There are thousands of varieties of this incredible fungi, however, we know a few functional and edible mushrooms that are highly regarded for their traditional medicine applications over centuries. These incredible fungi have survived in times even before humans existed and have come to be known as functional or medicinal mushrooms at present. It is the polysaccharides, polyphenols and carotenoids in functional mushrooms that have shown anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Understanding the anatomy of a mushroom is crucial to fully grasping the potential uses of each segment.

What you identify as the cap and the body of the mushroom is called its fruiting body and the web of roots underground that accesses the resources to create the actual fruiting body is called mycelium.  The fruiting body is more complex than a simple tiny umbrella-shaped structure. It mainly consists of the cap and the stalk, which act as the reproductive parts of a mushroom.

What we see most commonly above the ground is the top curve called the Mushroom Cap which offers the fruiting body a protective covering. Caps can have scales, striations and warts on them and come in different shapes and sizes ranging from bell to flat. Different varieties of mushrooms have different shapes of curves and the distance between the edges of the cap.

Under the cap is where we find the gills of the mushroom’s fruiting body also called pores or lamellae scientifically. The pattern of gills is unique to each fruiting body and differs across all mushroom bodies and types. The gills facilitate the release of small, thick-walled structures called Spores, which are small seeds that help in the reproduction of mushroom type.

Under the gills, is the stem of the mushrooms also known as the stipe or the stalk. It offers a base for the cap to stand upon while connecting it to the mycelia in the ground.

Some stems have rings which are also called volvas or bulbs which are the leftover tissue formed over the growth phase of the fruiting bodies. Rings help offer added protection to gills and spores during their existence.

Away from the naked eye is Mycelium which forms a thread-like web of hyphae helping the fruiting bodies grow and reproduce while it works on forming an underground connection with other mushrooms. Mycelium is a complex network of underground filaments which function similarly to the roots of a plant offering it a solid standing support while also connecting it to other mushrooms underground. The Mycelium helps in breaking down and digesting the organic matter and offering the essential minerals to the fruiting body.

Recent research has brought to light that the benefits of the functional mushrooms that we seek in terms of Beta-glucans and Polysaccharides are found in abundance in the fruiting body, while Mycelium is proving to be beneficial in increasing the Nerve Growth Factor NGF levels and improving cognition. There has been a long-standing debate on which is better, the fruiting body or the mycelium. While both the fruiting body and mycelium form the basic composition of any mushroom type, it is the fruiting body which seems to have 15 times more active compounds in comparison to mycelium as per general research reports.

The fruiting bodies in mushrooms are likely to contain essential bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, indoles, polyphenols, carotenoids and vital nutrition in terms of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. The fruiting bodies in a mushroom are also a rich source of minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace minerals, including iron, selenium, copper, and zinc.

At Organic Mushrooms, we use the fruiting bodies of certified naturally grown mushrooms to unlock the most beneficial compounds like beta-glucans and improve bioavailability. Our health supplements are created by treating the fruiting bodies of revered functional mushrooms through patented double and triple extraction methods. Organic Mushrooms health supplements are 100% organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and are produced in Canada from start to finish ensuring quality and authenticity.

Unlike plants, Mushrooms thrive in clusters in damp conditions even in the absence of sunlight. They feed on the decaying plant matter around them. Functional mushrooms also referred to as medicinal mushrooms are fungi that offer a vast array of health benefits ranging from better immunity to improved cognition. Some cultures have been using fungi as a part of their medicines for centuries. There are traces of earlier generations using medicinal mushrooms for their adaptogenic properties. The adaptogens in functional mushrooms help check the growth of free radicals inside the human body, which if unchecked can lead to complications and diseases such as cancer.

For centuries, one had to rely on forests to find functional mushrooms making them hard to find. Farming them is not easy and requires elaborate natural processes as each of the functional mushrooms requires a very specific way to develop its fruiting body. The functional mushroom types include Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Chaga, Cordyceps, Shiitake and Reishi. Lion’s Mane is native to Asia, North America and some parts of Europe as it grows in forests on particular trees such as oak, walnut and birch sometimes feeding on dead trees or living on them as a parasite. Chaga, the fungus with multiple pores grows on birch trees in cold climates of northern Canada, Alaska and Siberia and is extremely rich in antioxidants. Reishi on the other hand feeds and grows on deciduous trees such as maple, plum, oak and elm throughout the world. Turkey Tail feeds off decaying wood, starting as fungus growing on the decomposing trees across Asia, North America and some parts of Europe. Probably the first functional mushroom to be cultivated by humans, Shiitake grows on the hard surface of trees such as maple, oak and ironwood. Shiitake has an earthy flavour and is rich in protein, minerals, vitamins and fibre. Cordyceps Sinesis feeds on a caterpillar as the parasite fungus feeds on the dead body of the larva and transforms into a powerful fungus.

