We are heading into the busiest time of the year. From holiday shopping to stressing about family functions topped off with cold and flu season it is so important to start prepping our body to be the healthiest it can be…now!

For years I have been using medicinal mushrooms to help my body stay in balance.

Balance is the KEY word. Medicinal mushrooms act as adaptogens. Adaptogens regulate stress in the bod, keep your hormones in check, and support our immune systems. All of these are key to maintaining health and being able to fight any invaders that might come our way (without destroying our good bugs in the process!)

There are so many adaptogens but today I want to focus solely on medicinal mushrooms.

There are three that I rotate in my routine daily or weekly and I want to chat about those today. Before we jump into that I want to talk a bit about two of the benefits of Medicinal Mushrooms.

Adaptogens and Immunomodulators

Really simply adaptogens protect the body from stress by supporting your bodies functions. They help to boost the immune system, protect from diseases, and in general help with overall wellness. The most important thing to note is that adaptogens help the body in non-specific ways. This means that you can take an adaptogen (like one of the mushrooms we will talk about or other herb) and it will communicate with your body to find out where it is needed to return your body to homeostasis.

Immunomodulators are very similar except they ONLY work on the immune system. Immunomodulators are very important because they are able to work with both underactive and overactive immune systems. So if you are feeling depleted, traveling a lot, or ae experiencing an auto-immune flair up Immunomodulators could be a tool in your toolbelt to help you stay healthy and return back to balance.

The king of mushrooms

First is Chaga the mushroom of the Immune System, and the King of Mushrooms (more on the Queen in a bit!) I wanted to start with Chaga because it is my favorite mushroom.

• It is an immunomodulating mushroom. It has polysaccharides (specifically beta-glucans) that help increase the production of lymphocytes (white blood cells that regulate the immune systems response to infections/viruses/bugs, etc.)

• It is full of antioxidants and is the single richest for found in nature. Antioxidants protect our cells from free radicals and oxidation which lead to cell degeneration, chronic fatigue, inflammation, pain, illness, and cancer.

• Chaga is also rich in Betulinic Acid which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, and has apoptogenic properties. Betulinic Acid is what gives Chaga the ability to go into the body and regulate it. It works to help you feel your best.

• Chaga has more Zinc, and Melanin than any single natural source - this is not only great for our immune system but also our skin, hair, and eyes.

The Queen of Mushrooms

Reishi is considered the Queen of Mushrooms (I mean doesn’t her name just sound Regal?) and back in the day was reserved for use by Emperor’s and other royalty.

• In addition to Queen of Mushrooms - Reishi is also referred to as “Mushroom of Immortality”, “Ruler of Herbs”, and “Mushroom of Spiritual Potency”

• Has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 2000 years, and was ranked highest among 365 healing plants and fungi

• Like Chaga, Reishi is an Immunomodulating mushroom and protects against viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

• Reishi is also great for skin health and circulation, and there are studies supporting its benefits on lowering blood pressure, keep blood sugar stable, lowering cholesterol, and in some cases preventing tumor growth.

• One of the most important functions of Reishi is the effects it has on hormones and our endocrine system. It helps to balance hormones and relax the nervous system which allows for deeper and more restful sleep. This improves overall health and immunity.

boost your Brain Function

The last mushroom I want to talk about is Lion’s Mane. This was one of the first mushrooms I was introduced too back 6ish years ago. I guess now is a good time to tell you, I actually HATE culinary mushrooms. I can’t eat them. I learned about Mushroom Coffee from a nutrition podcast I binge, and gave it a shot. It was Lions Mane and Chaga mixed with coffee, I loved it and loved the added benefits.

• Lions Mane has been used in TCM for helping with digestion and gut issues

• It is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and has immunomodulating properties.

• The uniqueness of Lions Mane comes from its brain boosting properties. It protects our nervous system and has even reversed the effects of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Dementia.

My great grandmother and my grandmother suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s so I appreciate the protection that this mushroom offers.

