
Medicinal and adaptogenic mushrooms have really exploded in popularity lately and today’s episode is all about just that. I’m talking with Danielle Ryan Broida today, a mushroom expert, registered herbalist, and holistic nutritionist. Danielle also teaches mycology at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and is the head of education at Four Sigmatic (makers of my favorite mushroom coffee!).
Mushrooms are such a huge part of our ecosystem and we’re constantly learning more about their health benefits. In fact, every time we take a step we’re walking on at least 300 miles of mycelial biomass in this amazing underground network!
Danielle covers how different mushrooms and adaptogens can help our different body systems (like immunity, sleep, aging, etc.). We also cover how to choose the right herbal medicine for your body type. Humans have used these plants and mushrooms for thousands of years, but they’re widely available for the first time in history. I learned so much in today’s episode and I’m sure you will too!
Episode Highlights With Danielle
- How she lives a very low waste, almost zero waste lifestyle and why she started
- Tips for reducing our footprint and living lower waste
- What she learned living in Thailand and teaching environmental classes there
- Vitalism- the type of medicine she studied and uses
- Functional mushrooms 101- fascinating facts about fungi
- Why mushrooms are considered their own kingdom in the animal world and why we didn’t figure this out until the 1970s
- Things that separate fungi from plants, including the need for external nutrients
- There are at least 6x more fungi species than any kingdom on earth
- Why some fungi sprout into fruit (mushroom) and some don’t
- Fun fact: we breathe in fungal spores every time we breathe
- What functional mushrooms are and what separates them from other fungi
- Understanding adaptogens and the unique properties they share
- How to choose the best adaptogens for your body
- The categories of adaptogens and what to look for to personalize to you
- Performance adaptogens: lions mane and cordyceps
- Immune supporting adaptogens: turkey tail, acerola cherry (for skin), goji
- The two compounds in turkey tail mushrooms that have been studied and are the foundation for the first mushroom derived anti-cancer drug
- Restoring adaptogens for mood, sleep and stress: ashwaghanda, reishi, tulsi
- Cacao is the single most nutrient dense food that exists, moringa is another great choice
Resources We Mention
- Healing Adaptogens: The Definitive Guide to Using Super Herbs and Mushrooms for Your Body’s Restoration, Defense, and Performance by Danielle Ryan Broida and Tero Isokauppila
- Four Sigmatic – Mushroom Drinks
- Radical Mycology: A Treatise on Seeing & Working With Fungi by Peter McCoy
- The Fungal Pharmacy: The Complete Guide to Medicinal Mushrooms and Lichens of North America by Robert Rogers
- Be Here Now by Ram Dass
- This Is It by Alan Watts
- Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
More From Wellness Mama
- 163: Tero Isokauppila on Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms
- 207: Tero Isokauppila on Santa Sold Shrooms – the Untold Story of St. Nick
- 586: Dr. Chloe Weber on Herbalism, Chinese Medicine and Getting Back to Our Radical Roots
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits for Cognition, Memory & More
- Cordyceps Mushrooms Benefits for Anti-Aging, Endurance & Balance
- Reishi Mushroom Benefits for Immunity, Longevity & More
- Chaga: King of Medicinal Mushrooms
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