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.

I've been getting a lot of inquiries about calories on our meal plan. When I ask what specifically is the goal many people are interested in weight loss.

As of right now we don't include calories in our meal plan, but as the demand for that seems to grow it is something we may consider.

Before that time comes I wanted to use this as a chance to talk a bit about calories and why I personally do not believe they are important for weight loss.

Calories are not made equally

it is more important to look at the quality of food you are putting into your body not just the amount of calories. 100 calories of broccoli reacts very differently in your body than 100 calories of chips or cookies. Broccoli nourishes you, and supplies your body with key nutrients and minerals, and it is stored differently once it breaks down (more on the this later).

If you are reading nutrition labels - it is more important to look at SUGARS than calories.

When we eat sugar our body uses what it needs for energy - If you’ve ever heard eat a banana before a workout - this is why. What our body doesn’t use for energy gets stored as fat. Looking out for sugar on a nutrition label is extremely important if you are trying to manage your weight - and for your overall health and wellness.

Pesticides/Herbicides/Heavy Metals are all stored in the fat cells.

Our bodies do not know what to do with all the chemicals that we are coming into contact with these days. There are chemicals in the air we breath, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the clothes we were. We are surrounded by chemicals. Our bodies are designed to eliminate them to keep us safe, but the rate we are exposed vs. the rate we can eliminate is just too high. To keep us safe from toxins that could make us sick or kill us, our bodies store environmental toxins in our fat cells. in addition to this, toxins also mess with our metabolism, and how our body balances our blood sugar. All leading to weight gain.

Sugar and processed foods are addicting

This is scientific FACTS! Somewhere in time during the US obesity epidemic scientists stated to look into food addiction, and what they found was that processed foods contain certain chemicals that release “feel good” responses in the body. These foods (like cheese and sugar) were found to light up the same area of the brain that heroine does making them highly addictive. This makes it 100% more likely that you will overindulge in a bag of chips is more likely than overeating vegetables and whole grains.

At the Hungry Hippie we place our focus on using NATURAL, organic, and real ingredients. This reduces the chances of being exposed to harmful toxins ( herbicides and pesticides) , and over eating in response to chemicals that trigger addictive eating patterns in your brain.

Anytime you are trying something new, it is easy to go into it with expectations. Whether they are positive or negative, we all have assumptions we form based on other people’s experiences, things we’ve read, or personal experiences we may have had in similar situations.

January is the most popular month for veganism - whether people are going vegan or just talking about it I want to help you make the most out of this time.

Today I want to break down common ideas and expectations around veganism and offer another point of view and some helpful tips!

expectation: I’m Going to Lose Weight By Going Vegan

Reality: This is not a give in and is entirely circumstantial. I’ve seen people go vegan and go both ways. Most junk foods are vegan, so it is important to be mindful of what you are eating, and if your eating habits need to be changed beyond giving up meat and dairy. If weight loss is a reason behind you going vegan then it is critical to adopt a whole food plant based diet. If you rely on packaged and processed foods it will be hard to get vital nutrients needed to support your body, and lose weight. Focus on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and real foods.

expectation: I’m not going to be able to eat out with friends

Reality: Eating out with friends at a non-vegan restaurant is possible, but it will take some creativity. I’ve been able to eat out at a steak house and while it isn’t always the most exciting meal, it does help me feel included and enjoy quality time with friends. Here are some tips for navigating:

1. Put more emphasis on the people you are eating with than the food. I used to get really bratty about not having “good enough” options on certain menus when out with family or friends, but it always ruined the experience. When I am going out now I always make sure that the company I’m with is my first priority.

2. Check the menu in advance. I always check the menu so I know what my options are and if I should have a snack before I go. You can even call the restaurant if you don’t see anything on the menu or want to make sure that revision are allowed.

3. Check the side dishes. I often create full meals out of side dishes. Lots of vegetables are often found here and can be ordered with a baked potato, side salad, or other grain.

4. Ask the waiter if the chef can make something vegan. Often times restaurants might not have a vegan option on the menu but they are willing to work with you. Scan the specials and mains for vegetables that the kitchen will have and offer up suggestions for dishes that you would enjoy eating using these ingredients!

5. Pick a culinary type that appeals to both vegans and meat eaters. Indian food, sushi or Japanese restaurants, and Chinese food often have options that work for all diet types !

expectation: All those vegetables will give me gas

Reality: This might be a reality, but there are ways to potentially avoid this. Vegetables are higher in fiber which could give you gas, so as you increase your fiber make sure you are also increasing your water intake. You can also use digestive enzymes during the transition, and take a probiotic daily to help your gut bacteria break down the fiber to reduce the side effects of all of the new roughage.

expectation: vegan diet is very boring

Reality: You will be surprised at how versatile the vegan diet can be. To avoid getting stuck you can join a meal delivery service ( like The Hungry Hippie!), find a few vegan blogs that offer recipes that are on par with your culinary skills, or invest in a few cookbooks. This will help give you different ideas, and teach you different cooking techniques for vegetables.

expectation: I won’t be able to get all the nutrients i need to be healthy

Reality: When you eat a balanced and whole food plant based vegan diet you will be able to get most of the nutrients that you need to be healthy. There are a few supplements that you should review with your doctor (since they are hard or impossible to get without eating animal products) like Vitamin D, B12, and the Omega’s. In addition to eating vegetable and fruit include: chia seeds, flax seeds, nutritional yeast, spirulina, nuts, and seeds into your diet.

What other expectations or misconceptions do you have around the vegan diet?

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)

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  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

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  Boosts your brain & productivity

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  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!