Functional fungi: why mushrooms are the winter wellness trend to try

As we head into the deepest darkest depths of winter, many of us are looking to remedies to get us through the next few months with our immune systems intact and stress levels at bay.  

The latest hype? Shrooms. No, not that type, “medicinal mushrooms,” also known as “functional mushrooms,” are having a moment — and the likes of Elle Macpherson and Gwyneth Paltrow add them to everything from their morning lattes to protein shakes. Functional fungi are now also being added to craft beer and face serums - so do they deserve a space in your winter wellness toolkit?

“Mushrooms have long been used in Asia for their ability to improve health, maintain vitality, preserve a youthful appearance and counter the adverse health effects of chronic stress,” says integrative medicine specialist Dr Andrew Weil. “Research also demonstrates that a variety of traditional mushrooms possess anti-bacterial, anti-viral and immune-enhancing properties.”

You’ll find plenty of health benefits from the brown paper bag variety. “Even the common white button mushroom has immune-modulating properties,” says Martin Powell, mycologist and author of Medicinal Mushrooms.  While Dr Weil points to oyster mushrooms, which contain  compounds that may help address high cholesterol.

But the so-called “medicinal” kind are considered particularly beneficial. “All mushrooms are good for us and contain beneficial levels of antioxidants and other plant chemicals,” offers Grace Kingswell, a nutritional therapist specialising in functional medicine, “but those called 'medicinal' simply have greater levels.” Some, like shiitake and maitake, are edible and can be found on supermarket shelves. “The shiitake mushroom is a personal favourite, it appears to enhance immunity and may reduce the risk of several types of cancer,” Dr Weil says. “Maitake contains complex sugars called beta-glucans that have immune-enhancing effects.”

Others, like lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps and chaga, are more commonly found in supplement form, due to their woody or bitter taste.  This special class of fungi is believed to have “adaptogenic” properties, along with herbs such as ashwagandha and ginseng, which are thought to help the body deal with stress and balance hormones.  “Adaptogenic mushrooms have the ability to modulate stress hormones from our adrenal glands and regulate the functioning of our immune system," says Tom Smale, co-founder of London-based functional food brand Wunder Workshop.

Reishi

Reishi has been used for thousands of years in China. “It contains bioactive components, as well as antioxidant properties that enhance the immune system,” say Patricia Lopez, founder of the London Academy of Healing Nutrition, and Nam Singh-Tao Shi, a San Francisco-based Chinese Medicine practitioner and faculty member of the school. “It has is also deemed the ‘mushroom of immortality’ as it’s believed to enhance longevity.”

Reishi may also help to regulate sleep patterns and achieve homeostasis – balance – in our system, says Smale, making it an “ideal year-round daily supplement.”

Chaga  

Chaga is known as the ‘king of mushrooms.’ “It is very high in antioxidants and also contains beta glucan-rich polysaccharides giving it potent immune supporting properties,” says Smale.

Cordyceps  

Cordyceps is deemed a kidney and lung tonic in traditional Chinese medicine. “It is best known to support improved stamina and studies have backed its ability to support athletic performance,” says Lopez.  

“It has been proven to increase aerobic capacity and respiratory function and help with oxygen flow in the brain,” offers Smale. “Add a teaspoon to coffee 30 minutes before exercise to help your body deal with training stress.”

Lion’s Mane  

Lion’s mane is typically taken to support nerves and brain function, Powell says, while it may also help to promote focus and energy.

So, how best to reap all of these benefits? When buying supplements, look for organic and wild-foraged mushroom sources, advises Lopez, who suggests adding them to warm elixirs, stews, sautés, or porridge to promote better digestion.  

Wellness types are spiking their morning coffees with shrooms, too. Last year, Meghan Markle announced she had invested in LA-based Clevr Blends, which sells $28 powdered coffee spiked with medicinal mushrooms, adaptogens and probiotics. Meanwhile, this side of the pond is Wunder Workshop’s Superior Chaga (£25), which is sustainably wild-harvested from birch trees in northeastern China and dual-extracted, a process which removes the fibrous proteins from the mushroom to give better access to the nutrients. “It’s the perfect coffee substitute in terms of flavour or you can add it to your coffee for faster absorption,” Smale says. “Equally mix it with hot water and a bit of milk, and it’s not too dissimilar to your regular cup of tea.”  Wellness cafe Glow Bar also sells a variety of mushroom powders, including coffee alternative chaga-ccino (£30), which blends wild chaga and raw cacao, for a mocha with a difference.

Cutting down on booze? Fungtn is an alcohol-free craft beer brand that was born out of the pandemic, which launched the UK’s first range of 0.5% ABV lagers and IPAs brewed with functional mushrooms, including lion’s mane, reishi and chaga (£18/case of six). The brand says it wants to tap into the “new wave of mindful drinkers” - and the addition of myco adaptogens enhances the depth, body and mouthfeel of the beer, without the need for additives commonly used in non-alcoholic beers.

Beauty buffs are getting in on the shroom action, too.  Dr Weil teamed up with Origins to create the brand’s now best-selling Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience range which features products designed to nourish the skin’s natural barrier and soothe inflamed skin - one bottle of the Soothing Treatment Lotion (£32, origins.co.uk) is sold every eight seconds. “Studies on several unique mushroom species show promising anti-inflammatory effects, and the topical use of anti-inflammatory mushrooms may help protect the skin against damage from environmental stressors,” Dr Weil says.  

Meanwhile, snow mushroom, also known as tremella fuciformis, is another fungus-derived active ingredient making its way onto your shelfie. It acts in a similar way to hyaluronic acid to quench dehydrated skin and lock in moisture. Try Volition’s Snow Mushroom Water Serum (£52) or The Inkey List’s jelly-like Snow Mushroom Moisturiser (£9.99).