Buy your weekday smoothies and get your weekend ones for free. (7 for the price of 5!)
WELLNESSWEEK
Mushrooms for your mind
In this ENRICHD blog we will be sharing at our favourite medicinal mushrooms that can help a manage anxiety and depression. We will be looking at Reishi Mushroom, Lion’s Mane Mushroom, and Cordyceps Mushroom, their benefits, scientific research on compounds of interest and how to incorporate these mushrooms into your daily routine. We believe in the power of ancient wisdom and now modern science and research is confirming thousands of years of that knowledge!
Introduction to Mushroom Supplements
Functional mushrooms are a "superfood" class fungi that contain additional, adaptogenic compounds that work synergistically with our bodies. They carry many of the dense nutritious benefits of usual mushrooms like selenium and Vitamin D but they also contain bioactive compounds that help keep our body in a natural state of balance. Studies suggest they have far reaching benefits such as supporting the immune system, gut health and cognitive function. Traditionally set apart by their high levels of compounds such a Beta D glucans and triterpenes, polyphenols and powerful antioxidants. Most medicinal mushrooms are dried, brewed into a tea or turned into concentrated extracts (like our 10:1 extract powders).
Mushroom supplements and their benefits
Mushroom extracts are bioavailable and easily digestible, not only helping our bodies to synergise valuable compounds but also helping hormone balance and the production of important neuropeptides and transmitters like serotonin. In terms of anxiety and depression, most of our serotonin is made in the gut. An imbalance in the gut microbiome has been correlated to anxiety and depression alongside crucial vitamin absorption (Vitamin D and B deficiency has also been linked to depression) This has been shown to keep the body in a vicious cycle where the use of common anti-depressant drugs such as SSRI’s* treat the symptoms not the deeper cause.
Working with natural remedies to help support mental health creates a more unique solution to support your body as an individual. Anxiety and depression in many is a symptom of a deeper problem. Healing your body from the inside out is a great way to manage and support optimum health.
The disclaimer bit…* We do not intend this blog to treat, diagnose or cure any individual medical problems and do not suggest stopping prescribed medications. We recommend getting advice from your doctor or chosen health care practitioner.
Mushrooms for Mental Health: Best Mushrooms for anxiety and depression
Reishi: Promoting Relaxation and Reducing Stress
Not called the ‘Mushroom of Immortality’ for nothing…Rich in bioactive compounds, it has triterpenoids, polysaccharides and antioxidants which contribute to its immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic qualities. Reishi is a powerful adaptogen which helps to modulate the body's response to stress via the adrenal glands, balancing levels of cortisol and adrenaline which are raised when we're stressed. A natural probiotic it also helps to balance the gut microbiome increasing efficient uptake of serotonin. (This hormone is key for mood regulation)
Rich our founder: "Reishi is a mushroom I will drink for the rest of my life, supporting my sleep, immune system and heart-centeredness and conversations when I serve to people, Reishi is a very special mushroom to me".
Reishi mushroom helps to calm the mind and body
Reishi mushroom works on the parasympathetic nervous system via the Vegus nerve. It acts as a vasodilator and can have a calming effect due to its ability to suppress beta-amyloid proteins and increase sleep-inducing serotonin levels.
Reishi Mushroom Supplements
Reishi powder can be taken in the afternoon / evening to help aid restful and restorative sleep. Lack of good quality sleep can exacerbate conditions such as anxiety. Reishi compounds have been seen to interact with the GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric acid) pathway. Known as “the brakes of the brain”, GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which lowers neural activity and promotes deep sleep. Studies have found that the impact Reishi has on the GABA pathway is another reason why it can help us to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer.
We work with both semi wild grown 10:1 Reishi extract and Reishi Spores.
Reishi spores are the seed-like structures produced and released by the Reishi mushroom during its reproductive phase. These spores play a crucial role in the propagation of the mushroom, but they also have unique characteristics that differentiate them from the mushroom's fruiting body which has led to growing interest in their therapeutic potential. Bioactive compounds including sterols, triterpenoids, fatty acids and carbohydrates are found in higher concentrations than other parts of the reishi mushroom.
Shop Our Reishi Spores Powder and Reishi Mushroom Powder
Lion’s Mane: Enhancing Cognitive Function
Lion’s mane mushroom benefits come from vital compounds called hericenones and erinacines that increase the release of nerve growth factor (NGF) a substance that regulates the growth and survival of brain cells. Studies in mice and humans have shown improvement in memory and cognitive decline including Alzheimer's symptoms when supplementing with Lion’s mane powder.
They have also been shown to improve sleep, gut health and over all hormone regulation which as we discussed above area all key in managing anxiety and depression.
Read our full Lion’s Mane deep dive
Lion’s Mane to help reduce anxiety
Lion’s Mane may help ease stress, a study in Biomedical Research examined the effects of Lion’s mane mushroom on brain function and concluded that participants who ate 0.5 grams of lion’s mane powder specifically the mushroom or fruiting body, for four weeks reported less anxiety than those who had a placebo. The theory was that the nerve growth effect of lion’s mane mushroom contributes to its anti-anxiety action.
The highly bio available compounds found in Lions Mane mushrooms are small enough to cross the blood brain giving the ability to support NGF production. This may be responsible for an antidepressant effect as some conventional antidepressant drugs also work by changing NGF levels. Studies in Japan have shown Lion’s Mane helping menopausal women in mood, cognitive function and sleep.
