Post previously published on, and in collaboration, with E+Rose Wellness Cafe. Edited for reposting purposes.

Mushrooms are well recognized in Eastern medicine for their medicinal properties and have been gaining popularity in the West…for good reasons! The various species of mushrooms described below can be found whole, dried, as liquid extract, and/or encapsulated. Different species have proposed mental and/or physical benefit ranging from stress relief to endurance and anti-cancer properties. Mushrooms, in any of these forms, are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect us from the woes of every day life and our environment. Other varieties of this fungi you may be more familiar with include shiitake, crimini, oyster, white button (these mature and become portobello!), which also offer a hefty dose of antioxidants and other nutrients like selenium, copper, B vitamins, vitamin D, as well as prebiotics – the “food” for our good gut bacteria.

Below are 5 species of mushrooms you might find or hear about in dried or liquid form like in E & Rose Wellness’ Magic Milk. In addition to their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, these magical mushrooms may help with*:

Reishi — stress relief, liver & brain health
Lion’s Mane — concentrations/focus, brain & immune health
Chaga — immune health, endurance
Cordyceps — stamina & endurance, immune health
Maitake — blood sugar & blood pressure control

The dried or liquid forms of these various mushrooms species can be added to smoothies, energy bites, soups, oats, coffee, tea…or found in coffee/tonic form already. I often add Four Sigmatic chaga to My Go-To Smoothie Bowl when I feel the sniffles coming on. How can you add more magic to your daily routine?

*The proposed benefits of these species of mushrooms have a much longer list, and adding a sprinkle of magic here and there could be helpful, however, like many things in the nutrition world, more research is needed.

Mushroom Magic