Even before the success of the hit Netfilx documentary, Fantastic Fungi, mushrooms have been the celebrated hero ingredient within the wellness community. The savory superfood is not only packed with flavor, it is also loaded with vitamins that help promote immunity and enhance bone strength. Functional mushrooms are also now often used for regulating mood as well as sleep, boosting digestive health, and improving skin radiance. Mixed with smoothies, healthy parfaits or taken as tinctures, these healing chanterelles are easy to integrate into everyday rituals that support healthier lifestyles.

Every variant from the fungi family offers its unique set of benefits. Reishi is familiar in the field of Asian healing traditions. It supports the body’s natural ability to fight viruses and destroys cancer cells. Regular intake of Reishi has also rendered impressive results in managing stress, enhancing mood, and improving one’s quality of sleep. I’ve not stopped taking my Reishi tinctures since it was first introduced as a delicious topper to vegan breakfast parfaits and chia bowls.

Further exploration of the functional mushroom spectrum revealed other potent varieties that mark striking improvements in overall quality of life. Cordyceps is a type of mushroom that continues to gain traction among athletic or active individuals. It boosts metabolic rates and helps with muscle recovery, especially following a killer workout. A shot of cordyceps before exercise or sport also supports the body as it regulates oxygen.

Tonics or teas infused with Chaga do wonders in fighting inflammation. It’s been found to not only help fight cancer, but also lower blood sugar levels. Lion’s Mane, which has very recently become my very own secret weapon on days when the do-list seems endless, supports productivity, focus, mood, and overall brain function. It blends beautifully with a cup of organic cacao, which is a healthier alternative to coffee. Studies have also shown that this mushroom variant helps in prevention of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

There are several ways to begin a wellness journey with functional or medicinal mushrooms. Although the wide range of varieties may seem a little overwhelming at first, these wellness brands have helped enhance the healing experience with mushrooms.

STRANGE LOVE’s line of functional mushroom tinctures combines modern science with ancient Chinese healing remedies. Its blends are formulated to help “reduce stress, boost brain function, promote better sleep, and so much more.” Ingredients in the brand’s tinctures include: Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail and the first-ever lab grown Cordyceps.

For a brain and energy boost: Strange Love’s Energy Mushroom Powered Drops helps to fight off fatigue, boost immunity and retain natural levels of cortisone. It is blended with Ginseng Root, Licorice Root and Cordycell.

The Brain Boost Drops is also a potent morning shot that helps enhance focus and energy. This clinical-strength blend from Strange Love is mixed with Cordycell, Lion’s Mane, Yerba Mate, and Ginkgo. It is ideal to mix with your fresh brew just before tackling a full day of deadlines and meetings. You may also take a few drops midday if you feel the need to power up and clear away brain fog or creative blocks.

Unwind and de-stress: Stress Reset Tinctures from Strange Love brings one back into a state of calm, balance, and clarity. Potent ingredients like St. John’s Worth, Scullcap Herb and Cordycell help with managing overall mood, anxiety and fatigue. A few drops towards day’s end seamlessly transition one from a state of frenzy to grateful fulfillment.

The sweetest slumber: The key to optimum performance each day is quality sleep the night prior. Strange Love’s Sleep Tincture delivers just that, while reducing the amount of time spent tossing and turning. I find that more than workload or pressures of work, it’s the struggle at bedtime that truly affects how we wake up each morning. Since trying the Sleep Tincture’s blend of Valerian Root, Passionflower and Cordycell, slumber has been extra sweet. As for early mornings, they are now greeted with renewed energy, enthusiasm, and excitement.

RAINBO was founded in 2017 by Tonya Papanikolov. The B-Corp certified mushroom company was inspired by nature’s ability to heal and “a desire to reconnect people back to this innate wisdom.” Blends from Rainbo echo a philosophy that beyond flavors and culinary delights, food’s primary function is to heal. Tonya writes: “I have seen food, plants, and fungi transform lives, bodies, brains, consciousness of myself and my clients. I wouldn’t be on this mission to get millions of people consuming functional mushrooms if I didn’t wholeheartedly believe in their potential to alchemize us and our planet.”

A full dose of fungi everyday: Think of RAIBO’s 11:11 blend as the ultimate dose of multivitamins. It is powered by 11 functional mushrooms that include Reishi, Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, Oyster, Messina, Agarikon, Shitake, Royal Sun, and Maitake. This super blend supports immunity and antioxidant activity. 11:11 does more than enhance energy levels, it also raises our vibration and sense for being resilient.

Fungi on everything: Forego sugars and artificial sweeteners and replace it with Forest Juice. This tasty blend of Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail are great to add to brews, teas, infusions, tonics, elixirs and even nut milks. A drizzle of Forest Juice will make a champion’s breakfast out of your favorite chia bowl, granolas, and gluten free pancakes. I personally like it over a hearty serving of hand-rolled oats and fruit.

RASA was borne out of a mother’s need for a sustained, nourishing, and mood enhancing energy boost. Drawing from her decade-long affinity for Ayurveda, its founder, Lopa van der Mersch, began brewing herbs to come up with blends that would fuel her days without the caffeine jitters.

More potent than coffee: One of the standout super-functional coffee alternatives from the brand is Magnificent Mushrooms. It is an extract powder packed with Turkey Tail, Reishi, Cordyceps, Lion’s Made, Tremella and Poria. A serving–or two–each day fortifies immunity, enhances energy levels, and optimizes how we face the world each day. Magnificent Mushrooms is also recommended for those looking to boost vitality and focus. The team at RASA adds, “Oh, and did we mention it’s the most potent on the market?”

FIRST PERSON is the product of two brothers looking for ways to beat the Alzheimer’s gene in their family. This journey led them to discover the power of functional mushrooms on brain health and cognition. It also inspired a line of supplements designed to address a number of wellness concerns while simultaneously supporting overall brain health. The brand distinguishes itself with precision-targeted formulas that “provide true alternatives to caffeine, alcohol and sleep aids without activating the serotonin receptors in your brain.”

Instead of coffee.. SUNBEAM tunes mind, body and spirit into a state of creativity, inspiration and calmed focus. Formulated with precision-targeted mushrooms, it prompts the body to naturally produce dopamine neurotransmitters. Sunbeam also promotes long term cognitive health.

Instead of a happy hour cocktail… GOLDEN HOUR guides sense towards feelings of relaxation, joy, and connectedness. A blend of Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Saffron and Lemon Balm, this precision-targeted formula unwinds both body and mind from knots of stress and anxiety. It also ushers in body-mind connection, which elevates wellness practices like an afternoon yoga flow, sound bath or mediation session.

Instead of sleeping pills… MOONLIGHT is a starry prelude to your deepest most restorative sleep. This sleep-fast-wake-up-fresh formula packs a punch with ingredients like FIRST PERSON’s exclusively grown Pacific Northwest Reishi, Passion Flower, Holy Basil, L-Theanine, and Kava. Moonlight naturally fosters the body’s production of the GABA neurotransmitter, which relaxes our nerves and prompts the brain to go into relaxed mode.