Lion’s Mane to reduce inflammation
Inflammation is a major contributing factor to many underlying health problems. While there are many causes of anxiety and depression, chronic inflammation may be a major contributing factor. Animal research has found that Lion's mane mushroom extracts have anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
As with most medicinal mushrooms they contain pre-biotics that support gut health via prebiotic fibres, such as beta-glucans, which support healthy gut flora. The gut - brain pathway is something new research is connecting to anxiety and depression due to chemical imbalance, hormone disruption and vitamin deficiency with direct correlation to an unhealthy gut microbiome.
Integrating Lions mane supplements into your diet
Our concentrated 10:1 extracts are highly soluble and bioavailable so they work perfectly in drinks. They have an earthy, nutty, sweet profile that pairs perfectly in coffee and chocolate.
Lion’s mane is native to the UK but rare and illegal to forage, so keep your mitts off them and buy from us instead.
Shop Lion’s Mane Powder
Cordyceps: Boosting Energy and Improving Mood
Cordyceps known as the zombie fungus (check out our Cordyceps deep dive to find out why!) have some incredible benefits, traditionally used to help increase energy and stamina through its ability to help increase ATP and drive more oxygen to your cells but it has also been studied for its antidepressant effects.
Cordyceps mushrooms are rich in adenosine derivatives of which one is cordycepin. Cordycepin has been reported in a variety of pharmacological actions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, and hypoglycaemic properties. Studies have shown that compounds in Cordyceps help the bodies uptake of ATP, crucially increasing cell oxygen uptake, improving energy levels.
Cordyceps to help mood and motivation
It is important to note that more energy to increase movement and a desire to exercise can help alleviate depression. Crucial endorphins that have been proven to improve mood and reduce depression are created when we exercise and move our bodies!
The active ingredients of Cordyceps sinensis may create antidepressant effects by acting on important binding proteins that affect neuronal pathways linked to depression and anxiety.
Our old foe inflammation again… Research has shown that when human cells are exposed to Cordyceps, cordycepin properties help reduce the cytokine storm (huge surge of inflammatory markers) and calm inflammation, acting as a modulator to bring homeostatic levels back in check. AKA restoring balance!
Bringing together the powerful benefits of reduced inflammation, more oxygen to your cells, reducing pathogens, altogether will keep you up and active!
Optimise your daily routine with Cordyceps extract powder
Our Cordyceps powder CS-4 produces a super fine 10:1 extract that dissolves easily in drinks. Due to the energy giving nature of this mushroom taking early on in your day or before exercise is a great way to optimise its results. You can also enjoy it as Cordyceps tea for a energising and refreshing boost.
Shop Cordyceps
Incorporating Mushroom Supplements into Your Diet
As with all food products some people may experience allergies or mild intolerances so when introducing a new food listen to your body and start with a smaller dose and work your way up. If you are on complex medications or are undergoing a functional medicine plan already then work with your practitioner to ensure that Lion’s mane, reishi and or cordyceps will fit into tour diet.
Using mushroom Supplements
Find a medium that works for you when integrating supplements into your diet and ensure they become part of your wellness routine. Add our super bioavailable and soluble mushroom powder into your coffee or hot chocolate, mix with water and sweeten to taste in a nourishing tea or add to juices or smoothies.
Dosage and frequency
Mushrooms can be combined and taken at once or spread out through the day. A common schedule is Lion’s mane taken first thing in the morning, cordyceps before exercise or earlier in the day and reishi to calm and sooth you towards bed time.
Dosage is important but thankfully our medicinal mushroom extracts are non toxic and there is no worry about ‘overdosing’ however optimising a daily dose of around 1.5-3g of extract we have found is the sweet spot ½-tea spoon (depending on the size of your spoon)!
We care passionately about purity
Food is communication to our body, mind and spirit and we source the finest quality ingredients grow with integrity and intensity (as is the Enrichd way!)
We work with trusted growers and partners that uphold the highest standards of growing, process and farmers rights along with all products undergoing rigorous testing to ensure they are free from contaminants and harmful substances. Our commitment to sustainable sourcing and ethical production practices ensures that you are supporting a company that cares about the environment and social responsibility. We have some incredible reviews from long standing customers that use our products daily to help maintain health and wellbeing.
Summary
Helping to manage anxiety and depression will be a complex and individual process but there are mushrooms that have shown to help. The power of food and teas as medicine has been long studied in TCM and many other ancient practices. We understand more than ever the connection to our nutritional and gut health in relation to mood and hormones and medicinal mushrooms have been used to help restore balance for thousands of years.
- Lion’s mane mushroom can help alleviate depression through Its ability to help the body nourish and condition neurons.
- Reishi mushroom spores and extract’s super power is helping to induce a calming effect and deepen sleep through the GABA pathway.
- Cordyceps mushroom extract can increase energy, helping release endorphins.
- Cordyceps, Lion’s mane and Reishi all contain powerful prebiotics that can improve gut health and the body’s ability to produce serotonin (the happy hormone).
- Reducing inflammation can help alleviate anxiety and depression and restore homeostatic balance
- With easily soluble and bioavailable extracts, integrating these mushrooms into your diet can be simple and delicious!
Shop all Enrichd Medinical mushrooms