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How to Choose the Best Mushroom Tea
Mushroom tea can help enhance your immune system, increase brainpower and provide delicious flavors – it is the ideal drink to add into any healthy lifestyle regimen!
Here are a few of the best mushroom teas:.
1. Reishi
Reishi is a shelf fungus with a deep red or buttery yellow hue, commonly grown as medicinal mushroom. In Chinese, its name lingzhi translates to “herb of spiritual potency.” Reishi is widely recognized for its natural immune-boosting abilities; commonly used to treat fatigue, insomnia, stress, liver disease and lower blood sugar levels in those living with diabetes. Reishi also acts as an excellent sleep aid!
Reishi mushrooms have been used in China for over four millennia as an effective treatment for chronic fatigue, respiratory issues and even tumors. Reishi is believed to strengthen immunity, increase energy and extend longevity while modern research suggests its antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties are highly effective at targeting abnormal cells including cancerous ones.
Mushroom teas often incorporate both reishi and chaga to take advantage of their immune-enhancing powers, and to drink along with cocktails from top sommeliers.
Big tea brands such as Four Sigmatic source their reishi from all over the world; small-scaled Tamim, on the other hand, uses 100% American-grown reishi in each single-serve tea bag they produce. Working alongside herbalists and chemists they ensure their mushrooms are potency without trace contaminants – one box of 16 teabags costs $5.99.
This tea is packed with immunity-enhancing ingredients beyond Reishi, including Chaga, Maitake and Lion’s Mane for an all-around immune boosting experience. Ashwagandha helps reduce stress while turmeric gives added anti-inflammatory benefits while coconut sugar adds a sweet caramel-like finish for an invigorating morning beverage experience. With no caffeine to worry about this caffeine-free blend is ideal for anyone wanting a boost without compromising any of the health benefits!
2. Chaga
Chaga mushroom has long been recognized for its high concentrations of antioxidants, antivirals, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, studies have also demonstrated its ability to reduce inflammation while supporting immunity systems and providing strong insulation properties. Known for its distinct woody aroma and taste that many have compared to coffee or vanilla flavourings.
Chaga tea has long been recognized for its natural therapeutic effects in terms of strengthening immunity, fighting infections and relieving pain. Due to its anti-inflammatory and balancing effects on the body, chaga is frequently taken in combination with other teas like turmeric or ashwagandha to strengthen immune functioning and support overall wellness.
Chaga can boost immune functioning through beta-D-Glucans, water-soluble compounds which stimulate white blood cell production to fight off infections. Furthermore, it has also been demonstrated that chaga helps improve detoxification processes while supporting liver health and combating oxidative stress.
Chaga not only boasts immune-enhancing benefits, but is also considered an adaptogen, meaning that it helps balance and regulate the body’s natural functions. Studies have demonstrated its ability to lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels while providing natural energy sources. Furthermore, its powerful antioxidant properties rank amongst the highest on ORAC scale.
Make your own Chaga Tea by boiling some hot water in a cup, and allowing it to steep for four to five minutes before adding sweetener of choice and sipping! Unlike many other teas, Chaga does not become bitter after oversteeping; to spice it up further you could try adding ginger or cinnamon as these spices have strong immune-enhancing properties that could further add depth.
Moon Juice and Harney & Sons offer ready-made chaga tea that contains both rooibos tea extract and dried chaga chunks for you to add into your cup – caffeine free, organic teas that were harvested consciously for both your wellbeing and that of our planet’s wellbeing.
3. Lion’s Mane
Mushrooms have long been used in folklore, healing traditions, and modern cuisine. Recently they’ve also become trendy ingredients in functional food products; many people drink mushroom tea as a means of improving immunity, mental clarity and inflammation reduction.
Mushroom teas typically consist of adaptogenic mushrooms such as chaga, reishi or lion’s mane. Adaptogenic mushrooms have long been touted to aid the body’s stress response and promote relaxation; however, more research needs to be conducted before these claims can be verified. In addition to improving immune function and mood regulation, mushroom tea can provide many other health benefits, including improving digestion and blood sugar regulation; they could even lower cholesterol levels while helping reduce heart disease risk.
Lion’s mane mushroom teas are among the most beloved mushroom offerings on the market. Commonly sold under its trade name of “hericium erinaceus,” this mushroom originates in Asia where it has long been utilized as both food and medicine. As it grows on dead or injured trees, its unique lifecycle involves digesting decomposing organic matter while simultaneously taking nourishment from living organisms through parasitism.
Scientists have identified numerous chemicals found in lion’s mane that offer potential advantages, including beta-glucan polysaccharides which strengthen immunity and have antitumor activity, triterpenes which improve digestion, and erinacines and hericenones which stimulate nerve growth factor to combat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Lion’s mane is known for its neuroprotective and nerve support properties, making it an excellent natural antidiabetic and supporting nervous system health. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated its efficacy at alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms as well as increasing memory retention while relieving inflammation and oxidative stress.
While more research needs to be conducted, preliminary evidence indicates that lion’s mane may help treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It should be remembered that ADHD can have multiple underlying causes; any supplement use should be carefully evaluated by healthcare providers such as registered dietitian nutritionists or pharmacists before being used as part of any treatment strategy.
4. Cordyceps
Cordyceps mushrooms stand out from their culinary counterparts with their potential health benefits, unlike portobellos or shiitakes that are typically enjoyed for their flavor alone. Cordyceps is considered an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress naturally by increasing physical endurance, mental focus, energy boosts, anti-aging benefits and has anti-oxidative qualities. Cordycepin, the active ingredient most responsible for increasing oxygen uptake and circulation increases, leading to improved energy and stamina for greater overall energy and stamina for longer.
Although many are familiar with cordyceps, not everyone knows there are over 750 species within its genus. Cordyceps sinensis is harvested for medicinal use in China and used in teas and supplements due to its natural energy-boosting benefits.
Pre and post exercise, this popular fungus can help promote ATP production, reduce fatigue, and increase stamina, all key components for improving athletic performance. Furthermore, studies have demonstrated its ability to boost immune function and inhibit cancer cell growth – not to mention that its cultivation also shows antidiabetic properties in mice (Lo et al. 2004).
These unique fungi won’t be found in your grocery store produce section; rather, they’re often sold dehydrated and reconstitute for use in teas or supplements. Some brands sell whole specimens like you would find with regular mushrooms – though these rare purchases usually happen outside the US. If you do happen upon any in a shop though, prepare to pay up: “high-quality” specimens can cost six figures while lesser quality ones might get ground into powder for supplement use or other uses.
If harvesting your own mushrooms for tea seems too tedious or daunting of an undertaking, there are numerous companies that provide ready-made blends containing these ingredients. One popular blend is Shroom Stack from Transparent Labs which contains chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps; as well as travel-friendly Mushroom Elixir Sticks from them. But keep in mind that any supplement is most effective when taken regularly over an extended period.