How To Buy Medicinal Mushrooms that Work

I am the first to tell you that I often get drawn into wanting to try every single superfood, or powder. This can get expensive, and can leave you with a cabinet of half full products you never use. I’ve done that too.

I personally use Four Sigmatic products. They were the first brand that I knew of using medicinal mushrooms in this way and they are really transparent. I have been using them for 6 or so years and have seen the benefits of their products. I believe in the quality and appreciate how they are constantly adapting to make better products. I also think they have the most flavorful products out there! Plus, I’ve been able to switch my parents (who are totally NOT into all of my Hippie antics) to switch to mushroom coffee.

You can use whatever products you connect with and do not have to buy Four Sigmatic -but here are a few things you should look for when purchasing medicinal shrooms!

Look for Dual Extracted (Alcohol + Hot Water) to get the most benefits of the mushroom

Alcohol Extraction - pulls out the fat soluble compounds

Water Extraction - pulls out the water soluble compounds

The only way to get the maximum health benefits of the mushrooms is to find a product that uses both extraction processes.

Third Party Testing

Mycotoxins, heavy metals, bad bacteria, yeast, and pesticides are all possible contaminants when you are consuming medicinal mushrooms. Mycotoxins are unhealthy mold (think: black mold) that can be found on nuts, seeds, coffee, cacao, and beans. They can be harmful to our health. Look for a brand that is transparent in their testing and uses Third Party Testing to ensure their products are free of these contaminants.

USDA Organic

It’s so important to know where and how your food is grown. It’s especially important when you are using food as medicine and consuming it multiple times a day. When you buy a USDA certified product you know that you are not contaminating your body with pesticides, GMO’s, fungicides, or herbicides.

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*If you want to order from Four Sigmatic use code kaleismykarma to save 10% on all your orders*

I am an affiliate and do make a small commission on orders using my code, however I will never promote a brand that I do not use or believe whole heartedly in.

A few years ago I realized I had a problem.

I was addicted to Starbucks. Whenever I was traveling I would make sure we would be near a Starbucks, and it would be my first stop in the morning.

By the time I realized that this was an issue, I was a Quad Venti latte a day girl, and sometimes a 2nd in the afternoon.

If I didn't have coffee I would get the shakes, unbearable headaches, and I would be very cranky, but worse than all of that were the things that were happening to my bod on a deeper level.

The only non-dairy milk option they had at the time was soy. Consuming this much Non-Organic soy was so bad for my hormones. On top of that my adrenals were working in over drive to process all the caffeine, and I was struggling with terrible acne.

I quit coffee for a year to regain my health (and prove a point!). Then I learned about @foursigmatic mushroom coffee and at that point I was really missing my morning cup.

So I decided that it would be okay for me to start drinking coffee again as long as it was quality coffee (aka Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee)

Here’s what I love about Four Sigmatic

• Less acidic than normal coffee (no stomach burning)

• 
  Extremely high quality (no pesticides, no mycotoxins)

• 
  Jitter-free and I can go days without drinking it without any nasty withdrawals!

• 
  Includes powerful antioxidants and immune boosting properties

• 
  Boosts your brain & productivity

• 
  Reduces stress, improves concentration, memory, and alertness

The mushrooms also have amazing health benefits:

Chaga is one of the world's most potent superfoods. It is antiviral, antimicrobial, and high in antioxidants. Making it great for the immune system - if you immune system is depleted it raises it but if you have an overactive one (autoimmune disease) it helps to regulate it. 

Cordyceps (vegan friendly kind) is a natural energy booster, & enhances blood flow. Because of its adaptagenic properties it doesn't result in an energy crash or jitters

Lions Mane is great for boosting focus, cognitive function, and long and short term memory. It is also been known to have benefits on the heart and gut.

If you want to give Mushroom Coffee a try you can use my code kaleismykarma for a 10% discount.

Okay, now onto the recipe!

Mushroom Mexican Coffee

1” - 2” Orange Peel (make sure it’s organic)

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground Ginger

pinch of cayenne

Creamer of Choice

Coffee of Choice

Instructions:

If using a French Press: put the coffee grinds, orange peel, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne into the coffee press. Pour in hot water and let brew according to the instructions of your french press (around 4 minutes usually)

If your brewing coffee in a coffee maker add all ingredients except for the creamer into the filter and brew regularly.

