Welcome to the myco-verse. It’s wild, it’s weird, and more full of wonder than most people think.
At Mushies, we’ve been banging the drum for mushrooms for a while now.
We’re not talking about the magic kind - though those have their place too. We're talking functional mushrooms.
The kind that find n Holland & Barrett or in a "nootropic" coffee bend.
Let’s break it down.
What Are Functional Mushrooms?
Functional mushrooms are the stars of the fungi world. They do more than spruce up a meal. They’re highly therapeutic. Adaptogenic. Nootropic.
Basically, they’re nature’s "mini pharmaceutical factories" - as leading mycologist Paul Stamets says.
You’ve probably seen them popping up in everything from fancy lattes to gym bro smoothies. Brands like RYZE and Four Sigmatic helped get the word out.
But at Mushies, we’re taking it a step further. We have spent countless hours not only sourcing the cleanest, strongest mushrooms extracts in the world, but also learning how and why they work within the human body.
Our mission is to create mushroom supplements that actually work, while offering deep explanations for how and why to use them.
A (Very) Brief History
Humans have been shrooming for thousands of years. And not just for fun.
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Hippocrates used mushrooms as anti-inflammatories.
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Indigenous Siberians sipped on chaga like it us Brits sip Tetleys.
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Ancient Chinese texts praised reishi for boosting qi (aka life force).
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Ötzi the Iceman even carried medicinal fungi on his final hike.
In short: mushrooms were the original medicine cabinet. Now modern science is showing how they work, and we at Mushies are rebranding them for the 21st century.
Are Mushroom Supplements Actually Good for You?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Also yes. But let’s be real about what they can and can’t do.
Here’s the science stuff:
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🍄 Mushrooms vs. Cancer: Lots of studies suggest various mushrooms have anti-cancer properties. One study showed eating just 18 grams of mushrooms a day could slash cancer risk by 45%.
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🧠 Brain Boosting: More mushrooms = better brain health. In one study, folks who ate 2+ cups/week had 50% lower risk of cognitive decline. Mushroom consumption has also been linked with lower risk of depression. Lion’s Mane has been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF), which is basically miracle grow for brain cells.
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💩 Gut Health: Their polysaccharides (like beta-glucans) feed your gut bacteria and help regulate appetite, glucose control and gut inflammation.
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🛡️ Immunity: Compounds in mushrooms can trigger immune cell activity, prompting macrophages and natural killer cells to fend off invaders, including viruses like COVID and flu.
Moral of the story? Eat your shrooms. When that’s not an option, Mushies got you.
The Top Functional Mushrooms, Explained
Chaga
The antioxidant king. Think of it as your immune system’s personal doctor. Great if you’re dealing with inflammation or chronic immune stuff. Try Chaga in our coffee.
Cordyceps
The gym rat’s mushroom. Cordyceps helps your body make more ATP (aka cellular energy). It helps you “go longer, recover faster”, as well as balancing hormones and, enhancing immunity. Learn more.
Lion’s Mane
The brain mushroom. It helps grow and protect neurons with compounds like hericenones and erinacines. Translation: better focus, memory, and mood. Learn more.
Maitake
Underrated MVP. Helps balance blood sugar and blood pressure. Also great for immune resilience, especially if chronic illness is in your health history.
Reishi
The chill shroom. Reishi helps calm the nervous system and boost sleep. A good one for the evening wind-down. Learn more.
Shiitake
Tastes amazing, but it’s also stacked with lentinan and B-vitamins. Think heart health, inflammation, and energy.
Turkey Tail
One of the most researched mushrooms out there. Great for gut and immune support. A powerful tool in cancer treatment - compounds in the mushroom are approved for treatment in Japan. Learn more.
When’s the Best Time to Take Mushroom Supplements?
Mornings are for Lion’s Mane (hello, focus) and Cordyceps (pre-workout rocket fuel).
Afternoons? Chaga is a solid pick-me-up without the caffeine crash.
Evenings? Reishi helps you chill the hell out.
At Mushies, we recommend building little mushroom rituals into your day. Coffee, capsules, powders. Whatever works for you. Consistency is more important than timing.
Are Mushroom Supplements Safe?
Generally? Yup.
That said, quality matters. A lot.
The supplement world is kinda like the Wild West - no regulation, lots of cowboys. At Mushies, we ensure every batch is lab-tested by a third party, and source only the very highest quality extracts (no fillers, no pesticides, no BS) from the very best mushroom farms.
If you’re not shopping with us, just make sure your chosen product has transparency, testing, and ideally some third-party verification.
Pro tip: Take your shrooms with food to avoid any gut grumbles.
Final Takeaways
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Eat your mushrooms when you can. Supplement based on needs/goals.
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Don’t overthink timing, just stay consistent.
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If you’ve got health stuff going on, always check with your doc first.
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And if you want trusted, effective mushroom supplements…
👉 Check out our range
Nature’s been doing this a lot longer than Big Pharma. We’re just here to help show you nature's answers.
a— Jack @ Mushies 🍄
