Emily Johnson
Modern Mushrooms is a brand of mushroom supplements that contains powdered extracts of the fruiting mushroom bodies, which are believed to contain the highest levels of nutrients. The product is available in capsules, soft chews, and powder form. The supplements are said to support energy, focus, immunity, and digestion. The brand offers a blend of seven or ten mushroom species, including cordyceps, lion's mane, chaga, reishi, royal sun, king trumpet, shiitake, antrodia camphorata, turkey tail, and maitake. While some consumers praise the taste and convenience of Modern Mushrooms products, others have reported limited effectiveness in terms of energy boost and performance enhancement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. |
| Types | Mushrooms can be edible, poisonous, or unpalatable. |
| Identification | Modern identification of mushrooms is quickly becoming molecular, but standard methods for identification are still used by most and have developed into a fine art. |
| Uses | Mushrooms are consumed for their numerous functional benefits and are recognized for their ability to help lower blood pressure, reduce chronic inflammation, boost vitamin D, heart health, and brain health, and have anti-cancer effects. |
| Medicinal Properties | Mushrooms are rich in biologically active compounds and are considered to have medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory effects and wound healing abilities. |
| Market | The functional mushrooms market is expected to reach $48.59 billion by 2029 due to health-conscious consumer trends. |
| Products | Modern Mushrooms Capsules, Soft Chews, and Cinnamon Bun-Flavored Wellness products are available. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms as medicine
Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries for their numerous functional benefits. Some cultures believe they hold the key to health and longevity. Modern science has recently begun to recognise the medicinal properties of mushrooms, something that ancient cultures have understood for millennia.
Mushrooms are ephemeral, they are only visible for a few days, and this may be why modern science has been slow to explore their benefits. However, the mycelium from which they arise can live for hundreds of years. The largest known organism on Earth is a mycelial mat of a honey mushroom (Armillaria ostoyae) in eastern Oregon—890 hectares and more than 2000 years old.
The Greek physician Hippocrates, circa 450 BCE, classified the amadou mushroom (Fomes fomentarius) as a potent anti-inflammatory and useful for cauterizing wounds. The alchemist Tao Hongjing, from the 5th century, described several medicinal mushrooms, including ling zhi (Ganoderma lucidum) and zhu ling (Dendropolyporus umbellatus), some of which were reportedly used by Shennong many centuries earlier.
Ötzi, the 5300-year-old Ice Man, carried amadou and a birch polypore in a pouch to help him survive in the Alps. The First Peoples of North America used puffball mushrooms (Calvatia genus) as wound healers.
Mushrooms are nature’s miniature pharmaceutical factories, rich in a vast array of novel constituents. Modern science is now able to explore the active molecules that interface and potentiate modern medicine in unexpected ways. Using solvents different from water is revealing new active constituents that were unavailable to ancient cultures.
Some mushrooms with medicinal properties include cordyceps, reishi, chaga, lion's mane, shiitake, maitake, agaricus blazei, king trumpet, and antrodia camphorata.
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Ancient remedies meet modern science
Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries for their numerous functional benefits. Ancient cultures have long recognised their medicinal properties, and modern science is now rediscovering what ancient civilisations knew long ago.
The Greek physician Hippocrates, circa 450 BCE, classified the amadou mushroom as a potent anti-inflammatory and even used it for cauterizing wounds. The alchemist Tao Hongjing, from the 5th century, described several medicinal mushrooms, including ling zhi and zhu ling, reportedly used by Shennong many centuries before. Ötzi, the Ice Man, who lived nearly 5300 years ago, carried amadou and a birch polypore in a pouch to help him survive in the Alps of northern Italy. The First Peoples of North America also used puffball mushrooms as wound healers.
Today, mushrooms are recognised as nature's miniature pharmaceutical factories, rich in a vast array of novel constituents. Over 150 novel enzymes have been identified from mushroom species, and G. lucidum has at least 16,000 genes that code for more than 200,000 compounds, of which 400 are "active constituents". Modern methods for tissue culture of mycelium and new methods for testing the activity of individual constituents and their synergies have contributed to the surge in interest in mushrooms.
Mushrooms have been shown to have a wide range of benefits, including reducing inflammation, supporting heart health, boosting immunity, improving digestion, and enhancing focus and mental clarity. Some functional mushrooms are edible, while others are too tough or bitter to eat and are sold in supplement form. Modern mushroom supplements often contain a blend of several mushroom species, including cordyceps, reishi, chaga, lion's mane, shiitake, turkey tail, and maitake. These supplements are marketed as a convenient way to boost health and are often gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
However, it is important to note that the delineation between edible and poisonous fungi is not clear-cut, and consuming the wrong type of mushroom can be dangerous. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider before incorporating functional mushrooms into your diet.