Enjoy!

I was sitting in a coffeeshop a few days ago when I overheard these two girls talking about how they had to go get coffee somewhere else because that place had weird coffee with mushrooms in it. I started laughing to myself and thought " they are seriously missing out!"

Then a few days later I had another conversation with someone who had heard that coffee was bad for you and wanted to know if that was true.

I wanted to share my thoughts since there is so many opinions about this bean.

First I want to say that if you react to negatively to coffee (jittery feeling, acid reflux, etc.) then you should listen to your body/doctor regardless of what I say below. Wellness is NOT a one size fits all model and it is important to do what feels right to you.

Coffee prepared correctly can be a source of antioxidants, help prevent the 2 diabetes, be a natural source for energy, and prevent liver disease.

For me there are a few non-negotiables when it comes to coffee

• It must be organic. Coffee is one of the highest sprayed crops- this means most conventional coffee is loaded with pesticides. Pesticides can have a number of ill effects on the body including overworked liver (hello acne!), leaky gut (bloat and upset belly anyone?), and inability to lose weight (pesticides are stored in our fat cells!).

• If I don’t know the source of the (nut)milk, I drink it black. Coffee often gets a bad rep for being loaded with sugar, but it’s all in the way we prepare it. Coffee creamers (and even plain nut milk) normally has a 10 ingredient list and sugar is almost always a part of it. Being mindful of the milk you’re choosing will help keep a coffee a healthy habit instead of turning it into a sugary treat.

Keeping Coffee a Healthy Habit: My Tips

• Buy organic coffee - My go to is Four Sigmatic. They pair organic, fair trade coffee with medicinal mushrooms. We are all really busy so when I find a product that does double health duty I am all about it! Four Sigmatic uses medicinal mushrooms like lions mane (brain health), cordyceps (natural energy source), chaga (immune booster + skin health savior) in conjunction with their coffee. They have instant packs (I love these when I’m traveling) and ground coffee. The mushrooms help to avoid caffeine crashes, withdrawal headaches, and all of the unpleasant side effects you might experience. I hate drinking coffee that isn’t laced with ‘shrooms. There’s a 10% savings code at the end of the article!

• Skip the store bought creamers. Like I said up top creamers are usually loaded with nasties that would make drinking coffee a disaster. Before I started making creamer for Hungry Hippie I was using Nutpods. They are not the worst option, but they do use fillers and gums. You can also purchase my homemade creamer here.

• I recently started paying attention to how the way I prepared my coffee made me feel and I started gravitating towards the French Press. I felt like it was less acidic, richer, and I didn’t have the added expense of organic unbleached paper filters ( the standard coffee filters are bleach!) I bought this one from Amazon and it came with a wooden spoon, a sponge, and extra filters!

• I limit my coffee intake to the mornings only since caffeine has a 6 hour half life (if you have a cup of Joe at 8AM you’ll still have 50% of that caffeine in you at 2PM, 25% at 8PM).

• I make sure to keep my water intake up since caffeine is a natural diuretic and may cause loss of fluids. I shoot for 2 full Swell bottles per day in addition to tea.

• I add BulletProof Brain Octane to my coffee. This is a higher power MCT ( Medium Chain Triglyceride) Oil that metabolizes into ketone (fat) energy. When you burn through fat energy you have longer periods of stamina without a crash. The opposite is true for sugar. This also helps reduce cravings, and increase your fat burn.

• I reach for natural sweeteners instead of packets or sugar or even Stevia. Cinnamon and Vanilla Extract are on the top of my list, but also reach for Cacao and Pumpkin Spice too!

So in my opinion I think in moderation, coffee does have a place for those who enjoy it, can tolerate it, and don’t have any adverse effects from it.

If you have any questions about coffee, vegan food, or wellness in general feel free to reach out!

P.S. That code to save on Four Sigmatic is kaleismykarma