Issue #370: The Power of Mushrooms
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, July 23rd.
In today’s email:
Learn: 4 Adaptogenic Mushrooms
Try: Mushroom Elixir Smoothie
Laugh: Getting Extra Hoppy
In the News: An Avocado a Day
Stat of the Day
The number of identified mushroom species. This is barely a fraction of what experts believe exist on earth - somewhere between 2-11 million different species. (source)
Learn
4 Adaptogenic Mushrooms
We’ve already covered magic mushrooms with the potential benefits and risks of psilocybin (Issue #232).
But what about the adaptogenic mushrooms craze? Seems like everyone is drinking mushroom coffee (Mud Wtr anyone?) or has gone all in on eating fungi - and the numbers back this up with the market expected to grow nearly 6% annually through 2032.
Is this just a fad or are these mushrooms really worth adding to our daily drinks?
While mainstream news sites still argue that these mushrooms don’t have enough scientific validation - there are some real studies (see below) showing it’s probably worth adding some ‘shrooms to your diet.
One of the reasons these mushroom coffees aren’t all they’re cracked up to be is that they often use dried (and probably “old” mushrooms). These won’t produce the same results we’re going to talk about.
It’s always best to go with fresh or slightly cooked versions of mushrooms - but if you don’t love the taste or texture of mushrooms, or if you’re trying to lower the caffeine in your daily coffee - you could definitely do worse than adding some mushrooms into your drink.
Back when we covered ashwagandha we talked about “adaptogens” - those substances that affect our HPA axis to help us manage stress (Issue #342).
Here are four mushrooms that not only have a similar effect for when life gets a little crazy - but have a ton of other benefits too:
Cordyceps
Before we get to the positive stuff, there’s an interesting and slightly disturbing story for how cordyceps live. It’s the true definition of a parasite. The spore will land on a specific insect - ant, spider, grasshopper. It infiltrates the insect’s body - basically killing it by sucking up its nutrients and then grows out into the mushroom we can see (you’re welcome!).
A little gruesome - but maybe this is why consuming cordyceps has been shown to really bolster our immune function. Studies show eating cordyceps significantly boosts our National Killer cells - which are essential to enhancing our ability to fight infection and invaders.
Cordyceps also make us stronger and recover faster after a hardcore workout. It improves that north star longevity metric - VO2Max.
Lion’s Mane
A little less invasive, this mushroom typically feeds on dead trees - but can also be a parasite that infects healthy trees. In the U.S., they often grow on beech and maple trees. It kinda looks like a white ball or sometimes icicles.
There is less controversy here - studies pretty clearly suggest this mushroom really does support our brains. Specifically, it supports BDNF and increasing nerve growth factor (NGF) - which then improves our cognitive function and memory in our brain’s hippocampus.
It’s also really high in B vitamins and probiotics - great for our gut health.
Chaga
Another tree parasite (this time birch trees), chaga mushrooms are sky high in antioxidants and have specific fiber called beta glucans.
This fiber makes us feel more full and seems to have a positive effect on our metabolic health - including the critical biomarker triglycerides.
We’re always hesitant to include studies from animals - but there might be something to chaga also suppressing cancer.
It reduced a tumor by 60% in mice. Hopefully more research to come if it can be potent for us humans too.
Reishi
In China it’s often called the “Elixir of Life” or “Mushroom of Immortality” that harmonizes jing (life force) qi (energy), and shen (spirit).
Packed with minerals and polysaccharides (sugar molecules bonded together), reishi boosts our immune system and also affects our adrenal glands to balance hormones. These polysaccharides take on free radicals (remember when molecules have that extra electron - Issue #366) to lower our oxidative stress and slow down aging.
It also appears to really be an adaptogen and lowers our reaction to stress.
Word of warning - There are some studies that show potential risk of liver problems when eating reishi. This seems to be extremely rare and it might be related to reishi actually helping detox the liver.
Try
Mushroom Elixir Smoothie
Eat some mushrooms! Check out Function Medicine Doc Dr. Will Cole’s Mushroom Elixir Smoothie recipe.
If you don’t want to mess with all the individual mushrooms - check out the Morning Blend from Om Superfoods. This is the brand I get for my protein smoothies. 🍄
Om is offering Thrive25 readers 30% off their next purchase!
Click HERE!
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
TMAC has 20-min workouts for you to do at home - each ending with a mind-right meditation. Say goodbye to equipment and hello to an invigorating routine that combines fitness and meditation in the comfort of your own home.
Join the 15-Day Free Yoga for Athletes Challenge!
TMAC is kicking off a 15-day Free Yoga for Athletes challenge! Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting out, this challenge is designed to improve your flexibility, strength, and balance.
Take the first step towards a fitter, more balanced you! Join the FREE 15-day Yoga for Athletes challenge by clicking HERE!
“Laugh”
Getting Extra Hoppy
There’s not much we haven’t done as humans to feel better and live longer - most trends, hacks or fads are recycled from another time or place in our history.
Take the ancient (dating back to 921 AD) wellness trend of beer bathing. Still common in Eastern Europe (and expanding out to the US and UK), beer bathing relieves stress, improves circulation, and soothes muscles.
So go ahead, laugh at this picture, and then discover how this unique soak can rejuvenate your body and mind. (Source)
Reuters
In the News
An Avocado a Day: You learned the benefits of avocados, but a new study now confirms just how important these fruits might be for our health (you can still eat an apple too). (MSN)
Longer, Not Better: Life expectancy is expected to increase nearly 5 years by 2050, but “healthspan” isn’t getting any better. So without preventive health, that’s just more years living with pain or disease. (Mid-Day)
One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure: In this case, we’re talking kidneys. An innovative startup is revolutionizing organ transplants - their innovative tech revives kidneys that would otherwise be discarded, resulting in 10 successful transplants. (Good News Network)
Thanks for joining us today!
Check out the latest videos on our YouTube channel
Got feedback, recommendations or stories to share? Tell us what’s on your mind here
Want this direct to your inbox? Sign up here
Why Thrive25
We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
Sign up for free:
The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.