Why Choose Mushooms?
Our mushrooms promote vitality, energy and immunity. Mushrooms have been used in eastern cultures for thousands of years. We emphasize the pure whole-food, organic nature of functional mushrooms for use in everyday life. Each species has it own unique benefits naturally aiding wellness, sports performance and recovery. Using the full spectrum life-cycle of the mushroom our products contain all the bioactive compounds in a balance created by nature.
Immersed in Immune Benefits
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of their many functional superfood benefits, specifically for the immune system. In fact, in many cultures, your plate isn’t considered complete without mushrooms. Mushrooms contain two important, immune-boosting compounds: beta-glucans and prebiotics.
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BUILT-IN BETA-GLUCANS
Beta-glucans help activate and potentiate the immune system. Sandra described them as a “key in a lock” — activating your immune system to be battle-ready. All mushrooms contain these important molecules.
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THE POWER OF PREBIOTICS
In addition to beta-glucans, mushrooms act as a prebiotic, or food for probiotics. With new studies emerging on the connection between gut health and brain health, probiotics play a crucial role in overall wellness.
7 Health Benefits of Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a fungus, but that hasn’t deterred most Americans from adding them to meals. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average American eats approximately three pounds of mushrooms a year. And now there’s even more reason to work mushrooms into your diet. Mushrooms bring a savory flavor to meals without adding much fat, calories or sodium. But the health benefits don’t stop there. Researchers continue to uncover how mushrooms can ward off chronic disease and improve your everyday health. Read on to discover seven ways that mushrooms can benefit your health:
1. Decrease the risk of cancer
A review of 17 cancer studies from 1966 to 2020 shows that eating just 18 grams of mushrooms (equal to about a 1/8-cup or two medium mushrooms) a day may lower your risk of cancer by as much as 45%. Mushrooms are a powerful source of ergothioneine, an amino acid and antioxidant that prevents or slows cellular damage.
2. Lower sodium intake
Sodium and high blood pressure often go hand in hand. Sodium causes the body to retain excess fluid, which can increase blood pressure. To decrease your sodium intake, consider adding mushrooms to your meals.
Mushrooms are naturally low in sodium – an entire cup of white button mushrooms has just five milligrams of sodium. They offer savory flavor that reduces the need for added salt to keep your blood pressure low. A study from the Culinary Institute of American and UC Davis shows that swapping half of the meat for mushrooms in a traditional ground beef recipe can maintain flavor while reducing sodium intake by 25%.
3. Promote lower cholesterol
Mushrooms make an excellent substitute for red meat while minimizing calories, fat and cholesterol. Research shows that shiitake mushrooms, in particular, help to keep cholesterol levels low. They contain compounds that inhibit the production of cholesterol, block cholesterol from being absorbed and lower the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood.
4. Protect brain health
Researchers continue to study the effects of eating mushrooms on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI causes memory and language difficulties and is often a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
In a study in Singapore, participants who ate more than two cups of mushrooms a week had a 50% lower risk of developing MCI. Even those who ate only one cup saw some benefit. The mushrooms eaten by participants included golden, oyster, shiitake and white button mushrooms.
5. Provide a source of vitamin D
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium to maintain and build strong bones. Many people rely on supplements or sunshine to get vitamin D, but if you’re looking to get this nutrient through your diet, mushrooms may be the answer. They are the only type of produce that is a source of vitamin D.
Like humans, certain mushrooms exposed to UV light or sunlight can increase their vitamin D amounts. White button, portabella and cremini mushrooms provide the most vitamin D after exposure to UV light or sunlight. To get the recommended daily amount, slice three mushrooms (or one portabella), expose them to sunlight for at least 15 minutes and enjoy. Eating a little more than one cup of maitake mushrooms achieves the same goal without the need for sun exposure.
7. Support a healthy immune system
The microbiome in your gut is home to organisms and bacteria that play a large role in your health and mood. One way to keep your gut healthy is to stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in that space with the use of prebiotics, such as mushrooms.
Research shows that mushroom polysaccharides, their most abundant carbohydrate, stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria. While many foods break down with stomach acid, the polysaccharides found in mushrooms pass through the stomach unchanged and can reach the colon to encourage bacteria growth there.