What are functional mushrooms?

The true identity of functional mushrooms

In recent years, functional mushrooms have been attracting attention as a major trend in Europe and the United States. In the Western wellness industry, foods, drinks, and health supplements using mushrooms are appearing every day, and influencers are flocking to add functional mushrooms to their smoothies and coffee, which is reminiscent of the CBD boom.

In fact, the global functional mushroom market is expected to grow to more than $19 billion by 2030 .

Awareness of CBD is just beginning to grow in Japan, and it is likely that within the next 2-3 years, as CBD becomes a part of everyday life, Japan will follow suit and see a boom in functional mushrooms.

So what exactly are these functional mushrooms that are currently all the rage in the US and Europe?

Why is this huge boom happening?

What are functional mushrooms?

Functional mushrooms are a general term for mushrooms that contribute to maintaining health by reducing stress, improving cognitive function, and increasing energy levels.

There are approximately 2,000 edible or medicinal mushroom species in the world, of which 15 are recognized as "functional."

Some of the most popular functional mushrooms include Lion's Mane (Yerinaceus yamabushitake), Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps sinensis, and Turkey Tail (Coriander versicolor).

Although functional mushrooms are not necessarily tasty, their properties have led to their use as medicines throughout history, and some, such as lionsmane, are thought to have brain-boosting properties.

When classifying mushrooms, they are sometimes called "functional mushrooms," "medicinal mushrooms," and "adaptogenic mushrooms," which can be confusing. First, let's explain these terms.

Functional mushrooms :

This broad definition refers to any mushroom that offers a health benefit beyond basic nutritional value. Functional mushrooms have properties that support immune function, increase energy, or aid digestion.

Medicinal mushrooms:

This specifically refers to mushrooms that have traditionally been used medicinally by various cultures and may help improve immune function, reduce inflammation, prevent infections, and support overall health.

Examples of medicinal mushrooms include reishi, cordyceps, turkey tail, and agaricus.

Adaptogenic Mushrooms:

Some functional or medicinal mushrooms have properties related to adaptogens and are sometimes called adaptogenic mushrooms.

Morphology of functional mushrooms

Functional mushrooms are available in a variety of forms, including drops (tinctures), capsules, powders, liquid sprays, gummies and drinks, allowing consumers to choose the method of intake that best suits their lifestyle and preferences.

However, you should choose carefully as simply drying and powdering mushrooms may not provide the full health benefits.

Why do functional mushrooms need to be extracted?

Simply put, extraction is the process that is used to make the beneficial "medicinal" compounds in mushrooms bioavailable so that they can be absorbed by our bodies.

Mushrooms have very tough cell walls that consist mainly of chitin , which is known to be very difficult for our bodies to break down. This is thought to act as a barrier to the active compounds (such as beta-glucans and terpenoids) that have shown positive health effects in studies.

The mushroom extraction process breaks down the chitin, allowing our bodies to access the compounds hidden underneath. Without extraction, we may not be able to fully benefit from these compounds.

Efficacy and Benefits

Functional mushrooms have a wide range of health benefits, including boosting immune function, aiding digestion, improving intestinal health, and giving skin a natural glow. They contain a wealth of polyphenols, polysaccharides, beta-glucans, antioxidants, and terpenoids, which are thought to work synergistically to support the immune system.

Among them, some herbs such as Lion's Mein (Yerinaceus yamabushitake), Ganoderma lucidum, and Agaricus have unique medicinal properties. Lion's Mein has been found to stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) in human cells and enhance brain function.

Safety and Precautions

Although functional mushrooms are generally considered safe, pregnant women, nursing mothers and people with certain medical conditions are advised to consult a doctor before use, as functional mushrooms may interact with some medications.

Are mushrooms just a trend?

There is now a growing view that the interest in mushrooms is more than just a fad.

In the midst of the serious environmental crisis, some people are finding hope for the future in the mushroom ecosystem. In particular, the network nature of mushrooms, known as the " Wood Wide Web ," has attracted attention.

This is a complex underground network that connects trees with fungi in forests, exchanging nutrients and information, supporting forest ecosystems and allowing communication between plants.

As a result, forests are attracting attention as they efficiently sequester carbon, contribute to climate change mitigation, maintain soil health, and improve nature conservation strategies, thus enhancing global environmental conservation and sustainability.

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Furthermore, mushrooms are also being used in a wider range of applications, for example in the fashion industry, where companies such as Hermes and Stella McCartney are making major investments in the development of innovative alternative leather made from mushrooms and have begun to bring products to market.

Additionally, the food industry is exploring the potential of mushrooms to utilize their rich protein as a meat alternative, and vegan meat products are being developed one after another. These advances are further accelerating the mushroom boom.

The potential of mushrooms as a key to improving the global environment is attracting attention across industries.

Across the ocean, there is a rapid rise in the number of people who are passionate about the value of mushrooms as more than just a food ingredient, and perhaps one day mushrooms will become an essential resource for our future.