What are the benefits?<\/p>\n
Reishi, for example, is a type of adaptogenic mushroom that can help with stress management, foster calmness, and support the nervous system, Wylie says.<\/p>\n
Another, cordyceps, \u201csupports energy production and oxygen utilisation, helping improve physical performance and endurance, with traditional use also linked to enhanced libido\u201d. <\/p>\n
Another adaptogenic mushroom called lion\u2019s mane has been shown to help with mental clarity and cognition and improve focus.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecent research in Australia has shown that brain neurons exposed to lion\u2019s mane grew twice as long as those not exposed to the mushroom, and there\u2019s a field of research looking at lion\u2019s mane\u2019s effectiveness in brain diseases such as Parkinson\u2019s disease and dementia,\u201d Wylie says.<\/p>\n
She says other notable functional mushrooms include tremella and shiitake for skin hydration support, turkey\u2019s tail for gut health support, and chaga for immune system support and anti-inflammatory properties.<\/p>\n
Registered nutritionist and founder of Elo Wellbeing Emma Wylie. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Is there scientific evidence to support these benefits? <\/p>\n
While they\u2019ve only begun trending in recent years, medicinal mushrooms have been used in some form for thousands of years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s amazing is that mushrooms have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for centuries,\u201d Wylie says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s even evidence of Hippocrates in ancient Greece using these adaptogenic mushrooms for medicinal purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, more research needs to be done, she adds. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhile there\u2019s some scientific research supporting their benefits, the body of clinical evidence isn\u2019t yet as extensive as we\u2019d love to see… there is a growing body of evidence and huge focus on gaining this sort of scientific evidence for more natural and traditional forms of medicine or supplementation, including for mushrooms.\u201d<\/p>\n
Much of the current research is around whether medicinal mushrooms could reduce the risk of chronic health conditions, cancer and dementia. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be great to see that research continue to deepen our knowledge of these incredible fungi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Are there any risks that come with taking functional mushrooms? <\/p>\n
Similar to other herbal supplements, it\u2019s recommended to avoid medicinal mushroom use during pregnancy, Wylie says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere isn\u2019t enough research to confirm complete safety in this life stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you have low blood pressure, reishi could lower it further and can cause vasodilation – the widening of blood vessels.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s best to check in with your doctor before adding any new supplement to your routine.\u201d<\/p>\n
What to look for on the label<\/p>\n
If you are going to try adaptogenic mushrooms, what\u2019s the best form to take them in? <\/p>\n
Wylie says it\u2019s all to do with the way they\u2019ve been extracted.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically, the beneficial compounds in mushrooms are extracted using water, alcohol, or a combination of both, known as dual extraction,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis process allows you to access the full spectrum of active compounds, including beta-glucan polysaccharides – the key immune-supporting components – along with powerful antioxidants such as terpenes, diterpenoids, kojic acid, flavonoids, and polyphenols, to name a few.\u201d<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re browsing the supplement aisle, look for a product made from organic mushrooms grown on organic wood instead of grain or oats.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll also want to see \u2018fruiting body extract\u2019 on the label – that\u2019s the part of the mushroom richest in active compounds, giving you the best potency and value,\u201d Wylie says. <\/p>\n
Bethany Reitsma is a lifestyle writer who has been with the NZ Herald since 2019. She specialises in all things health and wellbeing and is passionate about telling Kiwis\u2019 real-life stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cBy definition, an adaptogen is a nontoxic, typically plant extract that helps the body resist or adapt better…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[3384,95,192,138,48051,224,4731,6309,55264,1866,16555,84122,84126,221,27705,84125,26482,111,139,69,84123,18405,24562,4758,84127,24359,8229,27300,66416,84124,6923,4576,19985,15411],"class_list":["post-119091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-aisle","tag-and","tag-are","tag-business","tag-capsules","tag-chocolate","tag-days","tag-do","tag-everywhere","tag-find","tag-form","tag-functional","tag-gummies","tag-how","tag-instead","tag-lattes","tag-mushrooms","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-popping","tag-powders","tag-supplement","tag-taking","tag-teas","tag-these","tag-they","tag-theyre","tag-type","tag-vege","tag-what","tag-work","tag-worth","tag-youll"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}