From the stress of a demanding job, the responsibilities of caring for a family, and the challenges posed by the typical relationships of life, life can be often stressful, both physically and emotionally. Add to this the holidays, and the fact that we are living through a pandemic, and it is clear we are all dealing with stress beyond anything we have had to deal with before.
There is a little bit of good news. Ancient healing wisdom can help you cope with the modern-day plague of stress, using the traditional medicinal plants and mushrooms known as adaptogens. What are the best mushrooms for stress? When and how you should take them to get good results? We’ll dive in and explain what you need to know.
But first, here is our list of the best mushrooms for stress:
- Reishi mushrooms
- Cordyceps Mushrooms
Now let’s take a look at why these are the best mushrooms for stress, along with learning more about the class of herb these mushrooms belong to, adaptogens.
What is an Adaptogen?
In the most basic terms, an adaptogen is a plant or fungus that helps your body cope with stress. Stress can take a variety of forms:
- Illness
- Injury
- Lack of sleep
- Nutritional deficiencies Strenuous physical work or exercise.
Mental stressors include:
- Demands of work, school, or family
- Major life changes such as divorce, death of a loved one, financial loss or natural disasters
- Internal struggles such as worry, pessimism, perfectionism
- Conditions such as depression and anxiety
Both physical and psychological stresses can make your body respond by changing your heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone levels. Depending on how long the stress has been going on, and how well you have handled it, your body can feel the long-term negative effects of those physical reactions. While it is ideal to decrease the amount of stressors in your life whenever possible, it is also important to find healthier ways of managing how you react to those stressors.
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That is where adaptogenic plants come in. Research indicates adaptogens may help regulate hormonal levels and may aid with combating fatigue and depression. They may support your mental and physical health in times of increased stress, as well as alleviate the effects over a longer period.
More On Adaptogenic Mushrooms For Stress
Do you want your adaptogens coming from one of the most revered sources? Mushrooms are one of the best sources of adaptogens, used in numerous cultures across the globe for thousands of years for their tonic effects, fighting off stress and fatigue, and increasing endurance and longevity.
Two of the most famous adaptogenic mushrooms are Reishi and Cordyceps. Reishi has been called the “Natures Xanax” due to its beneficial effects on mental health.
Studies link the bioactive components of reishi with lower levels of fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Reishi also appears to aid with improving sleep quality, which may be an essential component in managing stress.
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Cordyceps is another adaptogen that combats stress. Stress causes unhealthy inflammation in your body, which may contribute to chronic diseases. Cordyceps works by counteracting this stress response through its well-documented anti-inflammatory effects, and also helps the body combat fatigue and more efficiently utilize oxygen to produce higher energy levels.
How to Take Adaptogenic Mushrooms
Consider upgrading your morning routine by adding a spoonful of 100% Reishi or Cordyceps mushroom powder from the brands we promote throughout the website into your morning smoothie, yogurt, or cereal. Or if you don’t mind taking supplements, you can use a 100% mushroom powder capsules instead.
We recommend using 2 teaspoons of the powdered mushrooms directly daily for the first three weeks to speed up the beneficial adaptogenic effects.
You can then lower the daily dosage to one teaspoon for maintenance.
Updated 10/3/2022
