Tag Archives: red reishi

5 Cool Facts About Mushrooms That Will Impress Your Friends

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Their appearance is otherworldly, their variety is abundant, their benefits are bountiful – there is no question that mushrooms are amazing. While no one can deny their culinary potential, they are also known for their cancer-fighting, digestion-supporting, and brain-protecting properties. But the truth is that we are just beginning to learn how truly fascinating fungi are, and how valuable they may prove to be to our future. In the spirit of this ornate organism, here are some fun facts about mushrooms.

1. Mushrooms Are Everywhere

When you see a mushroom above ground, know that the mycelium (its root-like structure) is spreading out underground. In the same way that an apple is the fruit of the apple tree, a mushroom is the fruit of a fungus. Instead of producing seeds, mushrooms send out tiny spores through the air.

Studying fungi is known as mycology, and there is plenty to learn. It is estimated that there are over 5 million different types of fungus on earth, and we’ve only discovered about 1% of them, making them the most widespread group of organisms on the planet.

2. A Fungus Is the Largest Living Organism on Earth

Believe it or not, the fungi kingdom lays claim to the largest organism on Earth. Nicknamed Humongous Fungus (actual name Armillaria solipides), this species inhabits 2,384 acres or 10 square kilometres of soil in Oregon’s Blue Mountains. Additionally, it is believed to be at least 2,400 years old. It is also called honey mushroom because its fruiting bodies are yellow and sweet.

3. Fungi Turn Ants into Zombies

Feel bad for a carpenter ant who becomes infected with spores scattered by a parasitic fungus called cordyceps. Upon infection, the fungus spreads through the ant’s body, robbing it of nutrients and enslaving the insect. Turning its host into something like a zombie slave, cordyceps force the ant to climb up a plant and lock its mandibles around a leaf. After slowly devouring the ant, the fungus sprouts through the ant’s head. Then, the bulbous growths explode, sending spores into the air to infect more unsuspecting ants below.

There’s a book and a movie based on the book, called The Girl With All The Gifts, that took this idea and ran with it. When I read this book, even before they mention the name of the mushroom that started it all, I knew exactly where they were going with this, and I immediately wished that I had written that book!

Not to worry though, it’s all fiction and cordyceps is actually a great fungi for us to consume to support our health.

4. Mushrooms Can Be Deadly

Death Caps, Destroying Angels, and Deadly Dappering all sound like they come from horror movies. And, no, they do not turn humans into zombies. But they are some of the deadliest mushrooms on the planet, and you would be smart to steer clear of them. They can cause internal bleeding and organ failure that can lead to death. When collecting wild mushrooms in nature, you must be very careful, as they can pose a serious threat if you don’t know how to identify them.

5. Mushrooms Make Reindeer Fly—Well Sort Of

Apparently, the flying reindeer myth isn’t as far-fetched as we think. During long winters, reindeer (along with other animals) sometimes eat a red and white mushroom called Amanita muscaria. This mushroom, also known as Fly Agaric, contains the compounds muscamol and ibotenic acid, both hallucinogens. The problem is it also contains a powerful toxin called muscarine. Despite this, it’s likely that those trying to domesticate the reindeer noted the animals’ unusual behaviour and decided to give it a try themselves. Rather than eat this mushroom to hallucinate visions of Rudolph and his flying buddies (and potentially get very sick), I suggest you watch a Christmas movie instead.

6. Mushrooms Could Replace Pesticides

Mushroom spores have been shown to repel more than 200,000 species of insects! Unlike the toxic pesticides that kill bugs but also accumulate in our environment and in our bodies, certain mushroom spores cause insects to simply avoid the crops they are sprayed on. This would be revolutionary to the food industry, our environment, and our own personal health.

7. Mushrooms are Low-Calorie, But Very Nutritious

I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of eating rice cakes (or of counting calories). Yes, they can be made tastier with some nut butter or other topping, but otherwise they are pretty dry and tasteless. Mushrooms, on the other hand, offer a huge variety of delicious options, have a lower caloric count, and offer up a powerful punch of nutrients.

