Medical Contributors
3 Super Mushrooms to Add to Your Diet Today
Whether you’re a superfood devotee or you’re just starting out in your well being journey, there is a chance that you have heard of super mushrooms.
An absolute staple in the superfood realm, there are many amazing super mushrooms that you can easily add to your diet.
Today, we want to tell you about 3 of our favourite super mushrooms and why you should consider adding them to your superfood routine.
But, before we get into the mushroom talk, let’s first refresh your memory about superfoods.
What is a superfood?
The term superfood is a relatively new term that is used to describe foods that have an incredibly high level of nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They also tend to be low in calories, so effectively, you’re getting maximum nutritional benefits and eating minimal calories.
Superfoods, for the most part, are plant based, though there are some meats and dairy products that are considered to be superfoods.
Superfoods come in many different forms – from the fresh sources to powdered extracts, tinctures and capsules. Often, many of the foods that are considered superfoods are found in very specific geographic regions and can be difficult to get your hands on a fresh form of the food. That’s why many of these superfoods are available in lots of different formats. Not only does it make the superfoods more accessible, but it also makes it a lot easier to add them to your routine.
So, now that you know about superfoods, let’s talk about our favourite super mushrooms.
3 of the best super mushrooms you can add to your routine
1. Shiitake Mushroom
If there is a mushroom that you’re already aware of or might have seen in the veggie section of your supermarket, the shiitake mushroom is it.
If you regularly cook with mushrooms, we reckon you should consider switching it up and grabbing some shiitake mushrooms instead. They have a similar taste and texture to the standard button mushrooms because they have some excellent benefits.
One of the main things the shitake mushroom is known for is that it contains eritadenine, sterols and beta-glucans, which are three compounds that can help lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the body, which is great news for your heart.
The shiitake mushroom also contains protein, iron, manganese, selenium, vitamin D and many other vitamins. And if you don’t want to add fresh shiitakes to your diet, it’s available in a powdered extract as well.
2. Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Some of the superfood mushrooms are known for having wild and wacky names, and the Lion’s Mane Mushroom is a great example of this.
Though, when you see the full form of it you will totally get why it is called Lion’s Mane. It has a shaggy white appearance that rivals that of a lion’s mane.
But don’t let its weird appearance fool you – there’s a reason this is one of the most popular superfoods out there. It is known as having the potential ability to boost cognitive brain function, such as improving mental functioning, memory, and concentration.
The main reason it is believed to provide such great support for the brain is because it contains hericenones and erinacines, which are two compounds known for the growth of nerve cells in the body.
If you manage to get your hands on fresh lion’s mane mushroom, it has a somewhat seafood taste to it, however, you can also add it to your diet in a powdered extract, tincture or capsule form.
3. Chaga Mushroom
So, we’ve talked about a mushroom you’ve likely heard of, one that has a funny name. Well now, we’re talking about a mushroom that most certainly looks nothing like any mushroom you’ve seen before.
The chaga mushroom kind of looks like it’s a burnt part of a tree or perhaps a lump of dirt on a tree branch – this is because it grows on tree branches.
However, while it might not look at all like a mushroom, the chaga mushroom is one of the most revered super mushrooms out there. And that’s because of the enormous amount of antioxidants that it contains.
If you’re not familiar with antioxidants, or you’ve heard of them but don’t really know what they do, they essentially help our bodies fight off damage to our cells caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that cause damage to cells – including causing illness and aging. They can be formed during the metabolism process or by exposure to environmental toxins. Everybody has free radicals, but our bodies help to fight them off.
Antioxidants help to flush out these free radicals and slow down illnesses and the aging process.
Chaga is a popular option, not only because of its nutritional content but because it’s simple to add to your routine. It’s earthy flavour means you can add chaga tincture or powdered extract to your beverages, meals and even baking. Making it super versatile.
Get your super mushroom fix today
If you want to add any of the super mushrooms we’ve mentioned today or any other superfood for that matter, you can shop with Superfoods Australia. They offer a huge range of superfoods to choose from including a huge collection of Australian-grown organic super mushrooms.
Get your superfood on today!