magic mushrooms uk: 7 types and their health benefits
Brimming with potent bioactive compounds, medicinal magic mushrooms uk offer a range of benefits for your physical and mental health. Find out how to use these fabulous fungi to improve your wellbeing…
Much more than a tasty addition to your breakfast omelette, mushrooms pack a potent punch as a natural way to boost your health and wellbeing. Benefits of medicinal mushrooms include improving mood, gut health and immune support.
buy here to buy magic mushrooms uk
magic mushrooms uk: 7 types and their health benefits
Brimming with potent bioactive compounds, medicinal magic mushrooms uk offer a range of benefits for your physical and mental health. Find out how to use these fabulous fungi to improve your wellbeing…
Much more than a tasty addition to your breakfast omelette, mushrooms pack a potent punch as a natural way to boost your health and wellbeing. Benefits of medicinal mushrooms include improving mood, gut health and immune support.
Surprisingly, mushrooms aren’t plants but are actually fungi, a scientific classification which includes yeast and mould. There are more than 10,000 known types of mushrooms, with approximately 270 species flagged as potentially useful for health.
Nothing to do with psychoactive ‘magic mushrooms’, medicinal fungi are an increasingly popular food supplement, usually taken in powder form for health benefits. So, what’s all the fuss about?
How healthy are magic mushrooms uk?
‘magic mushrooms uk are nutrient-rich, containing all nine essential amino acids, B and D vitamins, plus minerals such as zinc, potassium and magnesium, as well as prebiotic fibre to improve your gut microbiota,’ says Hania Opienski, a mycotherapy specialist at mushroom bioscience company,
Mycotherapy is the use of mushroom compounds for health. Although a newly growing trend in the UK, certain types of mushrooms have been used as health-boosters in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Medicinal mushrooms include reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, chaga and shiitake.
Now, science is decoding the specific compounds contained within them, which can have powerful immune-supporting, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on your body.
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk contain beta-D-glucans
‘A key bioactive compound is beta-glucan, a soluble fibre polysaccharide also found in oats and seaweed. But medicinal mushrooms contain beta-D-glucans, which are more easily utilised by your body. Beta-D-glucans are biological response modifiers, meaning they maintain balance in your body and can help calm or increase your immune response, depending upon what your body needs,’ says Opienski.
Terpenes are found in medicinal magic mushrooms uk
Another powerhouse mushroom compound is terpene, found in lab tests to protect the liver, lower cholesterol and blood sugar, be antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
‘Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give scent to fruit and veg. They act on your body’s endocannabinoid system as natural pain and inflammation reducers. So, terpenes in medicinal mushrooms may reduce the symptoms of chronic disease by dampening down inflammation. In the same way, they can aid recovery from injury or muscle recovery after exercise,’ says Opiensk
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk are adaptogens
True multi-taskers, medical mushrooms are also adaptogens, which means they help your body maintain homeostasis (balance) for optimal health. ‘Mushroom adaptogens modulate your stress response. Stress drives inflammation so can make other conditions worse, as well as increasing blood sugar. Adaptogens calm your stress response to help your body cope with stress,’ says Opienski.
The mushrooms cordyceps, reishi and lion’s mane are particularly powerful adaptogens. Cordyceps extract significantly reduced fatigue and stress in a lab test, while another scientific trial found lion’s mane reduced inflammatory responses linked to stress and had an antidepressant-like effect. Reishi extract reduced stress-induced brain inflammation, in a lab test.
Discover the unique benefits of different types of medicinal mushrooms in the chart below…
Health benefits of different medicinal magic mushrooms uk
Best medicinal mushroom for inflammation: magic mushrooms uk
Carbs
One cup of raw mushrooms contains 2.3 grams of carbohydrates. Mushrooms are also a good source of fiber, particularly the soluble fiber beta-glucan.3
Mushrooms have a naturally low glycemic index, which means that they are presumed to have little negative effect on blood glucose or insulin response due to their low carbohydrate content. There is not sufficient, conclusive evidence on the use of mushrooms for diabetes, however.4
Fats
Mushrooms have only a minuscule amount of fat, most of which is polyunsaturated fat. As a result, mushrooms are considered a heart-healthy food choice.
