nightcap
Chaga may be known as the king of medicinal mushrooms, but reishi is the queen. With a unique ability to bust stress without causing sedation, this nearly motherly medicinal mushroom is powerfully nourishing and perfect for daily use. Tero loves sipping some down in a cup of hot cocoa before bed — it helps us relax and melt into a deeper delta state so that we can sleep the same amount we normally would but with a heightened quality that lets us wake up feeling better on every level.
Discover how to eat your medicine to heal your gut, eliminate bloating, skin issues and hair loss as I share seven nutrition principles in this free masterclass. Running for a limited time only.
The Chalkboard was launched in Los Angeles in 2012 by the creators of Pressed Juicery to bring readers the best in wellness lifestyle resources. With a mix of expert insights, healthy recipes, natural beauty picks, and toxin-free living ideas, their goal is to inspire you to live well. They're making the journey toward wellness accessible, beautiful, fun and just a little bit stylish.