At Organic Mushrooms, we source mushrooms from authorized licensed growers in Canada. All of our mushrooms are grown in Pemberton, British Columbia and then sent to our facility in Parksville, British Columbia. All our health supplements are created from natural fruiting bodies using patented double and triple hot water extraction methods. They are prepared from start to finish by our team on Vancouver Island. We operate a safe facility and lab test all of our products to make sure our customers only receive high-quality products. All of our products are third-party tested and go through the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification process.

Organic Mushrooms offers the goodness of revered mushroom types such as Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Chaga, Turkey Tail, Reishi, Shiitake and our flagship VitaMush (a combination of 5 potent medicinal mushrooms) through 100% organic, non-GMO and gluten-free health supplements made in Canada from start to finish. You can order health supplements and wellness bundles in the form of capsules, gummies, tinctures, extract powder or even dried mushrooms from our website.

Have you been taking your fitness seriously? A key indicator of poor fitness is experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue from moderate activities like climbing a flight of stairs or a short jog. These symptoms, along with a general feeling of lethargy, suggest the need for improved fitness. Fitness can be assessed through various parameters such as muscular strength, flexibility, body composition, and cardiovascular health. While genetics play a pivotal role in determining one’s natural fitness level, influencing factors like body size and type, fitness is also significantly influenced by lifestyle choices, dietary habits, existing health conditions, and age.

For athletes and those in strength training, nutrition is of key importance as it helps them build mass and strength and maintain it over a period of time. For a regular person to build muscles, it requires regular exercise and a balanced diet that includes the right amount of protein, carbs, vitamins and minerals. Different kinds of fitness supplements offer you the right amount of protein to build muscle and cut down on body fat. However, it is critical to look at the overall development of the body to achieve holistic fitness. Diet plays an important role in shaping the energy levels and fitness profile of professional athletes.  For centuries we have heard stories about Greek Olympians and Roman gladiators consuming super foods to improve their performance in the arenas. Some of the superfoods involved in their diets were functional mushrooms.

Over the years, there has been a renewed focus on extracting the goodness of functional mushrooms and incorporating the same into the diet as food supplements. Functional mushrooms have adaptogens that can help your body adapt to stress, anxiety, fatigue and facilitate overall well-being. Functional mushrooms offer a rich source of antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting qualities.

Regular exercise followed by a balanced diet backed with essential nutrition and adaptogens is the right way to look at embracing overall fitness. Functional mushrooms such as Cordyceps offer a wide range of potential health benefits. They are a great source of protein, Vitamins B and K and a range of essential minerals required in the overall development and maintenance of a healthy body. Rich in polysaccharides, Cordyceps enhance immunity and offer antioxidants with age-defying properties. There are other benefits such as anti-fatigue properties, improved cellular energy, better performance and a quicker recovery time.

Often called the “Energy Mushroom”, Cordyceps (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) are a powerful, medicinal mushroom that has been used in Chinese and Tibetan medicine for a long time. This rare combination of caterpillar and fungus has been shown to have numerous beneficial effects on the human body. Studies suggest that different strains of Cordyceps, or some components inside this mushroom, may help boost the immune system, have anti-tumour effects, increase energy levels, and have anti-metastatic and antioxidant properties, as well as anti-inflammatory effects. In general, Cordyceps mushrooms have been verified to be the host to a multitude of benefits:

• Improved energy and exercise performance
• Healthy inflammation response
• Testosterone level support
• Blood sugar balance
• Heart health maintenance
• Mood support
• Kidney function support

Can mushroom supplements help you get fit? At Organic Mushrooms, we acknowledge the use of functional mushrooms as both food and medicine for centuries and we have custom-made a special health supplements package to help you get fit while you enhance your mind and body. Organic Mushrooms health supplements are 100% organic, non-GMO and gluten-free and are produced in Canada from start to finish ensuring quality and authenticity. Place your order for your required dose of health supplements to get fit and active while you enhance your mind and body.