They are good sources of potassium, zinc, copper, magnesium, and B vitamins. For those looking for a vegetarian food source of vitamin D, you can find this in mushrooms raised in an environment that exposes them to ultraviolet light. And, as if that were not enough, mushrooms are a good source of fibre and antioxidants, along with an array of phytonutrients that offer medicinal benefits select to each species of mushroom.

8. Reishi Offers Over 400 Nutrients

Reishi is a multitasker. Its polysaccharides, like beta-glucans, help support a balanced immune response. The triterpenoids found in the cap and stem portion can address a wide range of health conditions, including lowering high blood pressure, stabilizing blood sugar, and supporting the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. As an adaptogenic herb, it helps the body adapt to stressors and it calms the nervous system without being a sedative.

While the hard chitinous shell of this mushroom makes it a difficult task to simply stir fry up a reishi dinner, there’s an easy way to get your fill. The powerful, bitter compounds of reishi are concentrated and packed into an easy-to-take, one-a-day capsule.

Now that you’ve read a few more fascinating facts about mushrooms, the next time you see one in nature or in the grocery store, maybe you’ll pay it a bit more attention and respect.

No-Cook Reishi Protein Balls

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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cashews (you can substitute in peanuts, almonds, or other nuts)
  • ¼ cup ground or milled flax (optional)
  • ¼ cup raw cacao powder
  • 3-6 Mikei reishi capsules
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ – 2/3 cups water

Instructions:

  1. Put cashews into a food processor and blend into a flour/powder.
  2. Add ground flax and 2 Tbsp cacao powder.
  3. Open reishi capsules and add in powder. Choose the number of capsules based on how much reishi kick you want.
  4. Pulse until mixed.
  5. Add in dates, vanilla extract, and ¼ cup of water and blend into a dough, adding more water, if needed. It should form a sticky “dough.”
  6. Roll into 1-1.5” balls and roll these in remaining cacao powder to coat them. If they are too sticky to roll, you can refrigerate them for 10 to 15 minutes before rolling.
  7. Store in the fridge. They can also be frozen for later consumption.

Simple Sweet Potato Soup with Red Reishi

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Sweet potato, ginger, garlic and red reishi are great ingredients to help support your energy levels, and are also beneficial to your immune system.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 4 ½ cups of sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1 inch chunks (approximately 2 medium sweet potatoes)
  • 3 cloves of minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon of minced ginger
  • 3 cups of broth (chicken or vegetable)
  • 1 can of coconut (1/2 cup for soup, ½ for whip topping)
  • 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
  • 1 capsule Mikei Red Reishi Essence powder (per serving)

Directions for Soup:

  1. Add oil to large pot and heat on medium-low heat
  2. Add garlic and ginger, sauté for approximately 2 minutes
  3. Add sweet potatoes and broth
  4. Turn up heat to bring pot to a boil, and then reduce heat back to medium-low (with lid a jar) and let it simmer for 30 minutes
  5. Add apple cider vinegar and stir
  6. Add coconut milk and stir, allow it to simmer for 3 minutes
  7. Remove from heat, and blend with a hand blender (or puree in blender)

Directions for Coconut Whip:

  1. Cool one can of full fat coconut milk in fridge over night
  2. Scoop out half of the hardened contents (ensure not to include liquid part)
  3. Whisk by hand or with hand blender to smooth
  4. Add small amounts of liquid to help smoothen if needed

To Serve:

Ladle into bowl for serving. Empty one capsule of Meiki Red Reshi Essence powder into a single serving. Stir until dissolved. Add coconut whip as garnish as desired.

What Does Reishi Taste Like?

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Divine mushroom, mushroom of immortality, the fungus of long and vibrant life, and the crowning glory. These are just some of the names given to what is possibly the most famous of all Asian medicinal mushrooms – reishi, also known as ling zhi.

