How Functional Mushrooms Can Boost Your Mood

Growing up, the only types of mushrooms we knew about were the kind we picked off our pizza or the ones found growing in the backyard which we were explicitly told NOT to eat. Today, it feels as though there are a plethora of options, each offering a very unique set of purposes. To help us better understand the role of functional mushrooms, we've invited Kate Taylor Martin, holistic nutrionist & founder, nutbar, to properly guide us down the rabbit hole.

"As a category, [functional] mushrooms can have an incredible impact on our overall health and well-being. They have the ability to balance and restore our immune system, regulate our blood sugar levels and stress levels and help with many other physical, emotional and mental ailments," says Kate. "Another interesting fact about [functional] mushrooms is that they have a synergistic effect: the more we take, the more potent they are in combination with one another."

When it comes down to which mushrooms to look for, Kate suggest the 4 "big ones":

Chaga – the “king” of the medicinal mushroom family, great for overall feelings of vitality and well-being and is extremely high in antioxidants.

Reishi – the “queen” of the medicinal mushroom family, known as a potent adaptogen meaning it helps the body’s natural ability to adapt to stress.

Cordyceps – great for providing a natural energy kick

Lion’s Mane – a potent nootropic meaning it supports cognitive health, memory, learning and concentration.

And as Kate explains, incorporating them into your daily routine couldn't be more simple. "I love taking them in liquid form so I can add [drops] into my morning water or matcha to ensure I’ve gotten them first thing." Rainbo makes a great selection of tinctures for this purpose and even made a mushroom maple syrup you could use to elevate a bowl of ice cream. "They have a great '11:11 blend' -- and it’s like nature’s multivitamin."