by Iris Goldsztajn

There are several kinds of functional mushrooms that all boast wonderful and unique benefits, but they can be mystifying if you’re not familiar with them. Don’t fret: It’s pretty easy to get the hang of which mushrooms make the most sense for your particular lifestyle and how to integrate them into your everyday routine.

If You’re the Sporty Friend

Whether you’re a professional athlete, love going for a run or are always down for a pick-up game of basketball, your active lifestyle means you’ll benefit from a specific type of nutritional support. Cordyceps is a great mushroom to add to your routine, because it is thought to promote oxygen circulation in the body, thus helping with aerobic exercise.

Supporting your immune system is also crucial when you do a lot of sports, especially if you’re an athlete with a packed schedule — that’s where Reishi comes in. This immune-supporting, adaptogenic superfood helps keep your hormones balanced, which may reduce stress and anxiety before an important performance, for example.

With its antioxidant, immune-supporting and neuroprotective properties, Lion’s Mane can help you focus on the task at hand, so it’s also great for athletes.

Om’s Fit blend contains all three of these functional mushrooms (including two species of Cordyceps – Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps sinensis), making it easy as pie to integrate them into your regular diet. Add it to your juices, smoothies, hot drinks and delicious recipes, like this cranberry-white chocolate oatmeal.

If You’re a Go-Getter

You have big dreams and you’re not afraid to do everything it takes to make them happen. That’s super-impressive, but you need to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself – especially if you work long hours and thrive on adrenaline. Lion’s Mane is a great choice for you, thanks to its ability to support healthy brain function, which will help you work better, not harder. Why not try Om’s Lion’s Mane powder? You can easily mix it into any of your favorite drinks or even use it to make avocado toast.

Because of your go-go-go attitude, you may also feel quite a bit of stress in your daily life — Reishi helps to calm the nervous system, making it a must-have if you have trouble winding down. Like Lion’s Mane, it’s available as a powder, or you could try Om’s Mushroom Hot Chocolate Blend, which is packed with Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Chaga, Turkey Tail, and Ashwagandha for focus, immunity and stress-support.

If You’re Always on Vacation Mode

You’re a naturally calm and happy person, so people love being around you, but it’s hard for you to motivate yourself to do the not-so-fun tasks that need doing. Maybe you also need a lot of sleep and often wake up tired. Lion’s Mane is perfect to support your cognitive function — try Om’s Brain Fuel capsules for a daily boost.

Like your athletic friends, you may need an energy kick to get through your to-do list, so energizing Cordyceps is well-suited to your lifestyle. Om’s Energy products all contain this powerful mushroom, so you can’t go wrong with any of them — from the Energy+ Lemon Lime powder to the Mushroom Coffee Latte Blend.

If You’re a Social Butterfly

Whether it’s Zoom meetings or socially distanced picnics, you’ve always got something on the agenda. That means you need to look fresh and put together at all times — and yes, functional mushrooms can help with that. Chaga contains antioxidants and has potential anti-aging properties, meaning it can help you find that youthful glow for your next social engagement.

The beta-glucans in shiitake mushrooms also promote skin health, so add them to your diet in whole or powder form to really wow your friends or coworkers. Check out Om’s Beauty range to find a product that contains these mushrooms — available in a variety of forms including powders to mix into your favorite recipes or handy capsules.

Whatever your lifestyle, functional mushrooms can enhance your well-being. Once you’re armed with the right information, you’ll be able to choose a mushroom (or two!) that works for you. Check out Om’s blog to find out more about these superfoods. You can pick up Om products at your local Mother’s.

+These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based writer and editor with six years of experience in creating content for various outlets. Her work has appeared in InStyle, Stylist, SheKnows, Cosmopolitan, Alma, Her Campus and more.

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cordyceps-benefits#section1
2. http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/journal/paperinfo?journalid=155&doi=10.11648/j.ajss.20180601.11
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9000304/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/
5. https://www.wellandgood.com/beta-glucan-immune-support-youtheory/
6. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/8/261/htm
7. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom#:~:text=Animal%20research%20shows%20that%20lion’s,mouth%20or%20nose%20(%2052%20).
8. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323400#potential-benefits
9. https://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/reishi-mushroom
10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17666849/
11. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318527
12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23494974/