Reishi mushrooms have been used for many centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to modern research, this medicinal mushroom has been found to possess some incredible therapeutic properties. Looking to take advantage of all the benefits offered up by this incredibly powerful food and wondering about the taste? Let’s take a closer look at the flavour of this fantastic fungus and why it matters.

Unlike other mushrooms commonly used in cooking—like cremini, portabella, and shiitake—reishi has a distinctive earthy, bitter flavour. Though you might think that reishi doesn’t offer the savoury punch you need for your next gourmand experience, bitter is exactly what you should be looking for in quality reishi. Otherwise, you might not be getting a high enough potency mushroom. So, if you want to enjoy all the wonderful benefits reishi provides, bitter is better.

Nature has used bitter to help signal either poison or medicine, and it is one of the more complex flavours we recognize. Further, scientists have discovered that we have genetic differences in how much we can taste and how the taste is interpreted by our brains. When I prescribe concentrated Chinese herbal powders to be mixed in hot water, I know that I have to let my patients know that they may initially curse me for the bitter concoction that they have to drink. But they usually find that they get used to the flavour and may even begin to like it, especially as they feel better. The same can apply for reishi.

Of course, you can just keep the reishi powder in its capsule and easily gulp it back without tasting it, but if you’re looking for ways to incorporate it into your food, read on.

Add Reishi to Your Recipes

Feel free to experiment with reishi in your favourite dishes. One way to help manage the bitter is to counterbalance it with something sweet or help neutralize it with salty flavours.

For something sweet, you could make your own no-cook protein bars using dates. You could also add it to your hot chocolate, brownies, or banana bread recipe.

By adding more salty or savory ingredients to your reishi-included dish, you can help to alleviate the bitter aftertaste. Tapioca, seaweed, soy sauce, or salt can be great additions! You can add reishi mushrooms to a wide variety of dishes, from soup and stews to chili and roasts.

While we may have become accustomed to thinking that sweet and salty are the only flavours to receive top billing for cravings, there are actually many bitter foods we truly enjoy. Coffee, chocolate, alcohol, matcha, and tea are some of the more popular bitter foods, so some people choose to simply add reishi to those already bitter foods.

Here is one recipe to get you started.

No-Cook Reishi Protein Balls

  • 2 cups cashews (you can substitute in peanuts, almonds, or other nuts)
  • ¼ cup ground or milled flax (optional)
  • ¼ cup raw cacao powder
  • 3-6 Mikei reishi capsules
  • 1 cup pitted dates
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ – 2/3 cups water
  1. Put cashews into a food processor and blend into a flour/powder.
  2. Add ground flax and 2 Tbsp cacao powder.
  3. Open reishi capsules and add in powder. Choose the number of capsules based on how much reishi kick you want.
  4. Pulse until mixed.
  5. Add in dates, vanilla extract, and ¼ cup of water and blend into a dough, adding more water, if needed. It should form a sticky “dough.”
  6. Roll into 1-1.5” balls and roll these in remaining cacao powder to coat them. If they are too sticky to roll, you can refrigerate them for 10 to 15 minutes before rolling.
  7. Store in the fridge. They can also be frozen for later consumption.

Tea or Capsules

The traditional use of reishi is to prepare it as a tea. If using whole reishi mushroom, you need to cook it for awhile, as the hard chitinous shell makes it hard to digest and access the nutrients and valuable compounds inside.

For those who find the bitter taste unpleasant or don’t want to spend the time doing all the prep work, you can opt to take reishi extract capsules instead. Mikei has done all the concentrating for you and even with just one capsule a day, you are getting a powerful dose of all of reishi’s health benefits.

Will Reishi Keep Me Awake?

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Who doesn’t want a great night’s sleep? We spend one-third of our lives sleeping, and that is what keeps us healthy throughout the day! On average, adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per day. This is the time during which important processes happen, including detoxification, tissue repair, new cell production, and healthy cognitive processing.