Your skin is critical to not only how you appear but also to your health as it acts as a barrier between your body and invasions from bad bacteria, viruses and other harmful environmental hazards. It plays an important role in regulating your body fluids and temperature. Your complexion and skin are the first things to get noticed even before your fabulous personality gets a chance. Taking care of your skin is as important as there are several factors leading to unhealthy skin such as your genes, bad diet, dehydration, harmful radiation from the sun, unhealthy lifestyle that includes excessive smoking and alcohol. Environmental factors have a significant impact on the health of our skin too. External factors such as exposure to harsh weather conditions, air pollution and harmful UV rays can lead to various skin problems.

An improper diet devoid of all important nutrients is a leading cause of unhealthy skin. The lack of essential nutrition from a daily diet eventually takes a noticeable toll on a person’s skin. Apart from a regular diet, the body needs essential vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and for all systems to work properly. The incredible benefits of medicinal mushrooms have proven to be immensely helpful to the human body for centuries. Unlike the western world, where we treat each body part separately with diagnosis and specific treatments, oriental practices have always looked at overall health and wellness and the linkage between all body parts. There are now studies that reveal the multitude of benefits of medicinal mushrooms as they strengthen your immunity, heart health and cognitive abilities while lowering inflammation and boosting multiple systems within the body.

Mushrooms are adaptogens that help our bodies adapt to stress and they contain antioxidants and bioactive compounds that offer multiple benefits eventually providing proper nutrition to the skin cells. Extracts from medicinal mushrooms are highly beneficial as they are rich in antioxidants and bioactive components offering multiple benefits to the human body and skin. They can help protect the skin against harmful environmental factors and hyperpigmentation caused by the sun. The polysaccharides, particularly Beta-glucans have a positive effect on the skin by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and increasing collagen levels.

Some lifestyle changes can help you achieve clearer and glowing skin by treating your skin right from the outside as well as through a proper diet that helps your body achieve the proper nutrition. Regular use of medicinal mushroom extracts as a part of your diet regime can help improve and maintain the overall health and appearance of your skin. At Organic Mushrooms, we have brought together the goodness of medicinal mushrooms which have been known to help achieve better glowing skin for centuries in traditional practices and medicines, all available in our Skin Care Wellness Bundle. The combination of revered Chaga, Cordyceps and Shiitake mushrooms can help your body fix internal issues and reflect radiant glowing skin on the outside. Chaga Mushrooms can help restore and regenerate skin cells. Chaga can stimulate collagen production to hydrate and refresh all types of skin. With its rich antioxidants, Chaga Mushrooms can help support the body in repairing the damaged cells caused by ageing and damage from the sun. Cordyceps possess antioxidants that help in protecting skin from damage. By enhancing healthy circulation and cardiovascular health, Cordyceps can help protect skin against ageing and inflammation. Shiitake mushrooms carry a potent antioxidant, L-ergothioneine that helps prevent skin damage, skin ageing and skin cell breakdown. Reishi mushroom on the other hand has anti-ageing properties too, as it has been a part of oriental medicine for centuries and was consumed by monks as a special tea.

Organic Mushrooms health supplements are 100% organic, non-GMO and gluten-free and are produced in Canada from start to finish ensuring quality and authenticity. Place your order for your required dose of health supplements to improve your skin while you enhance your mind and body.

Modern science has advanced our ability to detect cancer, yet we still face a scarcity of anti-cancer drugs that are both successful and free of side effects. Treatments for cancer at various stages differ in medication intensity, complexity, and the possible need for surgery to excise tumors. There’s a critical need for therapeutic approaches that are effective and less toxic, particularly for cancer prevention and treatment. Proponents of preventive healthcare should adopt practices that mitigate the emergence of initial cancerous cells.

Functional mushrooms are known for their immunomodulatory, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, offering benefits such as immune system enhancement and protection against serious diseases. A compromised immune system increases susceptibility to illnesses, including a higher risk of cancer due to lack of resistance to cellular mutations. Certain medicinal mushrooms have been acknowledged for their anti-cancer properties and bioactive compounds, showing promise in cancer prevention and management. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating functional mushrooms for their extensive benefits, including their potential to manage side effects during cancer treatments and to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.

Long utilized in Eastern medicine, certain mushrooms are recognized by scientists for their rich bioactive compounds with significant biological effects, such as bolstering immunity, reducing inflammation, and combating cancer. Although research is still emerging, some medicinal mushrooms have been identified as excellent sources of nutraceuticals, antioxidants, and prebiotics, and are being considered as next-generation biotherapeutics. In China and Japan, medicinal mushrooms have been prescribed for lung diseases and cancers for decades, and Western medicine is increasingly acknowledging their potential in health supplements and drugs for tumor prevention and cancer treatment, aiming for efficacy without adverse effects.