Protein
Mushrooms provide a small amount of protein at 2.2 grams per cup, which represents just a portion of your daily needs. So be sure to eat protein-rich foods such as legumes, nuts, dairy, meat, or fish as part of a balanced diet.
Vitamins and Minerals
Mushrooms are full of micronutrients. They are a good source of copper, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Copper assists in energy production and iron utilization. Potassium is important for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, is required for proper nerve and muscle conduction, and may help to lower blood pressure.6
Iron is a mineral needed for the synthesis of hemoglobin, DNA, amino acids, neurotransmitters, and certain hormones.7 Mushrooms also contain niacin (vitamin B3) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). B vitamins assist in the release of energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Calories
One cup of raw mushrooms contains just 15 calories. That makes this a low-calorie food, especially since most people don’t eat a full cup at one time
Mushrooms are a low-calorie food that provide the body with several nutrients, such as copper, potassium, iron, and a couple of B vitamins.
Health Benefits of magic mushrooms uk
A total of 126 health-related functions are thought to be produced by medicinal mushrooms and fungi.8 Research is ongoing about the potential for using mushrooms to improve health and to prevent or manage health conditions.9
In addition to the many vitamins and minerals mushrooms contain, they have also been found to have high levels of some antioxidant compounds. These compounds can be beneficial to health.10
Fights Cell Damage
Antioxidants have been shown to fight oxidative stress and inflammation, which contribute to signs of aging and to the development of chronic diseases. Several varieties of mushrooms, such as porcini and white button mushrooms, are high in the antioxidants glutathione and ergothioneine, which are not found in many other plant foods.11
Improves Brain Function
Consuming mushrooms may help slow the cognitive decline that comes with aging, according to both the antioxidant research above and a separate study of over 600 people aged 60 and over.12
Supports Bone Health
Some mushrooms sold in stores have been treated with UV light to increase their vitamin D stores. These treated mushrooms are one of the best sources of vitamin D.13 Vitamin D is important for healthy bones. Eating these mushrooms has the same benefit as getting vitamin D from supplements or from sun exposure.14
Normally, mushrooms are not a good source of vitamin D. The exception is wild mushrooms, but eating them can be risky if you are unable to determine which are edible and which are toxic.
Lowers Diabetes Risk
Mushrooms are a good source of fiber. Consuming dietary fiber has many health benefits, including a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.15 A 2020 study adds that the polysaccharides in mushrooms also help protect against diabetes by reducing oxidative stress.16
Reduces Depression
After reviewing results of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers noted that people who consumed mushrooms had a reduced risk of having depression.17 This effect appears to be present regardless of the amount of mushrooms consumed.
Reishi mushroom is a balm for high-stress situations, insomnia, low mood and anxiety, by modulating the nervous system, lowering cortisol and regulating insulin. Reishi has the widest range of health benefits, with over 400 active compounds. It supports healthy immune and liver function, and balances sex hormones.
Best medicinal magic mushrooms uk for brain health: lion’s mane mushroom
Lion’s mane mushroom stimulates braincell growth due to active compounds hericenone and erinacine, and it reduced symptoms of memory loss in several lab studies. It also regenerates nerves in the gut-brain axis, regulating the nervous system and healing the gut. Good for treating leaky gut and IBS.
Best medicinal magic mushrooms uk for heart health: shiitake mushroom
Shiitake mushroom contains cholesterol-lowering compounds, eritadenine, sterols and natural statin lentinan, plus it helps lower blood pressure and is anti-inflammatory. In addition, it is antibacterial and anti-fungal so it can help in clearing imbalances that are caused by bacteria or yeast fungus in the gut.
Best medicinal magic mushrooms uk for immune health: Royal Sun Agaricus mushroom
The Royal Sun Agaricus mushroom has the highest concentration of beta-glucans, so it’s impressively immune system-supporting. If you are always picking up coughs and colds, or if you have a chronic infection, this is for you. It calms your immune response so it’s also good for soothing allergies, internal irritation, and eczema.
