10 Mushrooms that are NOT Psychedelic (Sorry, they Ain’t Shrooms!)

Mushrooms aren’t only suitable for psychedelic trips. For example, while the psilocybe cubensis is a potent psilocybin-containing shroom, there are also other mushrooms out there that have different benefits. 

Likewise, countless mushrooms are not psychedelic but can also be good for us. There are even mushrooms that are superfoods.

When you think superfood, you might think that this is just another one of those trends where people supposedly find a “miracle food.” You can’t be blamed for thinking so because sometimes trends tend to overdeliver what certain foods can do. 

But, while this is prone to happening, sometimes these trends may be right. When it comes to mushrooms, years of research and medicine back up the benefits, these can have for us.

The following mushrooms are just some examples of healthy, non-psychedelic mushrooms worth looking into and trying.

1. Porcini Mushrooms

Chances are, you might have already come across the porcini mushroom at some point in your life. These mushrooms are relatively common and can be found in your local grocery. If you eat these mushrooms regularly, you already know that porcini mushrooms are incredibly delicious. They have a flavor profile that ranges from nutty to slightly meaty, making them an excellent addition to any dish.

But, aside from being tasty, these mushrooms have another excellent characteristic. They’re very nutritious! Porcini mushrooms are low in calories but high in protein. They’re also rich in B vitamins, minerals, calcium, sodium, iron, and magnesium. 

These mushrooms are also high in fiber, which makes them suitable for your digestive health too. If that wasn’t enough, studies are emerging on this mushroom’s antioxidant abilities. All of these make porcini mushrooms a pretty healthy and nutritious addition to your meals or cause for a good snack!

2. Shiitake Mushrooms

If you like eating Japanese, Korean, or Chinese food, you’ve probably already eaten this mushroom. Another common mushroom, the shiitake mushroom, is known for its meaty and savory taste. 

While it can be eaten fresh, dried shiitake mushrooms are the kind that is more often sought out because of their enhanced flavor profile. People say the dried variety.” has an even better, more savory, umami flavor.

While people love eating shiitake mushrooms for their taste, there’s so much more to them than being such flavorful food. This begs the question, “are shiitake mushrooms good for you?” Yes! The benefits of shiitake mushroom consumption are numerous, making this another great food to eat.

While these mushrooms are low in calorie content, they’re rich in B vitamins and minerals. The fiber in shiitake mushrooms also comes in a reasonable amount, which can do a lot to aid in digestion. Aside from the nutrition benefits, this mushroom also has other health benefits. 

Current studies have shown that these mushrooms could help reduce inflammation, boost your liver function and immune system, and help keep your heart healthy. So that’s another good mushroom for you to munch on!

3. Cordyceps

Cordyceps is known to be a parasite found in a particular species of caterpillars native to China, which may explain why it’s also known as the “Chinese caterpillar fungus.” This fungus uses the caterpillar tissues to grow out its long stems from the host’s body. But while this may be a parasite to insects, the Chinese caterpillar fungus benefits humans.

While traditional Chinese medicine uses cordyceps for many health and medicinal reasons, research has discovered a few benefits. For example, some studies have found out that there are cordyceps benefits for athletes. This fungus, when consumed, is said to help make oxygen utilization more efficient during exercise.

Aside from exercise studies, cordyceps and asthma are being studied as well. Research claims that this fungus could help aid in treating asthma, perhaps even mitigating its effects. 

Cordyceps and cancer are other topics being studied as well. For example, one lab test done in vitro showed that the fungus could prevent the growth of human cancer cells. While these still need to be tested in humans, these cordyceps benefits show promise in the field of medicine.

4. Turkey Tail Mushroom

This mushroom gets its name because of its similar appearance to a turkey tail. This turkey tail fungus has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for quite some time, and its use might be justified. 

Currently, the turkey tail extract is being used in several studies and clinical trials. While the side effects of turkey tail mushroom use are not yet completely understood, its potential for use in modern-day medicine is promising.

The turkey tail benefits that studies have made known so far are concerning cancer, the immune system, and gut health. In cancer treatment studies, the turkey tail happens to be one of the mushrooms that may help as a supplement to cancer treatment. 

This mushroom has polysaccharide components, and it’s these components. They are said to help prevent cancer growth. These polysaccharides found in the mushroom are also said to help in giving the immune system a boost.

In terms of gut health, the turkey tail mushroom is a good source of fiber, aiding digestive health. Aside from this, the same immune-boosting and cancer-fighting polysaccharides also have prebiotic capabilities, which can help keep healthy levels of gut bacteria.

Research on this mushroom is still ongoing, but the findings are proving to be promising.

5. Oyster Mushroom

Yet another commonly eaten mushroom, the oyster mushroom, is used a lot in Asian cuisines. This mushroom has a similar aroma and flavor profile to anise and is sometimes used as a meat substitute. It can be enjoyed in soups, stir-fried dishes and also added to any meal. But, while it’s commonly enjoyed because it’s tasty, it can also be enjoyed as a healthy snack.

