“3 Functional Mushrooms to Pair with Your Exercise Regimen” 

 

Credit: Andrea Piacquadio Via Pexels

Fitness enthusiasts are always looking for the latest, greatest way to add value to their exercise regimen through food choices. You already know about the merits of protein powder, the benefits of collagen and the advantages of Omega-3-rich fish to mix with your physical activity. 

But consider the humble mushroom. Mushrooms aren’t a homogenous entity; the Kingdom Fungi actually contains between roughly two and four million distinct species, each with unique characteristics, chemical makeups and benefits. Some of these mushrooms can be classified as “functional mushrooms,” fungi prized for their ability to aid in health and wellness. 

Not sure where to start among the millions of mushrooms available? No problem. Below, you’ll find three of the finest functional mushrooms to pair with your exercise regimen, each of them available in easy-to-do packets through the Rritual Superfoods website. 

Add Focus to Your Fitness with Lion’s Mane 

A lack of concentration is the last thing you want before embarking on a workout journey. That foggy feeling, when your thoughts simmer just below the surface, can seriously mess with your exercise productivity. Worse yet, it may be dangerous: You don’t want to feel distracted when you’re bench-pressing your body weight. 

Before you hit the weights or rev up the exercise bike, brew a lion’s mane mushroom tea or tip a 3-gram packet into your smoothie. Held in high esteem by Eastern herbalists, lion’s mane has recently been studied for its ability to clear the mind and aid in cognitive performance. 

Help Fight Free Radicals with Chaga

Exercise is just one facet in the fight for overall health and wellbeing. Granted, it’s an important facet, but unless you back it up with a balanced diet and wise food product choices, you’ll only get so far. 

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard of the broad benefits of antioxidants; they’re those free-radical-fighting molecules that help keep your cells healthy and youthful. According to this peer-reviewed study, chaga mushrooms are chock full of antioxidants, and cells pretreated with the mushroom showed a “40% reduction” in fragmentation. Mix chaga powder into your pre- or post-workout smoothie for a potentially powerful dose of antioxidants. 

Relax After Your Workout with Reishi

Post-workout relaxation comes easy to some. For others, however, the transition from high-intensity calorie-burning to unstructured downtime is a bit uneasy. It can be challenging shifting gears on a dime. If you want a safe way to unwind at the end of a long day, you can turn to functional mushrooms. 

One mushroom, in particular, can pack a powerful stress-busting punch: reishi mushrooms. Another all-start of Eastern herbalism, reishi gained its reputation throughout history as a stress-busting, mood-levelling superfood. If you find that you get anxious in the evenings – despite the broad mood-boosting benefits of exercise – relax with a glass of reishi tea. 

Mushrooms might not be the first thing you think of when you supplement your exercise, but don’t underestimate the Kingdom Fungi. Functional mushrooms offer a broad range of benefits, from immune-boosting potential to help with stress relief and focus.