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Tissue culture and testing methods
Tissue culture is a method of growing mushrooms from a fragment of tissue from a plant or animal. This fragment is then transferred to an artificial environment where it can continue to develop. In mushroom production, the tissue culture method typically involves four stages: the pure culture of fresh mushrooms, rapid multiplication or subcultures, spawn preparation, and planting fruit for production.
To begin the tissue culture process, a young and healthy mushroom fruit is collected and sterilized by soaking it in a three percent chlorine solution, cotton swabbing, and soaking in denatured alcohol. The mushroom fruit is then cut in half, and the innermost tissue is collected. This tissue is then injected into a bottle that has been prepared with media and sterilized. The bottle with the tissue is incubated for 14 to 21 days in a dark, clean, and cold room, and it is important to frequently check for mycelial growth and monitor for contamination. If contamination occurs, it is possible to subculture the fungus until a pure culture is obtained. Once a pure culture is achieved, it can be maintained indefinitely by transferring it to a fresh medium.
The equipment needed for growing mushrooms is similar to that used for plant tissue culture. Various media can support fungal growth, but one of the easiest and most effective is potato-dextrose-agar (PDA). PDA can be purchased ready-made in powder form or even in Petri dishes, but it is generally more effective to make it at home. To make PDA, raw potato is shredded and boiled in water, then strained through a fine sieve to remove solids. The resulting extract is then combined with dextrose (glucose) and agar agar (a gelling agent) to create the PDA.
After mastering tissue culture, liquid culture is a revolutionary improvement over traditional methods and is the simplest way to grow mushrooms. Liquid culture allows cultivators to inoculate hundreds of grain jars from a single mycelial culture in a Petri dish, which can then be laid out into trays and cased with a moisture-laden soil-like layer before fruiting.
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Functional mushrooms market
Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries for their numerous functional benefits. Modern science has recently recognised the value of mushrooms, and their potential to be deep reservoirs of powerful medicines. The global functional mushroom market is expanding due to their increasing use as health supplements and their role in the medical industry.
The global functional mushroom market size was valued at USD 31.71 billion in 2023, and is projected to grow to USD 65.83 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.2% from 2024 to 2030. The market is expected to exhibit significant growth during the forecast period, owing to the rising awareness of the benefits of consuming specialty mushrooms. The North American functional mushroom market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% from 2024 to 2030, with the US market projected to reach an estimated value of USD 8.92 billion by 2032. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the industry in 2023, with China producing a sizable portion of the global output, and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.00%.
The functional mushroom market has demonstrated a notable degree of innovation, with companies introducing functional mushrooms in various convenient forms such as capsules, powders, tinctures, and infused products like coffee and teas. Mushroom blends, formulated to address specific health concerns, have gained popularity, reflecting a trend toward personalised wellness solutions. The integration of functional mushrooms into everyday products has provided consumers with accessible ways to incorporate these health-promoting ingredients into their daily routines.
The immune system efficiency can be increased by consuming functional mushrooms, according to numerous scientific studies, and this has further led to the expansion of this market. The demand for functional mushrooms in the pharmaceutical sector is also increasing, as research into their bioactive compounds and medical properties has led to the development of new drugs and therapies.
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Mushrooms as food
Mushrooms have been consumed for centuries for their numerous functional benefits. They are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. However, the term "mushroom" is also used to describe a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems.
Mushrooms have long been recognised as a healthy food choice. They are known to help lower blood pressure, reduce chronic inflammation, boost vitamin D, heart health and brain health, and have anti-cancer effects. They are also rich in a vast array of novel constituents and are nature's miniature pharmaceutical factories.
The functional mushrooms market is expected to reach $48.59 billion by 2029, with researchers looking into their use in cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. While some functional mushrooms are edible, most tend to be too tough or bitter to eat and are often sold in supplement form.
Mushrooms have a diverse range of chemical constituents, and some varieties are consumed for their medicinal properties. For example, the amadou mushroom was classified by Hippocrates as a potent anti-inflammatory and for cauterizing wounds. Other medicinal mushrooms include ling zhi and zhu ling, which were described by the 5th-century alchemist Tao Hongjing. Modern science has recently begun to uncover the medicinal properties of mushrooms, which have been known to various cultures for centuries.
Some popular edible mushroom varieties include cordyceps, reishi, chaga, lion's mane, shiitake, turkey tail, king trumpet, and maitake. These mushrooms are known for their ability to boost energy, immunity, focus, and digestion. They can be consumed in various forms, such as capsules, soft chews, or incorporated into food and drinks.
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Frequently asked questions
Modern Mushrooms is a brand of mushroom supplements that come in the form of capsules or chews.
Modern Mushrooms contain a blend of the most popular mushroom species, including Lion's Mane, Turkey Tail, and Cordyceps.
Modern Mushrooms are said to support energy, focus, immunity, and digestion.
Modern Mushrooms are gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. However, consuming this product may expose you to chemicals, including lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer.
Modern Mushrooms are available for purchase on Amazon.com and VitaminShoppe.com.
