Did you know that there is an everyday food found in the grocery store that can immediately boost your immunity by up to 300%?
Move over, Airborne!
Mushrooms have the power to kill viruses, bacteria, and yeast, destroy cancer cells, and even assist with nerve regeneration. There are lab studies to prove it.
Here are our top five favorite mushrooms to safeguard your immunity:
Maitake as Your Flu Shot
This mushroom hails from northern Japan and is recognized by the American Cancer Society to boost immunity and to limit and even reverse tumor growth.
Maitakes (and all of these great mushrooms) are high in compounds called beta glucans, which are helpful sugars (polysaccharides) found in the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and algae. Research from NYU’s Langone Medical Center shows beta glucans alter white blood cells and modulate immune function. They have been successfully used in combination with other therapies for high cholesterol, diabetes, Cancer, HIV/AIDS, and to boost immunity in those with chronic fatigue syndrome.
The way beta glucans work is that they stimulate the immune system and activate certain cells and proteins that attack cancer and pathogens that don’t belong in a healthy body. Lab studies in some cell cultures and mice have shown that they appear to slow the growth of cancer.
Why wouldn’t you want to get this food in your diet?
We like to add Maitakes to our Wild Mushroom Pasta or sometimes to chop them finely, sauté them in grass-fed butter or ghee and garlic and eat that alone as a side dish or add it to brown rice or quinoa to make a type of pilaf.
Shiitake as Your Weapon Against Pathogens
This wild mushroom grows throughout China and Japan is widely available in mainstream grocery stores.
Shiitake mushrooms also contain those powerful beta glucans that knock out inflammation, “bad” bacteria, harmful viruses, and attack tumors. They even, ironically, attack the bad kind of fungus in the body.
Even better, Shiitake mushrooms contain B vitamins such as B2, B5, and B6, which provide the body with energy by breaking down fats, carbs, and proteins.
Shiitakes add selenium, copper, manganese, and zinc which makes them well equipped to be your best food defense against oxidative stress, thyroid deregulation, and inflammation.
We use them the same way as Maitakes, plus we always add them to our miso soup.
Reishi to Fight Cancer
Reishi is hard to find in food form but easy to find in high-quality supplement form. It has long been hailed as the mushroom of immortality in the East. While it boosts immune function tremendously, it can be targeted to beat the flu or taken when someone else has the flu to ensure that you or your loved ones don’t pass it on.
Reishi is very therapeutic for lung conditions like asthma and bronchitis.
In combination with other herbs, Reishi mushroom has been successfully used to treat prostate cancer. In fact, the Japanese government officially recognizes the Reishi mushroom as a cancer treatment.
In addition to beta glucans helping the immune cells bind to tumor cells, many experts believe that the compounds in Reishi reduce the number of cancerous cells, making it easier for T-cells and macrophages to rid the body of them.
Another cancer-fighting substance in Reishi is canthaxanthin, which has been studied to slow down the growth of tumors.
Natural News has a great article about the health benefits of Reishi mushrooms. You can read more about that here.
Lion’s Mane for Brain Support
Chinese doctors have long since known the super powers that Lion's Mane Mushrooms contain. Not only are they fantastic immune system boosters, but they also significantly improve brain function and memory.
Those who take Lion's Mane usually notice a positive difference in memory in only one week.
While Lion’s Mane has many medicinal properties, one of the best is its neuroprotective effects. A fantastic article in the Huffington Post goes into a dozen studies published since 1991 about Lion’s Mane stimulating the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a protein that promotes the growth and normal function of nerve cells.
Japanese studies show that cognitive function increases tremendously after 16 weeks of supplementing with 250mg, three times a day.
We have seen amazing lasting benefits using 2000mg 1-2 times a day for three weeks.
While this is the go-to mushroom for brain health, it’s also powerful to combat arthritis because it improves the body’s ability to fight toxicity and prevent the joints from inflammation and infection. Lion’s Mane has been known to relieve GI disorders such as ulcers and cancer of the esophagus, the duodenum, and the stomach.
Cordyceps for Energy, Stamina, and Endurance
Traditional Chinese medicine used Cordyceps for enhancing energy, longevity, and quality of life. Cordyceps can assist in oxygen uptake and delivery as well as the synthesis of ATP – improving mitochondria function (the powerhouse of our cells).
We like combining Cordyceps and Lion’s Mane for a holistic approach to improving metabolism and assisting adrenal fatigue.
Studies show that blends of mushrooms can be stronger than any one mushroom alone, which is why we like to get mushroom powders and mix at least two of them in our smoothies.
When purchasing mushroom powders for supplementation, make sure to focus on quality. To preserve their nutrient super powers, they should be carefully dehydrated at low temperatures, so they retain all of their enzyme activity. We love how Organic Mushroom Nutrition (formerly Mushroom Matrix) does this and also how they use UV light in their processing which increases the already naturally occurring Vitamin D (boosting immunity further).
We have partnered with them for this reason, and they are offering our tribe 10% off any of their products with the coupon code: thewholejourney.
As always, we're a HUGE proponent of letting food be your medicines so don’t forget to add Maitake and Shiitake mushrooms to your grocery list!
I personally had a terrible experience with Shiitake mushrooms however it was mostly my bad because i ate them raw (actually dried) or simply without cooking them WELL. I thought dried Shiitake mushrooms were a delicacy offered by my gourmet grocer 🙂 🙂 There is this condition called Flagellate Dermatitis which apparently affects many people when these eat these specific types of mushrooms without cooking them well. It is an intense rash you get all over your body and does not go away for a couple of weeks. Very disturbing. Anyways, i thought i’d put it out there in case anyone is prone to it. PS, i do not get allergic reactions to any types of foods and this is was my first time.
