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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on May 23, 2025
What exactly are functional mushrooms and is there really any benefit to them?
No, I’m not talking about psychotropic “magic” mushrooms. There are no groovy effects here.
I mean those with a non-recreational health benefit.
As a food, mushrooms have proven benefits. But what about their adaptogenic benefits? Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and others have been hitting viral news lately.
From mushroom supplements to mushroom coffee, elixirs, and tinctures. These so called functional mushrooms are everywhere.
But is there any truth behind the benefits?
A search on the web proves mixed results.
Adaptogens are the big buzz word. But what exactly does that mean?
According to HealthLine, an adaptogen is “a substance that works to reduce the negative effects of stress on the body.” These natural chemical help increase the body’s resistance to physical, chemical, and biological stress.
When the body is under stress, glucocorticoids, like cortisol, are released. These steroid hormones activate the stress response.
Fortunately, our bodies do not need to respond to stress like our ancestors did. While this response may have helped us get away from dangerous situations, it impacts our lifespan and can damage the body in ways we are still discovering.
Adaptogens allegedly promote stability in the body and help mediate the stress response. Thus, preventing the formation of those steroid hormones.
Researchers have discovered that along with mushrooms, certain plants have also shown adaptogenic properties.
With mushrooms being so popular, let’s explore that option.
The top three functional mushrooms on the market are Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, and Reishi.
Cordyceps is a type of fungus touted for its potential to reduce the effects of stress on the body. Who doesn’t need that?
Most research has been done on rodents. But the results are promising. One study measured stress-related markers in rodents after stress-inducing activities. In this case, “forced swimming.” Those stress-related markers were reduced in those animals given Cordyceps.
But what about in humans?
While more research is needed to better understand how Cordyceps may help the human body adapt to stress, a few human studies have been done that include this adaptogenic mushroom.
A small study looked at the impact taking a combination of Cordyceps and Rhodiola on high altitude training. While improvements in stress response and fatigue levels were observed, compared to a placebo, the contribution of Cordyceps was not clear.
Another study on the physical stress of overtraining administered Cordyceps and Ganoderma. While outcomes were improved, this study too was not clear on which ingredient (or both) contributed to the outcome.
Lion’s Mane is another adaptogenic mushroom that still needs more research on the effects on humans. However, the effects on the brains of rodents show a promising start.
When the body is under stress, the brain produces neurotrophic effects. Often leading to inflammation. Lion’s mane increases dopamine and serotonin and down regulates and impacts of what is known as the neurotropic factor in mouse studies.
Studies have shown that when these factors are out of balance, there is increased susceptibility to stress and depression.
Reishi is another popular mushroom with adaptogenic properties. Again, more human-focused research is needed. But studies have been performed on both rodents and humans.
One study exposed rat subjects to low oxygen. Rats given Reishi mushroom treatment showed reduced stress-induced brain inflammation. An outcome that supports the stance that this mushroom can help protect against nerve damage and memory impairment.
Other rat studies have shown improvement against stress-induced anxiety and exercise-induced damage to muscle cells.
One human study treated male athletes with a combination of reishi and cordyceps. This study showed promising effects on the adrenal glands when athletes are overtrained from cycling.
In addition to the adaptogenic mushrooms above, other mushrooms have gone viral for their impact on the heart and the immune system.
For example, turkey tail has been associated with increased immune system and anti-inflammatory properties.
Shitake and maitake mushrooms have been associated with heart health, reducing cholesterol, and the vitamin D content has shown improvements in bone health.
Chaga has been associated with lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and boosting the immune system.
Not everyone is on board with the promoted health benefits of functional mushrooms.
While some experts disagree about the adaptogenic benefits of these mushrooms, they do indicate that there is still benefit in consuming these fungi.
For example, mushrooms are high in prebiotic fibers. These prebiotic fibers feed our good gut bacteria and help our microbiome thrive. Which provides a whole other list of health benefits. Though consuming the whole mushroom (as opposed to supplements) is the only way to achieve this benefit.
Mushrooms are also great for blood sugar control. This is due to the high level of beta-glucans. A type of soluble fiber also found in oats and barley. This helps to slow digestion and the release of sugar into the bloodstream.
Do you believe functional mushrooms go beyond the nutritional factor? Have you tried functional mushrooms and noticed a marked result?
Personally, I enjoy my daily mushroom coffee for focus. It contains lion’s mane, Ashwagandaha, and Ginkgo, as well as cinnamon and nutmeg. I do find a boost in focus. Particularly as I write the blogs posts that you know and love.
Is it the lion’s mane? Is it the other ingredients. Could it be the coffee alone? Or does this morning brew offer a beneficial placebo effect? Who knows. But it is a tasty beverage. So, I will continue to enjoy it.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Is There Any Truth Behind Functional Mushrooms Health Benefits?,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)