This adaptogen not only supports immunity, but also improves cognitive health!

Mushrooms are a very familiar ingredient. There are many varieties of mushrooms. They are not only an important part of the traditional diet, but also attract attention in the modern food, health care and medicine fields for their rich nutritional value and bioactive ingredients.

1. "Adaptogen" mushrooms

Mushrooms are a delicious and nutritious ingredient. There is a type of mushroom whose health benefits go beyond its edible value, that is, functional mushrooms. Studies have found that functional mushrooms have adaptogenic properties and can regulate the body's balance without interfering with physiological functions. The so-called adaptogen refers to natural substances that can enhance the body's ability to adapt to stress in addition to helping the body improve cognition, mood and energy levels.

Common functional mushrooms include reishi, versicolor, maitake, shiitake, cordyceps, tremella, hericium, chaga, enoki, Agaricus blazei, etc. Each mushroom has slightly different nutritional content, some mushrooms will provide similar and overlapping functions, and some mushrooms will also have unique health benefits.

Immune support: Reishi, Coriolus versicolor, Maitake, Shiitake, Cordyceps, Tremella, Hericium, Chaga, Enoki, Agaricus.

Antioxidant: Chaga, Maitake

Brain and cognitive health: Hericium

Energy and athletic performance: Cordyceps

Mood and stress relief: Reishi

There are many types of functional mushrooms, and as the popularity of this ingredient increases, the labeling of mushroom products needs to be clearer.

2. Market overview of mushrooms

As consumers pay more attention to health, the mushroom market has shown a steady growth trend in recent years. According to data from market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global functional mushroom market will be worth $31.09 billion in 2024, and the global functional mushroom market is expected to continue to grow from 2025 to 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.14% during the forecast period. According to SPINS and Nutrition Outlook data, mushrooms are one of the top 25 functional ingredients in the natural channel, with sales increasing by 19.1% to $24.4 million. The Asia-Pacific region dominates the functional mushroom market. In addition, due to the increasing consumer preference for functional mushrooms, the functional mushroom market in the United States will grow significantly and is expected to reach $8.92 billion by 2032.

The growth of the market is mainly attributed to the increased attention of consumers to healthy eating. In addition, another advantage of mushrooms is that they are not restricted by the growing environment and can be harvested multiple times a year. Thanks to the convenience of mushroom raw materials, the product variety of functional mushrooms is particularly diverse. In addition to traditional supplements, there are also many products such as capsules and powders. Many companies have also integrated functional mushrooms into daily products such as coffee, tea, and functional drinks.

For example, an organic food company in the United States has launched a "mushroom version" of instant coffee, adding seven kinds of mushrooms such as Hericium erinaceus, shiitake mushrooms, versicolor, birch mushrooms, cordyceps mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, and red ganoderma, which can be drunk by soaking in hot water.

3. Functions and applications of mushrooms

1). Immune support

Immune support is one of the core functions of mushroom ingredients. β-glucan is a natural dietary fiber that exists in natural plants and microorganisms such as grains, fungi, bacteria and algae. β-glucan in mushrooms can be obtained in medicinal mushrooms such as Hericium erinaceus, Shiitake mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum, Chaga, Cordyceps sinensis, and Yunzhi. It works synergistically with other nutrients to help regulate immune system function, regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and protect the health of the cardiovascular system.

In addition, a large number of studies since the mid-20th century have shown that polysaccharides found in most mushrooms, including lichen-type mushrooms, can bidirectionally regulate human immune function; there are also active substances such as terpenes, enzymes, and unsaturated fatty acids, which are of great significance in stimulating the activity of human immune cells.

Product application: Mushroom supplement capsules with 8 organic mushroom extracts (Yunzhi, Maitake, Shiitake, Cordyceps sinensis, Tremella, Hericium erinaceus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Chaga) are helpful for immune support and overall health.

2). Cognitive health

Cognitive health is the most widely used direction for mushroom ingredients. According to SPINS and Nutrition Outlook data, mushrooms rank in the top ten in the cognitive health category of mainstream multi-channels. In this category, mushroom sales increased by 133.3% in the 52 weeks ending October 6, 2024.

The main raw material used in this category is Hericium erinaceus. Hericium erinaceus can improve cognitive function by promoting the synthesis and secretion of nerve growth factor (NGF) and increasing the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF plays a key role in regulating synaptic plasticity, learning and memory consolidation. In addition, the bioactive compounds in Hericium erinaceus can cross the blood-brain barrier and directly act on the nervous system to promote neuroprotection and neuroregeneration.

In an experiment to study the effects of Hericium erinaceus supplements on cognitive function, stress, and mood in young people, 41 healthy adults aged 18 to 45 were recruited and randomly assigned to the Hericium erinaceus group and the placebo group, and were required to take 1.8 grams of Hericium erinaceus or placebo for 28 consecutive days. Cognitive function was assessed by a computerized mental performance assessment system, including tasks such as attention, executive function, working memory, and episodic memory. Emotions and stress were assessed by stress visual analog scale, visual analog emotion scale, and perceived stress scale. The results showed that after a single dose of Hericium erinaceus, the participants' reaction speed in the Stroop task was significantly accelerated. After 28 days of Hericium erinaceus supplementation, the participants' subjective stress showed a downward trend. This shows that Hericium erinaceus supplements have the effect of improving reaction speed and relieving subjective stress to a certain extent.

Product application: Mushroom cognitive capsules with 1000mg Hericium erinaceus extract added to support cognitive health

3). Antioxidant

The polysaccharide extract of mushrooms contains α- and β-glucans, uronic acid, and phenolic compounds. They can scavenge free radicals, inhibit lipid peroxidation, chelate iron ions, and participate in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.

In addition, antioxidants in mushrooms such as ergothioneine and glutathione also help to resist oxidative stress. Ergothioneine is a natural antioxidant that inhibits the production of oxides from metal ions, removes hydroxyl groups and hypochlorous acid. It is widely distributed in the plant and animal kingdoms, and mammals can only obtain it through diet, and mushrooms are one of the good sources of ergothioneine.

4). Enhance energy and endurance

Cordyceps sinensis is a powerful adaptogen mushroom that naturally increases energy and endurance and helps the adrenal system deal with stress and fatigue. Cordyceps sinensis helps to obtain more natural energy by increasing the body's ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which can resist fatigue. Athletes can use cordyceps sinensis to improve endurance and oxygen content, thereby improving athletic performance.