Best medicinal mushroom for boosting metabolism: maitake mushroom
The maitake mushroom is a metabolic balancer containing metalloproteins which help healthy metabolic function, such as regulating blood sugars, blood lipids(including cholesterol) and blood pressure. Can be useful for weight management or insulin resistance. Animal studies show benefits for type 2 diabetes.
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk benefits chart
How to take medicinal magic mushrooms uk
The bit of the mushroom you put on your pizza is called the fruiting body. This is the most potent part of the fungus. So, you should look for supplements containing the fruiting body.
Other parts, such as the mycelium (roots) or spores (seeds) also contain beneficial compounds but often to a lesser extent. The biggest benefit comes when you eat the whole mushroom. So, check that your supplement contains all parts of the mushroom.
Combine the types of mushroom you consume
‘Mushrooms work in synergy with each other, meaning you get better health benefits from the active compounds by taking different mushrooms at the same time. Use a mushroom blend product or mix and match your own combination with single mushroom supplements,’ says Opienski.
Medicinal mushrooms dosage guide
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk are dose-dependent, meaning if you are in good health with a healthy body weight, a lower dose will benefit you. But if you have a chronic condition, such as asthma, diabetes or arthritis, or you have a higher bodyweight, you may need a higher dose to see benefits.
‘To maintain good health, 1,000mg daily of whole mushroom powder is enough to benefit. But for a therapeutic purpose, use an extract rather than a whole powder. Extracts are much more powerful than whole powders as the less active ingredients, such as insoluble fibre and protein, are removed. So, the active compounds are more concentrated. Try one or two 500mg extract capsules per day for a few weeks,’ says Opienski.
Choosing a medicinal magic mushrooms uk supplement
When selecting supplements, look for exact amounts of active compounds, such as beta-glucans and terpenes, listed by weight on the pack. If only the total polysaccharide percentage is listed, you don’t know how much of that is starch as opposed to active compounds.
Finally, check how the mushrooms were grown as this affects the quality of your supplement. ‘Mushrooms absorb everything in their environment. If grown in a nutrient-rich environment, they absorb lots of nutrients, but if grown on a grain they absorb lots of sugars from that grain. This is why products can have a high polysaccharide count but not contain much active beta-glucan. Choose organic brands as mushrooms absorb heavy metals or pesticides,’ says Opienski.
Surprisingly, mushrooms aren’t plants but are actually fungi, a scientific classification which includes yeast and mould. There are more than 10,000 known types of mushrooms, with approximately 270 species flagged as potentially useful for health.
Nothing to do with psychoactive ‘magic mushrooms’, medicinal fungi are an increasingly popular food supplement, usually taken in powder form for health benefits. So, what’s all the fuss about?
How healthy are magic mushrooms uk?
‘magic mushrooms uk are nutrient-rich, containing all nine essential amino acids, B and D vitamins, plus minerals such as zinc, potassium and magnesium, as well as prebiotic fibre to improve your gut microbiota,’ says Hania Opienski, a mycotherapy specialist at mushroom bioscience company,
Mycotherapy is the use of mushroom compounds for health. Although a newly growing trend in the UK, certain types of mushrooms have been used as health-boosters in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Medicinal mushrooms include reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, chaga and shiitake.
Now, science is decoding the specific compounds contained within them, which can have powerful immune-supporting, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on your body.
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk contain beta-D-glucans
‘A key bioactive compound is beta-glucan, a soluble fibre polysaccharide also found in oats and seaweed. But medicinal mushrooms contain beta-D-glucans, which are more easily utilised by your body. Beta-D-glucans are biological response modifiers, meaning they maintain balance in your body and can help calm or increase your immune response, depending upon what your body needs,’ says Opienski.