Missing restorative sleep can result in more susceptibility to infection, poorer recovery from injury, and increased risk of illness and disease. It can also mean that we make more mistakes, perform worse at our work, and respond badly to challenging situations and people. We all know how much more difficult it is to take the high ground when we are exhausted.

With busy schedules and endless to-do lists, it is harder than ever to truly recharge your batteries. Despite your best intentions, you might end up staying up later than anticipated. Worse yet, you lie there wide-eyed, unable to sleep despite the fact that you are exhausted. “Tired but wired” seems ever more common.

Our bodies need sleep to work properly. So, if you have heard that mushrooms can improve your energy but worry that they might interfere with your sleep pattern, fret not. Mushroom supplements have played a critical role in the support of natural sleep cycles for centuries. Truth be told, medicinal mushrooms have a long list of benefits, including increased energy, longer life, and improved immune function.

Read on to learn why reishi is the perfect nighttime elixir to help you sleep like a baby and bring balancing energy to your mind and body.

Nature’s answer to a better night’s sleep

While many of us think that a substance can either be stimulating or sedating, but not both, welcome to the world of adaptogens. Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body find homeostasis, a self-regulating process that maintains internal conditions necessary for survival.

Reishi mushrooms can help provide of a feeling of energy during your waking hours, while their active compounds can assist in sleep when it’s bedtime, helping you recharge and rejuvenate and be better prepared for another full day. Unlike prescription or over-the-counter sleeping pills or even some natural sleep remedies, reishi mushrooms won’t cause you to feel drowsy the next day.

For hundreds of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has classified reishi mushrooms—called “ling zhi”—under the category of “calm the mind” herbs. Though the stressors of centuries or even decades ago may be quite different than today, we are wired for survival and have always had to deal with stresses, whether from illness and disease or worries about potential issues in the days to come. In TCM, it is the fruiting body (stem and cap) that is used to soothe the nervous system, creating a feeling of calm. It’s thus important to make sure that you choose a reishi supplement that includes the fruiting body and not just the mycelium. The medicinal mushroom compounds will not only improve tranquility, but also support healthy liver, heart, and kidney function, helping you deal with the body’s physical stresses, providing a better night’s sleep.

Modern day research has found the reishi mushroom to have promising results as a sedative. In an animal study, supplementation with reishi demonstrated that the mushroom increased the duration of sleep in rats.

How to use reishi mushrooms for optimal sleep

In TCM, herbal formulas are generally prescribed by someone skilled in assessing an individual’s constitution and current health situation. A variety of chosen herbs are mixed together and taken for a specified duration of time. It is rare that individual herbs are recommended.

Reishi mushroom is unique in this regard. Because of its adaptogenic properties, safety, and wide range of applications, it may be recommended to take on its own. If you suffer with insomnia, or simply want to enhance your sleep routine, reishi mushroom supplements should be taken every evening before bedtime. As a mushroom with sleep-enhancing properties, it can help you maintain your natural biorhythm. You will fall into a deeper sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Simply add the reishi mushroom supplement to your favourite drink or recipe or consume it in capsule form.

Selecting the Right Reishi Supplement

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With Red Reishi being a renowned powerhouse supplement, the demand fuels the competition of reishi product manufacturing. However, unlike most herbs, the active ingredients in reishi are very volatile and delicate, so every step from cultivation to quality control during the manufacturing process is extremely critical to retaining the concentrated essence. The following are 3 important factors to look out for when selecting reishi products:

Cultivation

The first and foremost factor is to choose the right species. There are over 80 different species of Ganoderma, and the species that we use in TCM is Ganoderma Lucidum, which is primarily found in the wild in east Asia. As previously mentioned in my farm to table posts, a proper farming environment is crucial to cultivating potent medicinal reishi. Many producers do not use the natural wood-log method, nor do they allow the mushroom to mature and develop before harvesting, hence creating subpar products.

