Introducing our new mushroom powder blend
NutriCraft’s new mushroom blend food ingredient powder is a balanced combination of four powerful medicinal mushrooms: equal parts Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Reishi, and Cordyceps. In this article, we’ll explore the potential health benefits of each mushroom in our blend with links to relevant scientific studies.
Whatever your health goals, our blend is packed with nutrients and compounds to support your overall well-being while providing a tasty addition to your cooking.
Click here to view the product page!
Lion’s Mane
Lion's Mane mushrooms, scientifically known as Hericium erinaceus, are unique edible and medicinal fungi native to Europe, Asia, and North America. They are recognisable by their distinctive white, beard-like spines and grow on deciduous trees.
Historically, Chinese monks are purported to have consumed Lion's Mane to enhance focus in meditation. In traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, Lion’s Mane is believed to nourish the five internal organs and enhance the body's Qi, or life force.
These mushrooms are nutritionally rich, containing high levels of B vitamins, zinc, and manganese, essential for energy metabolism and building body tissues. Additionally, Lion’s Mane is packed with polysaccharides, particularly beta-glucans, which activate immune cells and can help prevent infectious disease.
Research in animal studies suggests Lion's Mane could offer brain benefits, such as promoting nerve cell growth and improving memory. Though the effects in humans are not yet fully validated, many users report mental benefits like reduced brain fog, improved memory, and increased motivation after using Lion's Mane.
There is also potential for its use in treating cancer and heart disease. Small, preliminary studies have shown that compounds found in Lion's Mane induce cell death in cancer cells and may reduce cholesterol. The build-up of cholesterol fat in blood vessels can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart attack. However, more studies are needed to explore these promising properties further.
Chaga
Inonotus obliquus, or Chaga, is a parasitic mushroom that grows on birch trees in cold climates. According to online sources, Chaga has a long history of use in traditional Siberian medicine (and we source ours from Siberia!) and is used to help fight tuberculosis, parasites, inflammation and gastrointestinal problems.
Animal studies show Chaga has powerful antioxidant properties, which may help combat diseases caused by reactive oxygenated molecules in cells, otherwise known as oxidative stress. In one study, researchers found a compound derived from Chaga that prevented rats from developing Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms induced by oxidative damage.
Research in cells suggests Chaga could be useful in fighting cancer. Chaga extracts have been shown to reduce the growth of several cancer cell types, including leukaemia, colon, brain and pancreatic cancer cells.
Like Lion’s Mane, Chaga also has a high concentration of beta-glucans, which may help prevent diseases caused by infections. Chaga extracts can increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cells, which are molecules that boost the immune system. They have also demonstrated antiviral activity, preventing HIV and Hepatitis C from infecting cells and replicating.
There is very little research on the cognitive benefits of chaga, especially compared to other medicinal mushrooms. However, one study found that chaga helped reverse memory loss in mice.
Reshi
Ganoderma lingzhi, or Reishi mushrooms, may have been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. They have been called the "Medicine of Kings" and have traditionally been used to enhance intellectual capacity, memory, agility, and longevity. These large glossy mushrooms are native to Asia and typically grow on hardwood trees.
Reshi contains lectins and several polysaccharides, which support healthy immune system function. Reshi extracts have been shown to increase cytokine production and enhance the development of important immune cells. Some human studies show Reshi can help fight infectious diseases, including herpes and COVID-19.
Reshi may be able to increase the production and sensitivity of insulin, a hormone that lowers blood sugar levels. This could theoretically help people with diabetes, where the body stops responding to insulin and blood sugar levels remain too high. However, there is no human data to support this use yet and taking reishi alongside antidiabetic medication could be risky.
Reshi has also been reported to help improve symptoms of chronic fatigue. In one study, human subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome had an improved quality of life and a decline in fatigue symptoms after four weeks of using Reshi. However, there were only a few study participants, so the data wasn’t very reliable and further studies are needed.
Reshi has also been found to increase testosterone, a male reproductive hormone, and so could help improve sexual functioning and fertility in men.
The reported cognitive benefits of Reshi include improved mood, memory, focus, and decreased brain fog. A recent review study suggested that Reshi could be useful in combating Alzheimer’s disease by interacting with specific biological pathways in the brain.
Cordyceps
Cordyceps militaris is a parasitic fungus with a unique bright-orange finger-shaped appearance that grows on insect larvae in Asia and Europe. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this mushroom is believed to “invigorate the lung and nourish the kidney.” Our cordyceps is, however, grown in a controlled environment without using insects.
Cordyceps demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties, which can dampen the immune system, making it useful for diseases caused by overinflammation. In one study, Cordyceps prevented damage to the colon caused by a model of IBS in mice. It also reduced swelling and improved motor function in an animal model of arthritis.
Cordyceps has a particularly high concentration of antioxidants. Studies show that its antioxidant effects can help improve the function of the mitochondria, a structure in cells responsible for energy production. As mitochondrial damage is associated with ageing, researchers have proposed that Cordyceps could have anti-aging properties.
By increasing energy, Cordyceps may also help improve alertness. Cordyceps administration reduced chronic fatigue symptoms in one animal study. People have reported that Cordyceps increases their physical energy and stamina, helps improve concentration, and decreases brain fog.
Cordyceps is also an aphrodisiac and can increase libido. Like Reshi, it can help stimulate the production of testosterone and improve erectile dysfunction.
Cordyceps has also demonstrated anticoagulant properties in animal research, and so it may be able to prevent blood clots.
Medicinal Mushroom Synergy
Synergy occurs when different compounds work together to produce stronger or distinct effects than each can achieve alone. A prime example of synergy occurs in multivitamins, in which vitamins and minerals are combined to enhance their individual health benefits. Calcium is combined with vitamin D to help its absorption into the body and improve its capacity to help maintain healthy bones. Vitamin C can help regenerate vitamin E, and so both taken together have a more powerful antioxidant effect.
In the case of our mushroom blend, each species' unique compounds may similarly work together to enhance health, though research on mushroom synergy is still limited. One study found that combining Reishi with other medicinal mushrooms led to a stronger immune-boosting effect in rats than when each mushroom was taken alone. Another study showed that a blend of mushrooms, similar to Cordyceps and Reishi, provided significant protection against liver damage in mice.
NutriCraft’s blend combines mushrooms known for their abilities to reduce oxidative damage, fight infections, and boost energy—potentially amplifying these effects when taken together. While the exact interactions of these mushrooms are not fully understood, using our blend increases the likelihood of experiencing the varied benefits of each species.
How to Use Our NutriCraft Blend
Using our mushroom blend is simple and versatile. The powdered form works as a food and drink ingredient and allows you to easily incorporate it into your daily routine, mixing it into your morning smoothies, making a mushroom tea, or simply taking a tablespoon with some water.
The mushrooms in our blend are also culinary mushrooms, sought after for their rich, earthy, and nutty flavours. As such, you can add our blend to soups, sauces, and other dishes to enhance the taste of your food while getting a large and varied dose of various nutrients.
If you are taking any medications or have underlying health conditions, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before adding our mushroom blend to your routine or cooking. Some compounds in our blend mushrooms may interact with certain medications, so it’s essential to check first with a doctor that the blend is safe for you. Eating health foods such as mushroom powders is not a substitute for exercise and a healthy, varied diet.
Why NutriCraft?
At NutriCraft, we provide organic, high-quality mushrooms at the right price. Our Chaga is wild-harvested from the forests of Siberia, and the other mushrooms are grown in specialised, organic-certified warehouses in China. This ensures a controlled, clean cultivation environment that prevents exposure to pollutants, so you can be confident that what you're consuming is as pure and effective as nature intended.