What Are Adaptogenic Mushrooms?
From capsules to protein powders, products containing adaptogenic mushrooms have become quite popular in the health and wellness world.
As such, you may wonder whether adaptogenic mushrooms offer health benefits and if you should be adding them or related products to your diet.
This article explains everything you need to know about adaptogenic mushrooms, including the types, potential benefits, and possible risks.
What are adaptogenic mushrooms?
Adaptogenic mushrooms are mushrooms that may help reduce the effects of stress on your body. Some people use them as herbal health products.
They’re not the same as hallucinogenic or “magic” mushrooms and do not act on the mind or perception.
In general, an adaptogen is a substance that works to reduce the negative effects of stress on the body.
Adaptogens increase the body’s resistance to physical, biological, and chemical stress, help promote normal functioning during times of stress, and protect against stress-related damage (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
The body’s stress response is complex and involves multiple bodily systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA axis). This is the body’s main stress response system.
The primary function of the HPA axis is to release glucocorticoids, including cortisol. Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that activate the stress response (4, 5Trusted Source).
Adaptogens primarily work by influencing the HPA axis and other key mediators of the stress response. By doing so, they enhance resistance to stress and promote recovery and homeostasis — or stability — in the body (3Trusted Source).
Researchers have discovered that certain plants and fungi, including some mushrooms, have adaptogenic properties.
Types of adaptogenic mushroom and potential benefits
Research suggests that some types of mushrooms have beneficial effects on the body’s stress response.
It’s important to note that the terms medicinal and adaptogenic aren’t the same thing. Many mushrooms have medicinal effects, including anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating properties (6Trusted Source).
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