You want to arm your immune system this winter, but where do you begin? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the immunity-boosting foods on offer from acai and spirulina powder to turmeric.
If you’re looking to fight off that cold this winter, there’s one new superfood you can try. Mushrooms.
Mushrooms have long been recognised in Far Eastern culture for thousands of years for their medicinal properties. They are packed full of vitamins and minerals that we need to stay healthy, but most importantly, ones that contribute to maintaining a healthy immune system.
That’s why we’ve gathered 3 types of mushrooms from Asia and ground them into fine powders to create a nourishing blend. We have combined our dried Duan log-grown red reishi mushrooms with nutritional powerhouses maitake and shiitake to create our Organic Mushroom SuperBlend.
Mushroom powders are an incredibly easy and versatile way to reap all the nutritional benefits of mushrooms into one serving. A spoonful of mushroom powder can be simply blended into smoothies, mixed into soup or added to stir-fries or stirred into coffee for a healthy boost.
What mushrooms are there?
Reishi, maitake and shiitake are among the most revered mushrooms in Asian culture. Recognised for their bioactive properties, they have been skilfully cultivated and consumed in this part of the world for millennia.
Reishi
Known as the “King of Mushrooms”, reishi, or lingzhi, is one of the most celebrated mushrooms in Asian culture, revered for longevity, immunity and mental clarity. Native to parts of Asia including China, Korea and Japan, reishi mushrooms grow above ground and develop a fan-shaped “fruiting body” which is ground down into a fine powder.
These medicinal mushrooms are naturally high in vitamin D2 to build immunity and vitamin B3 (niacin) to maintain energy levels and fight fatigue.
Shiitake
For hundreds of years, shiitake mushrooms have been celebrated in Asia for their rich savoury taste as well as their health benefits. They are thought to have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Native to Eastern Asia, these mushrooms are a source of riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3) and vitamin D2 to energise the body, support immunity and protect the body’s cells from oxidative stress.
Shiitake mushrooms are unique in that they contain all eight essential amino acids and an essential fatty acid called linoleic acid which can support building muscle and improving digestion.
Maitake
Did you know that ‘maitake’ means ‘dancing mushroom’ in Japanese? It is believed the mushroom got its name after people danced with happiness upon finding it in the wild and discovered its incredible healing properties. Growing in wild parts of Japan, China, and North America, the mushroom can be found growing at the bottom of Oak, Elm, and Maple trees.
Maitake mushrooms contain B vitamins including riboflavin (vitamin B2) and niacin (vitamin B3) which are beneficial for the functioning of the nervous system, maintaining normal skin and reducing fatigue. They are also a source of beta-glucans which contribute to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels.
What are the benefits?
Still need some convincing to add mushroom powder to your morning coffee? Here are 8 ways that our Organic Mushroom SuperBlend can contribute to your health.
Support the immune system
No matter what the season is, our immune systems can always do with a boost. Mushrooms are one of the only natural plant sources of vitamin D, which is essential for supporting the immune system and protecting our bodies from illness and infections.
As well as boosting our immunity, mushrooms are bursting with B vitamins including thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3) and biotin (vitamin B7) which are all beneficial for the functioning of the nervous system.
That’s not all. Many scientific studies suggest that the main active ingredients in mushrooms are alpha-glucans and beta-glucans which are recognised for their effect upon the immune system, helping the body to fight off disease and infection more effectively.
Energise the body and reduce fatigue
The long, cold, dark days during winter can make us all feel sluggish and unmotivated. When our energy levels are low, we start to feel fatigued which weakens the immune system.
Want to feel more energised? B vitamins including thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3) and biotin (vitamin B7) as well as minerals copper and manganese which all contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism, energising the body and reducing fatigue.
May boost the brain
Feeling a bit low? Adding mushroom powder to your diet can help to boost your mood and potentially alleviate anxiety and stress. The combination of reishi, shiitake and maitake provides a good source of B vitamins thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3) and biotin (vitamin B7) which all contribute to psychological function.
Could lower blood cholesterol levels
Alpha-glucans and beta-glucans are complex sugars which contribute to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels). They can help to reduce the total amount of cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoproteins) otherwise known as “bad” cholesterol.
Help to maintain healthy bones
Concerned about your bone health? Vitamin D2 is essential for helping the body to absorb calcium and to grow healthy bones. Vitamins B5 and B6 are also needed for maintaining healthy teeth, bones and nails.
Contribute to protection from oxidative stress
Mushrooms are a natural source of Riboflavin (vitamin B2), copper and manganese which all contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and balance the number of free radicals in the body.
Could improve your workout
Need an energy boost for your workout? Selenium contributes to cardiovascular function, helping the body and muscles to perform more effectively during exercise.
May improve your skin and hair
The abundance of B vitamins in mushrooms including niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B5, B6 and biotin (vitamin B7) are all necessary for maintaining healthy skin and hair.
How can I enjoy mushrooms?
When eaten fresh, mushrooms can have a woody bitter taste. They may not taste amazing on their own, but when mixed and blended into recipes, they are incredibly nourishing and taste delicious.
Our Organic Mushroom SuperBlend is incredibly versatile and easy to incorporate into your daily routine (without the need to resort to capsule supplements).
Try mixing a spoonful into your morning coffee, smoothie or your bowl of porridge. What better way to start the day than with a dose of mushrooms rich in vitamins B and D to keep that winter cold at bay?
Mushrooms aren’t just for breakfast. You can enjoy the benefits of mushroom powder at lunch and dinner too. Switch the avocado toast for wild mushrooms on toast or give your stir-fry a healthy boost with a sprinkle of our Organic Mushroom SuperBlend.
