Four Beneficial Mushrooms for Wellness

2017-11-13

Autumn is widely known as the perfect season for mushroom picking. Let’s take a closer look at four mushrooms with benefits that may be less familiar!

Lists Immune Support

Agaricus Bisporus, the Famous Button Mushroom

Better known as the button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus is the most cultivated and most consumed mushroom in the world. This round, smooth, white mushroom is appreciated for its tender texture and rich flavor. But it also offers many other advantages for the body! It is naturally rich in copper and selenium, minerals known for supporting immune function. Agaricus bisporus is also a source of potassium and B vitamins (B2, B3, B5, and B9), nutrients involved in the proper functioning of the body. Recently, scientific studies have identified compounds in this mushroom that may support weight-management goals. These specific polysaccharides found in Agaricus bisporus could bind dietary fats and help limit weight gain.

Shiitake, a Flavorful Mushroom with Benefits from Asia

After the button mushroom, shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is the second most consumed mushroom in the world. Sometimes spelled "shiitaké" or called "oak mushroom," this Asian mushroom is easy to recognize thanks to its thick, reddish-brown cap. In recent years, shiitake has enjoyed great success due to its delicate, aromatic flavor. It has also attracted scientific interest after the discovery of a complex of active compounds with immune-supporting properties. Known as AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound), this complex has been shown to help strengthen the body’s natural defenses.

How to enjoy its benefits?

In the kitchen, shiitake is always eaten cooked. To benefit from AHCC, you must turn to dietary supplements, since this compound is obtained through a unique fermentation process. AHCC® Shiitake is available in the SuperSmart supplement catalogue.

Reishi, the Mushroom of Immortality

The glossy ganoderma (Ganoderma lucidum), more commonly known as reishi, is a mushroom native to China and Japan. It is easy to recognize by its rounded cap, which ranges from reddish-brown to yellow. Reishi is primarily known for its long history of use in traditional Asian practices. For thousands of years, it has been used to help support immunity and strengthen overall vitality. Highly studied in the field of healthy aging, reishi has earned the nickname "the mushroom of immortality."

How to enjoy its benefits?

Due to its tough texture and bitterness, reishi is not typically used in cooking. To benefit from its properties, it is usually dried and ground into a powder that can be incorporated into various preparations. This powder is widely used in dietary supplements, such as the anti-aging formula Reishi Extract.

Cordyceps Sinensis, a Mushroom with Energizing Properties

Little known in Europe, Cordyceps sinensis is highly prized in Asia. In traditional Chinese and Tibetan practices, it is used as a tonic. More recently, scientific studies have attributed potential benefits for supporting athletic performance, generating strong interest among Chinese athletes.

How to enjoy its benefits?

There are several strains of Cordyceps sinensis, but the best studied is the Paecilomyces hepiali Chen strain. It is available as a nutritional supplement in the SuperSmart catalogue under the name Cordyceps Cs-4.

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