I also heard that certain types of mushrooms help with plaque in the heart and diabetes is any of these mushrooms part of this or do you KNOW OR HEARD THIS?
Reishi helps with plaque buildup and Maitake helps with blood sugar.
I need to know where I get the Mushrooms In the package so I can add to smoothies I’m in Detroit Michigan And I need to know if you have a book on how to cook and use these Ingredients
Hi Marilyn, You can order the mushroom powder in the video from Organic Mushroom Nutrition (formerly Mushroom Matrix) by clicking the link in the blog or HERE.
My son has told me about these mushrooms for years and as I have become les mobile and less imune I will take on board what he is teaching me!!
Can you take more than one of these at a time in which is best for you immune system and for your joints in your back and neck if you have some ruptured disk. After having a Test done or they injected contrast into my spine and it seem to have attacked my noon system and I had anaphylactic reaction I’m trying to build up my immune system Plus I have for moderate bulging disc in my back to in my neck and one pinch nerves I’m dealing with a lot which of these or all of these would help build my mute system and help with arthritis and rebuilding the strength back in my back and neck please give me informationand does it conflict with any medication thank you Connie
Hi Connie, All of the mushrooms discussed in this blog can be cooked up and eaten together and do not conflict with any medication. Considering your back and neck injuries you may also want to check out this blog on the Healing Powers of Bone broth https://thewholejourney.com/healing-powers-of-chicken-bone-broth-video-2/.
Where can they be found to order
Most of these mushrooms are found in your local grocery store. If you prefer to order the mushroom supplements Christa discusses in the episode here is the link https://ommushrooms.com. Don’t forget to enter the code: thewholejourney for 10% off.
I am wondering which mushrooms are okay to take while breastfeeding. Everything that I see on the web is contradictory.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Leen, Since you are nursing we recommend you refer to your health care provider regarding which mushrooms are safe to consume while breastfeeding. Thank you, Stacey~TWJ, Team Member
[email protected] information powerhouse
Would we still get the 10% off if we order thru the mushroom website? Thanks!
Hi Em, Yes, the 10% discount is still good. Just use the coupon code: thewholejourney at check out. ~Stacey, TWJ Team Member
What is the best way to get the most immediate benefits from actual mushrooms? I have purchased shitaki and mayaki mushrooms and I have heard to get the best benefit you should make a broth. I think you mentioned this, as I usually get all of my reliable health information from either your site or from your cohorts. Please let me know how I do this, or what I should do with the mushrooms to get the immune boosting powers because I am very wary of getting the flu shot. Also, can you safely eat them raw?
You smell like a salad, lol!
Still funny.
My husband has periphial neoropathy and I have been invesitgating Lion’s mane to help him get sensitivity back in his feet. Can you tell me if the powder or the capsules is better for this purpose. Which is the more economical? Does Matrix make a capsule?
This is not good news for me as I am seriously allergic to mushrooms. Any advice for people like me?
Sandy you can use other immune boosters like colostrum, vitamin D, and bee propolis or royal jelly.
‘Red’ Bee Propolis from Natura Nectar & Gynostemma herb from Dragon Herbs.. specifically.
Then Gotu Kola from NOW brands for calmness and foot circulation.
I’m interested in the blends that Mushroom Matrix has. Are these safe for daily consumption? Any known drug interactions?
They are safe for daily consumption Amanda – but I’d use them in cycles. For example, take consistently for 3-4 weeks to boost immunity and then stop for a while to let your body’s boosted immunity take over. Reishi can lower blood pressure so be mindful of that if taking blood pressure meds.
Great information on medicinal mushrooms! Are these products safe to consume while fighting off candida?
Yes Georgia, reishi, cordyceps, and lion’s mane are find for fighting candida b/c the fungus they are actually fights the bad fungus you are eliminating.
Thanks Christa:) I am glad to hear this because I feel like I have had to cut so many good things out of my diet due to my recent health findings.
Christa, unfortunately I lost my colon 11 years ago. I want to nourish my remaining digestion system in the most nutritious way. I also take synthroid 75 mg 5 days & 50mg two days. I did your shopping videos and I am gluten free, sugar free, grain free and all organic whole foods. I begin each day with warm water, half lemon, 1 tsp organic apple cider vinegar. I am 5″6 and weigh 102 lbs. I have always been thin. I walk every day for 30 min. I am 74 years young. Recently I lost my husband of 54 years. YES I am so grateful for all our years and I spent the last five as a 24/7 caregiver for him which I look as a gift, since it gave us a chance to really enjoy our time together. I am also a meditator for over 30 years. I would love to know how I can absorb enough foods since I am void of the colon. I need a routine and food plan as what to eat throughout the day. Can you help me? I would be so grateful for any help.
Wow Brenda, you have been through so much. Sounds like you are gaining health after the shopping course and with your pure diet now. These mushrooms could be a wonderful support to you in this case as you can add them to smoothies or juices with no taste and they will bypass the GI tract and positively impact your white blood cells. I’m sorry for your loss with your husband. You sound like a very strong woman. Happy you are in our tribe. As for a routine and food plan, I am not in private practice any longer, and I would suggest working with Jeanne Rubin from East West Healing on that. She is lovely and will be very supportive.
I love your show Christa! Can all of the above can be eaten/taken while pregnant?
Thanks Rachel! There is not enough data speaking to using these while pregnant but I have had many pregnant clients use them with success. If you choose to, I’d start out small (as long as you aren’t on blood pressure meds) take 1/2 the dose for a few weeks to build immunity and then stop. Then only use them when someone else around you is sick or before getting ready to fly or something like that. 🙂 If you have access to a naturopathic or integrative doc, I’d suggest double checking dosages with them.