Medicinal mushrooms can complement conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation by reducing side effects such as nausea, bone marrow suppression, anemia, and immune depletion. Compounds found in varieties like Cordyceps, Reishi, and Turkey Tail exhibit anti-tumor activity. These include polysaccharides, proteins, fats, ash, glycosides, alkaloids, and organic acids that impede and prevent cancerous growth. Key anti-cancer agents in mushrooms include lentinan, krestin, hispolon, and others, with polysaccharides, especially Beta-glucan, showing potent anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. Studies suggest that anti-tumor polysaccharides work by inhibiting cell growth, preventing new blood vessel formation, and inducing apoptosis in tumors.

At Organic Mushrooms, we harness the natural efficacy of functional mushrooms, offering a tailored supplement blend enriched with mushrooms renowned for their anti-cancer attributes. Cordyceps, for instance, is reputed for its ability to combat cancer cells and reduce tumors, while Turkey Tail is recognized for its anti-tumor effects. Reishi has a storied history in Eastern medicine for its role in decelerating cancer progression. We recommend incorporating two to three grams of mushroom extracts into your daily diet to bolster mental and physical health, enhance immunity, manage inflammation, and fortify the body against grave illnesses.

The mighty heart is but a fist-sized pump that moves blood throughout your body. Made of multiple layers of tissues, the heart is the centre of the blood circulation in your body pushing blood rich with oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body through arteries, capillaries and then veins. The heart is fundamental to sustaining life and promoting health as a strong body can only belong to a strong heart.

According to World Heart Federation (WHF), there has been a 60% increase in deaths due to cardiovascular diseases globally in the past 30 years; moving up from 12.1 million in 1990 to 20.5 million in 2021. More than four out of five cardiovascular deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes and one-third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age. Modern lifestyles with several behavioral risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking and excessive intake of alcohol have caused heart diseases and strokes. It starts with showing effects in individuals such as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids and being overweight and obese. In Canada, heart disease is the second leading cause of death.

A weak heart shows several symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, faintness, loss of appetite, irregular need to urinate at night, shortness of breath, swollen liver or abdomen, swollen feet and ankles among others. An unhealthy heart can be identified by an irregular pulse or a sensation of feeling the heartbeat. It will take an entire change in lifestyle to be able to improve heart health and diet and physical activity play an important role in the recovery of heart health. Studies have revealed that some medicinal mushrooms can help in lowering bad cholesterol, regulating blood pressure and improving the overall health of the heart.

At Organic Mushrooms, we have combined the goodness of medicinal mushrooms such as Shiitake, Reishi and Cordyceps to help improve your heart health. Shiitake mushrooms contain eritadenine, a compound known to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and maintain healthy circulation. Often regarded as the “Heart Mushroom”, Shiitake mushrooms are not only delicious but also rich in nutrients like beta-glucans that can help lower cholesterol levels. They support heart health by promoting balanced blood lipid profiles and reducing the risk of plaque buildup in arteries. Reishi Mushrooms on the other hand are rich in beta-glucans and triterpenoids, which can lower blood sugar and blood pressure levels, reducing your diabetes and heart disease risk. Known as the “Longevity Mushroom”, reishi is celebrated for its adaptogenic properties, helping to reduce stress and inflammation. It supports heart health by regulating blood pressure and promoting overall cardiovascular wellness. Cordyceps mushrooms can further help in reducing any inflammations and promote a healthy blood flow of the heart and brain. These mushrooms offer a rich source of nutrients and bioactive compounds which regulate blood circulation and improve heart health. Cordyceps are a powerhouse of energy and endurance and are a favourite among athletes and those looking to optimize their cardiovascular fitness.

After carefully considering the benefits of these mushroom types, we have custom-made a special Heart Health Wellness Bundle to help improve heart health. The benefits of mushrooms such as Shiitake, Cordyceps and Reishi can help supplement your heart health and help enhance your physical and mental health and wellness.

Organic Mushrooms’ health supplements offer the goodness of mushrooms grown naturally in the form of tinctures, extract powder, capsules and gummies. It is recommended to consume two to three grams of mushroom extracts per day as a part of the daily diet to improve your heart health and enhance your mind and body.