Best mushrooms for anxiety and depression

An introduction to medicinal mushrooms

In case you’re not familiar with medicinal mushrooms, let’s begin with a quick overview of these fabulous fungi. Then we’ll get into the details of which is the best mushroom for anxiety and depression.

Medicinal mushrooms are specific species of fungi that could offer potent health benefits to those who consume them. Practitioners of traditional medicine have been using such mushrooms for generations. And today, modern scientific research is finding evidence to support their wellness-boosting reputation.

While each variety of medicinal mushroom has its own unique benefits, there are also some which are universal. For instance, all functional fungi are rich in polysaccharides called beta-glucans. A type of soluble fibre, beta-glucans help to support our gut health, cardiovascular health, and immune system.

However, it’s not only our physical health that medicinal mushrooms can be good for. These fantastic fungi also have the potential to support our mental wellbeing. Oh, and in case you’re worried, none of these mushrooms have hallucinatory effects. So we won’t be covering the best magic mushroom for anxiety and depression!

Here’s how functional fungi could boost your mood.

Can you use a medicinal mushroom for anxiety?

The short answer to this is yes, you can use a medicinal mushroom for anxiety and depression. In fact, all varieties have the capability to improve your mental health to a certain extent.

One reason for this is that medicinal mushrooms function as adaptogens. This means they enable the mind and body to cope with stress more effectively. That includes both short and long-term physical and emotional stress. More specifically, adaptogens could help to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, reduce fatigue, and improve cognitive performance.(1) Stress often triggers anxiety or leads to depression, so being better able to handle it could ease both conditions.

Another way in which using a medicinal mushroom for anxiety can be effective is through their influence on gut health. This might sound strange, but the science backs it up! Thanks to their high levels of beta-glucans, functional fungi act as prebiotics. That means they nourish the good bacteria in your gut and encourage their growth.

Your gut microbiota influences everything from digestion to immunity – and it also affects the brain. For example, researchers have linked inflammation in the GI tract to the release of cytokines and neurotransmitters. In turn, this may lead to an increase in symptoms of anxiety.(2) Indeed, many studies have found a correlation between gut disorders and mental health conditions. So, improving the health of your gut could additionally help alleviate anxiety and depression.

While all medicinal mushrooms offer these advantages, some species are especially beneficial for our mental health. So, which is the best mushroom for depression and anxiety? Let’s find out.

Which is the best mushroom for anxiety and depression?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there isn’t only one effective medicinal mushroom for anxiety and depression! So instead, we’ve listed the top three. Each has its own individual strengths, enabling you to select the fungi that most closely suits your needs. You also have the option to take more than one, as long as you don’t exceed the daily recommended dose. Plus, they’re all easy to incorporate into your diet, as we’ll discuss below.

But first, let’s explore the best options if you want to take a medicinal mushroom for anxiety or depression.