Terpenes are found in medicinal magic mushrooms uk
Another powerhouse mushroom compound is terpene, found in lab tests to protect the liver, lower cholesterol and blood sugar, be antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
‘Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give scent to fruit and veg. They act on your body’s endocannabinoid system as natural pain and inflammation reducers. So, terpenes in medicinal mushrooms may reduce the symptoms of chronic disease by dampening down inflammation. In the same way, they can aid recovery from injury or muscle recovery after exercise,’ says Opiensk
.
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk are adaptogens
True multi-taskers, medical mushrooms are also adaptogens, which means they help your body maintain homeostasis (balance) for optimal health. ‘Mushroom adaptogens modulate your stress response. Stress drives inflammation so can make other conditions worse, as well as increasing blood sugar. Adaptogens calm your stress response to help your body cope with stress,’ says Opienski.
The mushrooms cordyceps, reishi and lion’s mane are particularly powerful adaptogens. Cordyceps extract significantly reduced fatigue and stress in a lab test, while another scientific trial found lion’s mane reduced inflammatory responses linked to stress and had an antidepressant-like effect. Reishi extract reduced stress-induced brain inflammation, in a lab test.
Discover the unique benefits of different types of medicinal mushrooms in the chart below…
Health benefits of different medicinal magic mushrooms uk
Best medicinal mushroom for inflammation: magic mushrooms uk
Carbs
One cup of raw mushrooms contains 2.3 grams of carbohydrates. Mushrooms are also a good source of fiber, particularly the soluble fiber beta-glucan.3
Mushrooms have a naturally low glycemic index, which means that they are presumed to have little negative effect on blood glucose or insulin response due to their low carbohydrate content. There is not sufficient, conclusive evidence on the use of mushrooms for diabetes, however.4
Fats
Mushrooms have only a minuscule amount of fat, most of which is polyunsaturated fat. As a result, mushrooms are considered a heart-healthy food choice.
Protein
Mushrooms provide a small amount of protein at 2.2 grams per cup, which represents just a portion of your daily needs. So be sure to eat protein-rich foods such as legumes, nuts, dairy, meat, or fish as part of a balanced diet.
Vitamins and Minerals
Mushrooms are full of micronutrients. They are a good source of copper, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Copper assists in energy production and iron utilization. Potassium is important for maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, is required for proper nerve and muscle conduction, and may help to lower blood pressure.6
Iron is a mineral needed for the synthesis of hemoglobin, DNA, amino acids, neurotransmitters, and certain hormones.7 Mushrooms also contain niacin (vitamin B3) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). B vitamins assist in the release of energy from carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
Calories
One cup of raw mushrooms contains just 15 calories. That makes this a low-calorie food, especially since most people don’t eat a full cup at one time
Mushrooms are a low-calorie food that provide the body with several nutrients, such as copper, potassium, iron, and a couple of B vitamins.
Health Benefits of magic mushrooms uk
A total of 126 health-related functions are thought to be produced by medicinal mushrooms and fungi.8 Research is ongoing about the potential for using mushrooms to improve health and to prevent or manage health conditions.9
In addition to the many vitamins and minerals mushrooms contain, they have also been found to have high levels of some antioxidant compounds. These compounds can be beneficial to health.10
Fights Cell Damage
Antioxidants have been shown to fight oxidative stress and inflammation, which contribute to signs of aging and to the development of chronic diseases. Several varieties of mushrooms, such as porcini and white button mushrooms, are high in the antioxidants glutathione and ergothioneine, which are not found in many other plant foods.11
Improves Brain Function
Consuming mushrooms may help slow the cognitive decline that comes with aging, according to both the antioxidant research above and a separate study of over 600 people aged 60 and over.12
Supports Bone Health
Some mushrooms sold in stores have been treated with UV light to increase their vitamin D stores. These treated mushrooms are one of the best sources of vitamin D.13 Vitamin D is important for healthy bones. Eating these mushrooms has the same benefit as getting vitamin D from supplements or from sun exposure.14
Normally, mushrooms are not a good source of vitamin D. The exception is wild mushrooms, but eating them can be risky if you are unable to determine which are edible and which are toxic.
