For the last several years, my morning routine has included a (rather large) cup of black coffee. One that would leave me feeling alert, albeit a bit jittery, and that would often have me crashing just hours later. But just when I thought I might give it up altogether, I discovered adaptogenic mushrooms and the countless ways to transform my morning cup of Jo into a magical mug of wellness.
Now before we get into the recipe, it’s important to first understand what I mean when I talk about adaptogenic mushrooms, and furthermore, what I mean when I talk about adaptogens.
WHAT ARE ADAPTOGENS?
Put simply by Tero Isokauppila, the founder of Four Sigmatic and author of the book, “Healing Mushrooms: A Practical and Culinary Guide to Using Mushrooms for Whole Body Health,” adaptogens are “naturally occurring, non-toxic substances that can help protect your body from stress by stabilizing and optimizing a host of physiological functions. Rather than serving a single targeted purpose, an adaptogen will adapt its healing properties to whatever your body specifically needs at a given time in order to restore you to peak functionality.”
Adaptogens are known for protecting the body from stress by adapting and balancing the bodies stress hormones at any given time. And in addition to this positive effect, adaptogens also have been shown to minimize fatigue and improve focus, boost immunity and energy, balance mood and metabolism, fight cancer and promote overall wellness.
Needless to say, adaptogens are incredibly powerful and there’s a reason we’re all clamoring to create elixirs, potions and lattes packed full of these healthful powders.
While there are several popular adaptogens I'd love to talk more about, such as ashwaganda, ginseng, maca or holy basil, today I'm going to focus on adaptogenic mushrooms, their healing abilities and how to source them. Basically, I'm creating the blog post I wish existed when I first started researching!
TOP 10 HEALING MUSHROOMS
SHIITAKE
- have clear, glowing skin, reduce acne
- support your liver
- lower cholesterol
MAITAKE:
- manage weight naturally
- stabalize blood sugar
- improve digestion
TURKEY TAIL:
- treat the common cold and flu
- aid digestion
- help heal infections
ENOKI
- improve skin quality
- optimize immune function
- help with joint pain
TREMELLA
- improve skin
- alleviate asthma or chest congestion
- protect the body against pathogens
REISHI
- sleep better
- stress less
- cure seasonal allergies
- balance hormones
- boost immune system
CORDYCEPS
- perform better
- increase energy, reduce fatigue
- alleviate asthma or bronchitis
- anti-inflammatory
CHAGA
- ward off common cold
- healthy hair and glowing skin
- lower inflammation
LION’S MANE
- improve memory
- boost concentration
- protect your nervous system
OYSTER MUSHROOM
- Relaxation, mood improvement
- Improved skin
- Lower cholesterol
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Dual Extracted Mushroom Powders:
When I first started looking into mushrooms, I thought I’d be thrifty and just purchased dried mushrooms in bulk and grind them into powder myself. But here’s the thing, you can do this, but you will not receive nearly the amount of nutrients and benefits you’ll receive if you just pony up and purchase mushroom powders that have been Dual Extracted. To make a long story short, the process of dual extraction draws out the healthy, beneficial compounds from the fruiting body and makes them bioavailable for you. Just look for labels that clearly state the mushrooms have been dual-extracted.
Fruting Body:
Source mushroom powders that have been dual-extracted from the fruiting body of the mushroom, as the fruiting body is what delivers nutrients and healing benefits.
WHERE TO BUY:
You’ll find mushroom powders readily available online, but many of the providers are not sourcing organically grown mushrooms or are not selling dual-extracted powders. That said, if you think it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Here are three companies I highly recommend and trust:
- $: FOUR SIGMATIC (use code feastandfable to get 10% off your order)
- $$: MOON JUICE (also sold via Amazon)
- $$$: SUN POTION
I currently use and recommend Four Sigmatic’s 10 blend of mushrooms. If you’re looking to try just one type of mushroom to start, I recommend purchasing individual powders from Sun Potion. Moon Juice has some fun blends that are popular as well.
FURTHER READING:
Bulletproof Mushroom Coffee
In addition to adding mushroom powder to my morning coffee, I love to add 1 tsp. of MCT oil and 1/2 Tbsp. of raw coconut butter as well. These healthy fats are derived from coconuts and give my brain and body the fuel it needs for lasting energy. I also have these additions to thank for clearing up my skin and reducing acne scars naturally!
NOTE: Adaptogens are powerful substances and it's always best to start off slow. I recommend starting with 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. of mushroom powders and increasing from there. I've found the best results when I add them to my coffee about 3x a week, and the other days I just add the MCT oil and coconut butter (and maybe some collagen powder).
INGREDIENTS
- 6-8 oz. coffee
- 1 tsp. Bulletproof MCT oil
- 1/2 Tbsp. raw coconut butter
- 1/2 tsp. Four Sigmatic 10 blend Mushroom Powder (or mixture of your preferred mushroom powders)
- 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. raw honey
- pinch of cinnamon
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and frothy. Pour into your mug and enjoy!