Does the thought of medicinal mushrooms scare you off? Take a deep breath and stay with us. Yes, we’re going to tell you to put mushrooms in your coffee. But there’s good reason for this, we swear.
Medicinal mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years and have gained even more popularity as of late. Destined to be taken as powders (they’re never meant to be eaten raw or whole), you can find these fungi in all different forms, including. One of the easiest ways to get your mushroom fix, though? Simply add a spoonful to whatever’s on the menu — be it your morning smoothie, veggie stir-fry, or cup of java.
The list of health benefits medicinal mushrooms provide is lengthy (think: brain booster, hormone helper, antioxidant powerhouse). But each mushroom is unique and provides its own distinct health advantages.
Note that these shrooms aren’t a cure-all. In fact, shroom studies are still new to Western medicine, and solid evidence for humans still needs far more research. So think of them more like sidekicks for your immune system or mini-vaccines against stress, inflammation, and cancer. If you want to get in tune with the power of mushrooms, let’s get to know the top six and what makes them so great.