This continues our article on mushrooms and explains why you should incorporate them into your diet, or consume them as a supplement.

Cordyceps: Energy, Stamina, and Renewal

Cordyceps has a story unlike any other mushroom. It grows in high mountain ranges, including Tibet and Nepal, where it parasitizes the larva of a caterpillar, eventually consuming it entirely.

Wild Cordyceps has become extremely difficult to find due to over-harvesting, so most of what is available today is lab-grown.

Its health properties, however, are extraordinary. It supports energy production by helping the mitochondria produce ATP, the molecule our cells use for fuel. It improves oxygenation, enhances physical performance, and is considered an anti-aging substance.

Cordyceps which lowers and in some cases eliminates inflammatory proteins, supports the heart and is used in China against arrhythmias.

Besides, it benefits the lungs, brain, kidneys, and liver, and enhances the immune system by activating phagocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells. It even protects the kidneys from the damaging effects of certain immunosuppressant medications as cyclosporine.

Turkey Tail: A Powerful Ally Against Cancer

Turkey Tail is one of the most studied anti-cancer mushrooms in the world, and its findings are consistently impressive.

It has shown efficacy against pancreatic and cervical cancers among others, and it alleviates symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

Its most potent immune properties come from two polysaccharide compounds, PSK and PSP, which actively eliminate bacteria and viruses from the body. It is also detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective.

In China and Japan, Turkey Tail is widely used to support patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, both supplementing the treatment and helping to combat the deep fatigue that so often accompanies it.

Maitake: The Dancing Mushroom

Maitake earned its name because people were said to dance with joy upon finding it in the wild. That reaction seems entirely justified. Maitake relieves both mental and physical stress, supports longevity, stimulates the immune system, and lowers blood sugar.

Like many of the mushrooms we have explored, it is rich in beta-glucans, which activate macrophages, T-cells, natural killer cells, and neutrophils.

It is regularly used in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, the cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, obesity, and elevated cholesterol that affects so many people today.

A Few More Worth Knowing

Beyond these seven, the mushroom world holds many more gifts:

Oyster mushrooms, easy to find at most farmers' markets, are rich in B, C, and D vitamins, carry antiviral properties, support gut health, help prevent osteoporosis, and lower cardiovascular risk.

A lesser known mushroom called Shaggy Mane has some interesting properties: it is high in vitamin C, lowers blood sugar which makes it very useful to treat diabetics, and it inhibits breast cancer no matter the estrogen receptor type.

Almond mushrooms (Agaricus Blazei Murrill) which are native from the Brazilian amazon and from Asia are widely prized for their capacity to prevent cancer. Not only that, but it is also an anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory food. It is also good for the gut and for fat metabolism.

Also, in the case of cancer, they minimize the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation as well as the risks of metastasis in numerous cancers.

Another type of mushroom, Wood Ear mushroom also called Jelly Ear stimulates blood flow without noxious effect to the blood vessels. It is a good alternative to blood thinners because the latter tend to damage blood vessels. Wood Ear is also an anti-thrombotic; it regulates blood pressure and lowers the risks of myocardial infarction.

Porcini mushrooms (bollets) contain lycopene, beta-carotene, and vitamin C, giving them impressive anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer properties.

Chanterelles are a wonderful source of vitamin D and have been used in Latvia to treat infections, intestinal parasites, and even to help clear radiation from the body. They are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat eyes problems, as their content in beta-carotene is appreciable.

Their phenolic acid content make them useful in the fight against cancers; they are also anti-genotoxic, anti-microbial, and immunomodulant.

Finally, Poria Cocos might not be well-known in the Western world, but it has been used in Chinese medicine for millennia. It treats lots of conditions, including diarrhea, edema, palpitations, headaches, or insomnia.

It is being investigated for its capacity to fight depression by augmenting the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine and bringing down inflammation in the prefrontal cortex.

One interesting fact is that Porcini and all common mushrooms, including button, cremini, and portabella, can convert a compound called ergosterol into vitamin D when placed in the sun before cooking. It is a small, easy habit that meaningfully increases the nutritional value of whatever you prepare.

How to Bring More Mushrooms Into Your Life

The most practical answer is also the most enjoyable one: eat them. Sauté them in a little olive oil with garlic, add them to soups and stews, blend them into sauces, or enjoy them as a warm side dish. Fresh mushrooms offer the greatest benefit, so seek them out at your local market whenever you can. For the more medicinal varieties like reishi, chaga, or cordyceps, supplements in capsule or powder form are widely available and a perfectly effective way to incorporate their benefits into your daily routine.

The research is clear and is growing. Mushrooms are among the most powerful tools nature has given us for protecting our health, supporting our immune systems, and building resilience against the chronic diseases that affect so many of us. They deserve a place at your table, and in your life.

If you would like personalized support on your wellness journey, I would love to hear from you. Reach out to me at

[email protected]

to schedule your free one-hour discovery session.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general educational and wellness purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

References

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Guo Y, Liu T, Li D. Research progress on the pharmacological effects of Poria cocos: a narrative update. Front Nutr. 2026 Jan 29;13:1774161. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1774161. PMID: 41693937; PMCID: PMC12894036.

Režić Mužinić N, Veršić Bratinčević M, Grubić M, Frleta Matas R, Čagalj M, Visković T, Popović M. Golden Chanterelle or a Gold Mine? Metabolites from Aqueous Extracts of Golden Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and Their Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities. Molecules. 2023 Feb 23;28(5):2110. doi: 10.3390/molecules28052110. PMID: 36903356; PMCID: PMC10004332.