Parts used

Many reishi supplements promote the use of the mycelium (root-like structure) or the spores instead of the fruiting body, and although they may contain valuable substances, they are absent of many compounds found in the fruiting body. For instance, the ganoderic acids, a substance that benefits the liver, heart, and kidneys, are only existent in the fruiting body. Although spores can also contain triterpenoids, it is practically indigestible in the human digestive tract, and therefore it cannot be absorbed by the body.

Quality control

Like any revered substance, its “holiness” is often exploited by less-than-stellar quality products, which often end up in containing little to no active compounds as the manufacturing process is not up to par in efficiently retaining the potency of the herb. Therefore, it is important to select a brand with proper certification and a clean reputation in the expertise of creating reishi products.

What is Red Reishi?

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As we continue the conversation on immune boosting, I’d like to also introduce an prestigious adaptogenic herb that has been used for centuries in TCM as a tonic, the Reishi mushroom. Due to its scarcity in the wild, it is traditionally referred to as the “divine herb”, and folktales of its immortality were widespread. According to classical texts, Reishi is divided into five different types, each colour resembling one of the five elements. I will cover Red Reishi in this post as it is most commonly used today:

Red reishi tastes bitter and is neutral in property, with the following functions:

Releases chest stagnation & benefits heart Qi – It’s red colour and bitter taste determines its benefits in the heart, and replenishing the emperor organ’s Qi will improve circulation in the cardiopulmonary system, hence unblocking any stagnation. Studies have also shown reishi’s benefits in treating respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

Tonifies middle & benefits essence – By tonifying Qi in the middle jiao and replenishing the body’s essence, this allows the herb to replenish all the vital organs responsible for our immunity. This function is also reflected in the fact that the beta glucans in reishi act as a prime immunostimulant to prevent infections, and that its adaptogenic qualities aid in battling fatigue.

Calms mind & increases wisdom – Last but not least, reishi is well known for its stress alleviating properties, which is illustrated in this function. Moreover, the herb is shown to be effective in preventing memory loss in Alzheimer’s as well as treating depression.

Six Amazing Health Benefits of Red Reishi

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For centuries, medical practitioners in East Asia have used reishi mushroom because of this its long list of therapeutic pluses. But only recently has awareness about this highly revered superfood reached the shores of the western world. So, why is red reishi gaining so much popularity around the globe? Today, we want to dive a little deeper into the amazing health benefits of this miraculous medicinal mushroom.

Increase calm and reduce anxiety

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), reishi is known as ling zhi, or the “herb of spiritual potency.” When a person feels anxious, depressed, manic, or agitated, or suffers from a mental illness, TCM practitioners may describe this as the spirit or “Shen” being out of balance.

Reishi is categorized in its materia medica of herbal medicines as an herb that helps “calm the Shen.” As such, it can help calm the nervous system during times of stress, without causing sleepiness. So, you can still go ahead with operating large machinery (e.g. driving) when you take reishi, unlike some sedative herbs. In fact, reishi mushrooms are also considered “Qi tonics,” loosely meaning they can improve energy.

Stress comes in a number of forms. It includes physical stressors like extremes in temperature, lack of nutrients, insufficient restorative sleep, infection, or disease. Stressors can also be mental and emotional ones like loss of a loved one, loneliness, fear, worry, anger, frustration, being overwhelmed, depression, and more. It is no wonder why this medical mushroom is the go-to tonic in TCM.

Boost the immune system

No matter the time of year, colds and flus are always a concern. One of the most beneficial effects of consuming reishi mushroom is its ability to support the immune system. The beta glucans, compounds found in this holistic herb, have been shown to promote a healthy immune response to fend off diseases and infections.

Fight off cancer

While so much surrounding the cause of cancer remains a mystery, fortunately, great strides have been made in treatment options, including reishi mushrooms. Studies have shown that including reishi mushroom supplementation renders conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments more effective at killing cancer cells. 3 Furthermore, the study groups who received reishi reported that their quality of life after these powerful conventional cancer treatments was higher than the control group who did not receive reishi during their treatments.