The Oyster mushroom is low in calories, fat, and cholesterol but rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also another mushroom that’s a good source of fiber. There are also antioxidant properties, as this mushroom has selenium, which helps prevent cell damage. Oyster mushrooms can also help strengthen the immune system. Aside from this, it is said that increasing the amount of oyster mushroom you eat can help decrease your risk for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

6. Black Fungus

While this might look more like an ear than a mushroom, black fungus is another mushroom used abundantly in Asian cuisine. While it isn’t popular in taste, this mushroom is still mixed in with many Asian dishes. This might be because of its jelly-like consistency and rubbery and chewy texture.

This fungus is high in fiber, making it another mushroom that can aid in gut health. Aside from the fiber content, the black fungus also contains small quantities of vitamins and minerals. These would include folate, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. The black fungus is also said to help boost your immune system.

Studies on this mushroom have only just begun. So, only time will tell what good this fungus can do.

7. Reishi

Reishi has been a popular supplement for quite some time. This mushroom is widely used in Eastern medicine and is usually taken in extracts or powdered form.

This mushroom has gotten popular because it is known to help boost your immune system. This immune boost acts mainly by enhancing white blood cell function, an essential factor in fighting infections. Reishi’s ability to enhance the immune system can also help fight cancer, with the immune system being able to mitigate cancer cell growth.

Aside from this mushroom’s immune-boosting and anti-cancer abilities, there have also been studies saying reishi could help with fatigue and depression. In addition, current studies have shown that reishi can help decrease symptoms of both anxiety and depression, thus helping bring about an improvement in quality of life.

Unfortunately, this mushroom still needs to be studied more to better understand its effects on the human body. But, just like other mushrooms on this list, their potential is promising.

8. Chaga

Chaga is another popular mushroom that has been used for health purposes for a while now. .”,.”Chaga can be crushed and brewed into a tea or put in a capsule form to supplement using this mushroom.

Among the many benefits of Chaga, people mainly take this mushroom for its purported immune-boosting benefits. Due to the immune boost Chaga provides, this can also possibly help inhibit the growth of cancer cells. 

In addition, Chaga also has antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage. Other reported benefits of supplementing with this mushroom include improved liver and brain health.

To fully understand and see what benefits this mushroom has, Chaga is still being studied and researched.

9. Lion’s Mane

Lion’s mane got its name from its fuzzy appearance resembling an actual lion’s mane. This fuzzy white fungus is common in Asian countries, where it is also used in cooking. It’s said to have a flavor profile similar to seafood and is usually used in gourmet dishes.

This gourmet mushroom, tasty as it is, also has a lot of health benefits. Most of the lion’s mane’s servicesManyrequiring.” are known to be neuroprotective, helping preserve the health of the brain and nerves. This has been said to help with mental health conditions such as dementia and symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

Aside from the neuroprotective benefits, some studies also report that this mushroom could help with immune function and prevent cancers. There are also reports of lion’s mane being able to help with heart health, diabetes, and even inflammation.

Many of these benefits need to be studied closely, requiring more human studies to help prove this mushroom can help health and wellness. But despite this, there is some potential in the lion’s mane.

10. Maitake

Maitake is another mushroom common in Asian cuisine, used a lot in Chinese and Japanese dishes. Despite being used in food, these mushrooms are known more for their health benefits. These mushrooms are also called the “dancing mushroom.” Legend has it that when people used to look for this mushroom, they’d dance when they found it. Hence the name.

People were said to dance when they found the mushroom because of how much it could help benefit one’s health. This could still hold today as this is the mushroom that is most successful when it comes to promoting health and wellness.

One of the maitake’s most well-known benefits would be its ability to help fight off cancer. It’s rich in polysaccharides, which can help stop cancer cell growth and boost your immune system. Aside from this, this mushroom also has components that can help promote heart health by reducing cholesterol. Maitake is also said to assist in managing diabetes.

Health benefits aside, this mushroom is also rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and even fiber. This makes it another healthy food to add to your diet as well!

As with all the other mushrooms in this list, Maitake mushrooms still need to be studied further to help see if these benefits hold. But as this seems to be the most successful so far in all its benefits, its potential to become part of medical treatments in the future is high.

Start Hunting for the Right Shrooms!

Indeed, psychedelic mushrooms like the psilocybe cubensis are currently being studied as alternative treatments in medicine. But, these aren’t the only mushrooms that have some potential for medical use. 

These ten mushrooms listed are just some of the many other mushrooms that have been used in traditional medicine. While some are also eaten like any other food, these are more than just a tasty snack. Now that you know what some of these mushrooms are, trying them out or adding them to your diet shouldn’t be such a bad idea.