The Magic of Mushrooms: The Right Ones Can Play a Part in Your Fitness Regimen
Lion’s mane mushrooms
Did you know mushrooms are more closely related to animals than they are to plants?
Animals and fungi share a common ancestor that differentiated from plants more than a billion years ago. Unlike plants that use photosynthesis to make their own food, fungi absorb nutrients from their environment. They also “breathe” in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide like we do.
Mushrooms are a fascinating organism. More than 5 million fungal species are thought to exist. Neither plant nor animal. Some can make you hallucinate. Others can boost communication within the brain. Others still can reduce inflammation. There is a mushroom in Oregon that is supposedly the largest and oldest living organism on the planet and is slowly devouring a forest.
Fungal spores can survive in the vacuum and radiation of space. Truly amazing things (and kind of scary). Humans have been utilizing mushrooms to improve their health for thousands of years. Now more than ever, we are starting to recognize the remarkable versatility of mushrooms and their wide range of benefits.
One species of mushroom that I use as a supplement in my protein shake is the Cordyceps mushroom. It has been scientifically proven to increase energy production and enhance aerobic capacity and respiratory function.
Another mushroom that I utilize, this time in my pre-workout drink, is lion’s mane. Lion’s mane is full of antioxidants and neuroprotective phytonutrients. It aids in healthy brain function and focus. It increases nerve-tissue growth and supports motor function. The Japanese call lion’s mane Yamabushitake, after the worshipping Buddhist monks known as the Shugendō. These monks used lion’s mane tea to increase their ability to concentrate during meditation.
Those are just two of the mushrooms that I use daily, but you’ve probably heard of many others like reishi for immunomodulation and sleep, shitake for cardiovascular health, or the good old button mushroom for its excellent levels of vitamin D. There are many, many mushrooms that have been lauded for thousands of years for their health benefits.
There are many ways to incorporate mushrooms into your life. But before you go scavenging in the forest, you should know an estimated 50% of all known mushrooms are edible; however, 20% can make humans sick, and 1% are fatal. The death cap mushroom is one of the deadliest organisms on Earth. As radio host Bill Ballance said, “Falling in love is like eating mushrooms, you never know if it’s the real thing until it’s too late.”
You can find the healthy, beneficial mushrooms right here in Stone Harbor at the local farmers market. Sometimes I like to enjoy a delicious mocha-chaga-ccino at one of the local coffee shops. Chaga is another mushroom high in antioxidants, supports digestion and the immune system, and modulates inflammation. I say we take full advantage of all the benefits mushrooms have to offer.
