My Experience with Adaptogenic Mushrooms

Summary

The author shares their positive personal experiences with adaptogenic mushrooms, detailing the health benefits and improvements they've noticed since incorporating them into their diet, particularly through products from the brand Four Sigmatic.

Abstract

The article "My Experience with Adaptogenic Mushrooms" recounts the author's journey with these natural substances, emphasizing their role in regulating bodily systems without the psychoactive effects of magic mushrooms. The author lists several types of adaptogenic mushrooms, such as Lion's Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga, and Shiitake, along with their specific health benefits, including nervous system support, relaxation, adrenal function, antioxidant properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. The author discovered these mushrooms through a podcast and began using Four Sigmatic's mushroom coffee, experiencing increased energy, mental clarity, reduced irritability, a happier gut, and less inflammation. The author also notes that the coffee helped with menstrual cramps and expresses a preference for Four Sigmatic's products over another unnamed brand due to taste and effectiveness.

Opinions

The author finds adaptogenic mushrooms to be incredibly helpful for their overall health.
They express skepticism initially turned into satisfaction regarding the effects of mushroom coffee, especially given their sensitivity to caffeine.
The author appreciates the mental clarity and sustained energy without the typical coffee crash.
They believe that consistent consumption of adaptogenic mushrooms is crucial for maintaining bodily equilibrium.
The author has a positive opinion of Four Sigmatic's products, particularly their coffee with Lion's Mane and Cordyceps.
They note that even a small amount of the high caffeine version of Four Sigmatic's coffee provided relief from menstrual cramps.
The author is not fond of an unnamed mushroom coffee brand due to its unpalatable taste, despite its marketing and gut health benefits from the turkey tail mushrooms it contains.
They express loyalty to Four Sigmatic, having returned to the brand and even ordered their probiotic coffee with turkey tail.

My Experience with Adaptogenic Mushrooms

First, for those who do not know, what are these? Well, dictionary.com defines adaptogens as:

/ (əˈdæptədʒən) / noun. 1. any of various natural substances used in herbal medicine to normalize and regulate the systems of the body

Therefore, adaptogenic mushrooms are just one of these “natural substances” used to regulate certain imbalances in the body and are not to be mistaken for magic mushrooms aka shrooms. Since I have never had the opportunity to consume shrooms, I cannot speak on this variant of mushrooms, but I can say emphatically that different kinds of adaptogenic mushrooms have been incredibly helpful in my overall health.

Below are just a few of the more commonly known mushrooms and their briefly stated benefits:

Hericium Erinaceus (Lion’s Mane): benefits the nervous system and the brain

Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi in China; reishi in Japan): useful for relaxing the nerves and kidney system

Ophiocordyceps Sinensis (Cordyceps): supports adrenal function (among other awesome benefits)

Inonotus obliquus (Chaga): great antioxidant properties

Lentinula edodes (Shiitake): may reduce cholesterol and inflammation

(This very interesting research article delves deeper into mushrooms used in cancer clinical studies and other health issues! Super cool!)

Of course, one must consider any pre-existing health conditions and/or medications that are being taken before jumping into the world of adaptogenic mushrooms.

Thankfully, for me, this was not a big issue.

I discovered the world of healing mushrooms in 2022 through a podcast called Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, hosted by one of my favorite neuroscientists, Dr. Caroline Leaf. Her guest this particular day was one of the founders of a company called Four Sigmatic. They make mushroom coffee and other fun products with these adaptogenic mushrooms. At the time, I was curious, since nothing else really worked to effectively regulate my hormones, and I was in search of more “natural” solutions. I was not a regular coffee drinker, due to my sensitivity to caffeine, so I was very skeptical, but I quickly decided, “Why not?!”

These were my results from drinking the Four Sigmatic Think Cold Brew Ground Coffee (which has a “regular” caffeine level and contains: Organic Dark Roast Arabica Coffee, Organic Log-Grown Lion’s Mane, and Organic Yacon Juice Powder):

Increased energy, without the jitters

Mental clarity throughout the day without crashing

Less irritability (especially during PMS)

Happy gut (probably also because I also used my HVMN MCT Oil Powder as the creamer — btw, this needs to make a comeback, pronto!)

I’m sure there is less inflammation. Eating cleaner significantly helps with inflammation in my connective tissues, but I have recently discovered that these mushrooms enhance this effect as well.

I dreaded the typical effects of coffee in my system, but they never came. Instead, I felt just as great as I did the first week I decided to become vegan a year prior.

Today, I typically brew about 28oz of their Boost High Caf Ground Coffee, (which contains Organic Dark Roast Arabica Coffee And Coffee Bean Extract, Organic Green Tea (L-Theanine), and Organic Cordyceps), pour it into my Blender Bottle, and store it in the fridge to take a couple of gulps of it first thing in the morning with my Ritual vitamins, and I’m good for the day!

For those who struggle with me, I have just recently discovered that this high caf version also relieves menstrual cramps (possibly from the L-Theanine) — I did not have to drink a full cup to achieve relief. It seems that regular consumption of these mushrooms is key to maintaining one’s equilibrium. When I neglected to do so during the holidays, I reverted to my previous state and scrambled to figure out what was wrong. Silly me. (Granted, I was experiencing some unusually unpleasant circumstances that would have required more than a cup of joe to fix, but I bet it would have helped…maybe.)

Sometime last year, I tried another mushroom coffee brand, which will remain unnamed, because of their highly effective marketing strategies, but the taste is unpalatable to me; I held my nose the first time to chug it down. I eventually discovered that adding A TON of oat milk to it was the only way I could drink it without gagging. Since I bought 2 packs, the second bag being free or heavily discounted (I forget), and cannot return them, I am finishing it out. Hey, we don’t waste food in this Naija home…plus, it also happens to be quite beneficial for my gut health because of the turkey tail mushrooms.

Anywho, forgive me for straying, Four Sigmatic, but I am back now and have just placed an order for your probiotic coffee with turkey tail. You’ve got me for life at this point.