To enjoy all the benefits of functional mushrooms, it is no longer necessary to go to the pharmacy. The company Laird Superfood is offering a new hot chocolate available for purchase online, combining classic ingredients such as cocoa powder with several functional mushrooms, such as reishi, maitake and chaga.
This original addition does not change the texture of the hot chocolate or its taste in any way. Founded in 2015, Laird Superfood has since enjoyed strong success based on the use of natural, energizing products. This success is hardly surprising, as the global market for medicinal mushroom extracts is constantly growing every year.
Boosting your energy thanks to functional mushrooms
Apart from eating mushrooms and enjoying walking in the forest to pick them, what else can they be used for? For many other things, such as making shoes, or even healing and boosting the body. Sharing nearly half of their genetic material with human beings, so‑called “functional” mushrooms are already present in 40% of medications in pharmacies.
Functional mushrooms have multiple benefits derived from their nutritional molecules. Reishi, nicknamed “the king of mushrooms” in the Far East, has long been known for its bioactive components that slow the aging of the immune system.
Other functional mushrooms are even believed to have the power to improve cognitive functions. This is thought to be the case with hericium, nicknamed “lion’s mane” in China, which may strengthen concentration and memory capacity.
Cordyceps, for its part, is particularly appreciated as a remarkable source of concentrated energy, able to reduce the sensation of fatigue.
Natural antioxidant powers
It is well known: hectic life in large cities generates powerful oxidative stress, with a production of free radicals that is too great to be managed effectively by the body. These radicals cause accelerated skin aging and multiple harmful consequences for the body.
Some functional mushrooms contain antioxidant molecules that slow down cell aging. This is the case with chaga, known for its high content of antioxidant compounds and nicknamed the “golden mushroom” in China and Japan. Chaga thus helps the body adapt to forms of oxidative stress, particularly prolonged exposure to pollution and sunlight, thereby strengthening its natural defenses.
By extension, chaga may have general anti-aging properties. Other functional mushrooms are also useful in fighting cardiovascular diseases, such as maitake, known for its high beta-glucan content.
