"Functional mushrooms" have gone from specialist health shops to supermarket shelves in just a few years. Lion's Mane coffee, Reishi hot chocolate and Cordyceps capsules are now everywhere. But what are these mushrooms, and what should you look for when buying them?
What are functional mushrooms?
The term is used for mushrooms valued for more than their flavour, many of which have been used in traditional practices across Asia and Northern Europe for centuries. Today they are most often sold as dried powders or extracts in capsules, drinks and blends. In the UK they are sold as foods or food supplements, so they cannot be marketed with medicinal claims.
The big four
Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Named for its shaggy, white, cascading spines, Lion's Mane grows on hardwood trees in Europe, Asia and North America. It is also eaten fresh as a gourmet mushroom, with a texture often compared to crab or lobster. It is one of the most researched functional mushrooms and a popular choice in morning routines.
Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi)
Reishi has a glossy, reddish-brown cap and a bitter, woody taste, so it is almost always taken as an extract rather than eaten. It has a long history in traditional Chinese and Japanese practice, where it was known as the "mushroom of immortality".
Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)
Chaga is not a typical mushroom at all. It grows as a dark, charcoal-like mass on birch trees in cold climates such as Scandinavia, Russia and Canada. It has traditionally been brewed as a tea and has an earthy, slightly vanilla flavour.
Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris)
Cordyceps is a bright orange mushroom. The wild form is rare and expensive, so most supplements use cultivated Cordyceps militaris. It is popular with active people as part of a daily routine.
What to look for when buying
- Clear amounts. Look for the mg of each mushroom per serving, not just a "proprietary blend".
- Fruiting body or extract. Good brands say which part of the mushroom is used.
- Vegan capsules without unnecessary fillers.
- Honest marketing. Be wary of any product that claims to treat or cure a condition. That is not allowed in the UK.
Our Super Mushroom Capsules
Our ProLife Super Mushroom Capsules combine all four mushrooms (100mg each of Chaga, Reishi, Lion's Mane and Cordyceps) with 240mg of prebiotic acacia fibre and cold-pressed hemp-derived CBD in a single vegan capsule, made in the UK. Prefer two products in one routine? See the Super Capsule Duo.
Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. CBD products sold in the UK are food supplements or cosmetics, not medicines, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises healthy adults to take no more than 10mg of CBD per day from all sources. Do not use CBD if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, and speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
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