Lowers Diabetes Risk
Mushrooms are a good source of fiber. Consuming dietary fiber has many health benefits, including a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.15 A 2020 study adds that the polysaccharides in mushrooms also help protect against diabetes by reducing oxidative stress.16
Reduces Depression
After reviewing results of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers noted that people who consumed mushrooms had a reduced risk of having depression.17 This effect appears to be present regardless of the amount of mushrooms consumed.
Reishi mushroom is a balm for high-stress situations, insomnia, low mood and anxiety, by modulating the nervous system, lowering cortisol and regulating insulin. Reishi has the widest range of health benefits, with over 400 active compounds. It supports healthy immune and liver function, and balances sex hormones.
Best medicinal magic mushrooms uk for brain health: lion’s mane mushroom
Lion’s mane mushroom stimulates braincell growth due to active compounds hericenone and erinacine, and it reduced symptoms of memory loss in several lab studies. It also regenerates nerves in the gut-brain axis, regulating the nervous system and healing the gut. Good for treating leaky gut and IBS.
Best medicinal magic mushrooms uk for heart health: shiitake mushroom
Shiitake mushroom contains cholesterol-lowering compounds, eritadenine, sterols and natural statin lentinan, plus it helps lower blood pressure and is anti-inflammatory. In addition, it is antibacterial and anti-fungal so it can help in clearing imbalances that are caused by bacteria or yeast fungus in the gut.
Best medicinal magic mushrooms uk for immune health: Royal Sun Agaricus mushroom
The Royal Sun Agaricus mushroom has the highest concentration of beta-glucans, so it’s impressively immune system-supporting. If you are always picking up coughs and colds, or if you have a chronic infection, this is for you. It calms your immune response so it’s also good for soothing allergies, internal irritation, and eczema.
Best medicinal mushroom for boosting metabolism: maitake mushroom
The maitake mushroom is a metabolic balancer containing metalloproteins which help healthy metabolic function, such as regulating blood sugars, blood lipids(including cholesterol) and blood pressure. Can be useful for weight management or insulin resistance. Animal studies show benefits for type 2 diabetes.
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk benefits chart
How to take medicinal magic mushrooms uk
The bit of the mushroom you put on your pizza is called the fruiting body. This is the most potent part of the fungus. So, you should look for supplements containing the fruiting body.
Other parts, such as the mycelium (roots) or spores (seeds) also contain beneficial compounds but often to a lesser extent. The biggest benefit comes when you eat the whole mushroom. So, check that your supplement contains all parts of the mushroom.
Combine the types of mushroom you consume
‘Mushrooms work in synergy with each other, meaning you get better health benefits from the active compounds by taking different mushrooms at the same time. Use a mushroom blend product or mix and match your own combination with single mushroom supplements,’ says Opienski.
Medicinal mushrooms dosage guide
Medicinal magic mushrooms uk are dose-dependent, meaning if you are in good health with a healthy body weight, a lower dose will benefit you. But if you have a chronic condition, such as asthma, diabetes or arthritis, or you have a higher bodyweight, you may need a higher dose to see benefits.
‘To maintain good health, 1,000mg daily of whole mushroom powder is enough to benefit. But for a therapeutic purpose, use an extract rather than a whole powder. Extracts are much more powerful than whole powders as the less active ingredients, such as insoluble fibre and protein, are removed. So, the active compounds are more concentrated. Try one or two 500mg extract capsules per day for a few weeks,’ says Opienski.
Choosing a medicinal magic mushrooms uk supplement
When selecting supplements, look for exact amounts of active compounds, such as beta-glucans and terpenes, listed by weight on the pack. If only the total polysaccharide percentage is listed, you don’t know how much of that is starch as opposed to active compounds.
Finally, check how the mushrooms were grown as this affects the quality of your supplement. ‘Mushrooms absorb everything in their environment. If grown in a nutrient-rich environment, they absorb lots of nutrients, but if grown on a grain they absorb lots of sugars from that grain. This is why products can have a high polysaccharide count but not contain much active beta-glucan. Choose organic brands as mushrooms absorb heavy metals or pesticides,’ says Opienski.