Further studies have shown promise with inhibiting the growth of cancer cell lines, potentially preventing cancer from developing. 2,6 Thus, reishi mushroom may be helpful as both a supportive therapy and also a preventative one for cancer.

Promote liver health

The liver plays a crucial role in eliminating toxins. So, if you want to ensure your liver is working in peak performance, consider giving reishi a try. Studies have demonstrated that triterpenes found in reishi has been shown to prevent free radical damage and support healthy liver function. 6

Keep allergies at bay

If you are looking for a more natural way to manage allergies, take reishi. Studies have revealed that the compounds found in Japanese red reishi are an effective treatment for allergies 5 and other respiratory ailments. Researchers also detected that the ganoderic acids found in this herb act as a natural antihistamine.

Reduce cardiovascular risks

Did you know that reishi mushrooms can help lower blood pressure? The ganoderic acid in reishi is responsible for a variety of heart health benefits, from decreasing high blood pressure 4 and reducing excessive cholesterol levels to lowering the risk of dangerous blood clotting. There is also evidence to suggest that this mushroom can improve blood flow and reduce plaque build-up on artery walls. 1

Choosing Reishi Supplements

When it comes to reishi mushrooms, the advantages of using this natural medicinal wonder are far too many to ignore. But it’s equally important to make sure you are getting a quality product with the medicinal compounds that your body can use.

  1. Firstly, if you are only getting the mycelium (root-like structure) found in some reishi supplements, you are missing out on the ganoderic acids and other useful compounds found in the fruiting body (cap and stem).
  2. Second, if you are getting a supplement that has only ground up the mushroom and is not an extraction, then you are unlikely to be able to absorb many of the important compounds, and those compounds are also not going to be in sufficient quantities to have true medicinal value.
  3. Third, a quality reishi mushroom is one that is grown cleanly in a high-nutrition foundation and allowed to sufficiently mature.

Fight Off Seasonal Allergies with Red Reishi

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Budding flowers, blooming trees, and singing birds can mean only one thing—spring is finally here. While many of us enjoy this beautiful time of year, pollen from trees, grass, and flowers can send our immune systems into overdrive. For millions of people, these offending substances (or antigens) can trigger an allergic reaction, causing a number of unpleasant symptoms like sneezing, congestion, runny nose, and itchy, watery, red eyes.

Don’t Let Seasonal Allergies Keep You Indoors

Over-the-counter products, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays often provide some relief, but come with troublesome side effects—drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion—that can actually make symptoms worse if used for long periods of time. Because of this, an increasing number of allergy sufferers are turning to Mother Nature for a safer, alternative solution. If spring is making you miserable, there is a natural solution that will help keep your seasonal allergies under control.

Nature’s Cure All

Used for thousands of years in the Eastern World, Japanese red reishi is a mushroom proven to have phenomenal health benefits. Though there are six different types of reishi (red, purple, green, white, yellow, and black), the red variety is the most medically potent. This miraculous fungus is able to fight cancer, ward off heart disease, support nerve and liver function, as well as regulate the immune system to help fight off infections at the same time as it can prevent it from overacting and resulting in allergic reactions.

Allergy Alleviator

In numerous trials and clinical experiments, Japanese red reishi has been shown to be an effective treatment for allergies and other respiratory ailments. These adaptogenic and immune-supporting mushrooms contain compounds that have strong anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory agents. Researchers discovered that the ganoderic acids found in Japanese red reishi act as a natural antihistamine, helping diminish the symptoms of allergies without any of the harmful side effects associated with over-the-counter medications.

The Right Type of Red Reishi

In order to have the medicinal effects noted by these studies, red reishi must contain the powerful constituents—particularly ganoderic acids—that are found only in the fruiting body of the mature red reishi mushroom. In fact, unextracted reishi powder can actually cause an allergic reaction in some people.