Mushroom teas, botanical/herbal beverages made up of functional mushrooms combined with other ingredients for an enjoyable drinking experience, can come as loose leaf or pre-portioned tea bags and may be consumed either hot or cold.

Mushroom teas have been touted as an effective way to boost energy, cognitive function and even slow aging, prompting many registered dietitians and experts to discuss what’s behind their increasing popularity. We spoke with registered dietitians and experts to explore this phenomenon further.

Reishi

Reishi mushrooms (ganoderma or lingzhi mushrooms), commonly referred to as the queen of all mushrooms and often called “mushroom of immortality”, have long been used in Chinese traditions for their potential health benefits. Today, more advanced studies are also investigating them for possible applications.

Reishi can act as an adaptogen, or substance that helps the body respond and handle stress more effectively. Reishi is believed to balance immunity, help alleviate anxiety and stress levels, promote restful sleep patterns, decrease fatigue, increase energy levels and boost overall mood. Reishi may even help combat cancer and other diseases by killing tumor cells before their spread in the body.

Reducing inflammation and improving cellular health have long been considered two key aims of yoga practice, with its anti-inflammatory effects linked to reduced oxidative stress levels and lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body. Furthermore, its beta-glucan content could activate and stimulate natural defense mechanisms like macrophages, natural killer cells and T-lymphocytes for improved immune function.

Reishi may contain antioxidant properties that could protect against free radicals that damage cells and lead to age and disease. A study demonstrated the positive benefits of Reishi for women suffering from fibromyalgia symptoms by decreasing symptoms while improving mood overall.

Reishi can be purchased in capsule, liquid and powder forms. As with any supplementation program, it’s advisable to consult your healthcare provider prior to adding this herb into your routine; starting off low dose and gradually increasing over time is advised. Reishi may help slow blood clotting while potentially interfering with blood-thinning medications like warfarin or heparin.

Chaga

Chaga is considered a super food due to its anti-ageing, antioxidant, inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. Packed with Vitamin D, B Vitamin, calcium, potassium, copper selenium zinc iron magnesium as well as betulinic acid polysacharides phenolic acids it also boasts antibacterial, fungal and viral activities – it truly deserves super food status status!

Most commonly, people take chaga as a tea; a decoction made by simmering blocks of the plant in several quarts of water until the volume has decreased, which releases its water-soluble compounds. Chaga can also be roasted, ground into powder or taken as a tincture; for maximum potency harvest it during winter when harvesting begins.

Chaga tea should be enjoyed when properly prepared; its smooth and balanced flavour without any bitter or sour undertones is much like that of cacao but not quite as sweet, while its neutrality echoes that of rooibos or mate tea without caffeine, giving way to the robust body of dark roast coffee without its acidity.

Studies suggest that Chaga may help slow tumor growth and prevent cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, reducing inflammation, increasing energy metabolism in cells, and decreasing energy costs in general. Chaga also exhibits cytotoxic properties which cause cancer cells to die by dismantling their mitochondria and cell structures.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s Mane mushroom is an attractive and delectable edible mushroom often consumed as a dietary supplement. Found throughout nature as both saprotrophs (digesting decomposing organic matter) and parasites (taking nourishment from living organisms), Lion’s Manes can be found growing on dead trees, logs or healthy plants in the wild, making this mushroom an excellent addition to soups either fresh or dried. With nootropic properties that support nerve health, enhance immune function and decrease stress, they make an ideal option for anyone wanting to enhance their mental performance!

Animal studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Lion’s Mane to aid nerve regeneration and protect against degeneration and neuronal damage. Furthermore, its constituent beta-glucans stimulate our innate immune response while its hericenones and erinacines activate Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) production – keeping brain pathways youthfully functional while keeping it young and healthy.

Lion’s Mane has recently been shown in double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials to have a beneficial impact on cognitive function in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment – often seen as the precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. According to this research, those taking Lion’s Mane had significantly better mental functioning compared with those who took placebo. Plus, these improvements continued even after discontinuing using Lion’s Mane.

Research has also demonstrated the therapeutic value of Lion’s Mane as an anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic remedy, helping improve blood sugar levels in those living with diabetes and potentially slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease by inhibiting neurodegeneration. Furthermore, Lion’s Mane can increase production of serotonin which acts as a mood enhancer.

Lingzhi

Ganoderma lucidum, commonly referred to in China as “lingzhi,” is an edible woody mushroom thought to promote health and longevity. People consume it under the belief that it reduces cancer risk, heart disease risk, immunity enhancement, cholesterol reduction, as well as lowering. While widely consumed as traditional medicine medicine or available as a dietary supplement; objective scientific validation for such claims remains limited.

This study is the first of its kind to investigate the effect of standardised Lingzhi extract on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in healthy subjects. A Lingzhi extract was prepared by extracting hot water-extracted Lingzhi leaves with hot water followed by extraction with hot water followed by ethanol concentration and vacuum drying; then the powder produced was encapsulated for use in this research study; each batch was evaluated for batch-to-batch consistency before HPLC analysis of two active ingredients (adenosine and ganoderic acid A) was performed to ensure quality.

At multiple small, short term placebo controlled trials of Lingzhi supplements there were no significant serum aminotransferase elevations observed and no reports of clinically apparent liver injury or jaundice. However, several cases of hepatotoxicity have been linked with Reishi and Lingzhi mushroom consumption, raising concerns that herbal and dietary supplements might contribute to overall population hepatotoxicity (Reference Lai, Chan and Tang8).

The purpose of the present double-blind cross-over intervention study was to evaluate the effects of four weeks of Lingzhi supplementation on biomarkers related to antioxidant status, CHD risk, DNA damage and inflammation as well as lymphocyte subsets and lipid metabolism. Results demonstrated that supplementation increased antioxidant capacity in plasma and urine significantly while decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels while having no impact on blood pressure; there was also evidence of decreased oxidative stress and inflammation within this group.

Cordyceps

Cordyceps, also dubbed the “zombie fungus” due to its parasitic nature, is a non-poisonous fungus that forms long tendrils within its host caterpillar (Danonemyces hepialid). When harvested from these caterpillars for medicinal use, researchers believe it may provide additional health benefits including improved energy, endurance, libido, and sexual function.

Cordyceps taii polysaccharides improve immune system function while offering antioxidant protection, with studies conducted on mice revealing how administration of Cordyceps taii polysaccharides significantly raised antioxidant levels of cells in their bodies, leading to better immune response and reduced oxidative stress levels.

Cordyceps fungus provides another significant health advantage by alleviating fatigue. Fatigue is an all too familiar problem that can have severe implications on our overall wellbeing, even leading to death through overwork in Japan (karoshi). Research shows that Cordyceps helps decrease physical fatigue by increasing oxygen uptake during exercise sessions in both lungs and heart, significantly lessening physical fatigue levels and helping ward off potential overwork-related deaths.

Additionally, this fungus may help improve sleep and sexual function as well as prolong life, prevent neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, boost sperm production and contains promising bioactive compounds such as adenosine beta-glucans and cordycepin.

Further studies are required before we can confirm these claims; however, recent research indicates that taking this herb for three weeks can significantly increase aerobic capacity and help you exercise for longer.