Does Magic Mushroom Chocolate Boost Your Mood?

Hi! I’m Tero Isokauppila, a 20+ year advocate for mushrooms and founder of Four Sigmatic. I wrote three best-selling books: Healing Mushrooms, Santa Sold Shrooms, and Healing Adaptogens. I also make my own chocolate at home and can appreciate a little added magic. ;)

Magical Mushrooms: Psychedelic vs. Functional

Magic mushroom chocolate comes in different forms. Some with psychoactive mushrooms, like Psilocybin. Others with functional mushrooms, known for their (totally legal) health benefits. No hallucinations required. 

Both are magical! You get to decide what kind of magic you’re looking for.

Psychedelic Magic

For hundreds of years, folks have used psychoactive mushrooms. (Just read about the real story behind Santa Claus. Even Santa has a special connection with these unique mushrooms.)

The term "magic mushrooms" refers to mushrooms from the Psilocybe genus. These mushrooms contain psilocybin, the compound known for giving you trippy visions. Some species contain the more potent compound, psilocin, at much smaller doses.

Your body changes psilocybin to psilocin. During this change, it does some cool stuff. For starters, it talks to your serotonin receptors. These are your feel-good messengers. This affects everything from mood to digestion, sleep, and even sexual health. It can also give a boost to dopamine–another happiness hormone. And then there are the more wild effects. You may feel super happy, see things differently, or see things that aren’t there.

But Are Psychedelic Mushrooms Safe?

Psilocybe mushrooms have very low toxicity and are relatively safe. But, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies these mushrooms as Schedule I substances. This means they're illegal on the federal level. But, make sure to check the laws in your area. Some places in the United States are starting to decriminalize them.

Besides the Psilocybe genus, there are other mushrooms considered psychedelic. One well-known example is the Amanita muscaria or fly agaric. This is the world’s most popular mushroom (that almost no one knows by name)! It’s the familiar, red mushroom emoji. 🍄

Instead of psilocybin, it contains muscimol. Muscimol mimics neurotransmitters like GABA and glutamic acid. GABA is like a calming messenger in the brain. It helps with stress and anxiety, making things feel peaceful. 

But be cautious! Amanita muscaria, while legal at the federal level, can be toxic at high doses. That combined with its “darker” energies makes it something I can’t recommend to most people.

Functional Magic

What are Functional Mushrooms?

Functional mushrooms (like reishi, chaga, and lion's mane) are not psychedelic. Instead, they offer magic in the form of incredible health benefits. These mushrooms are among the most nutrient-rich foods on earth. 

They can support your immune system, gut, stress management, energy, focus, and more. They each have unique properties that outshine most “superfoods” on the market today. 

Plus, they’re totally legal and you can find them at most grocery stores!

Research-Backed Mood Boost

Functional mushrooms not only boost your mood. They can also supercharge focus, ignite energy, and reduce stress. And there are hundreds of studies and thousands of years of use cases to prove it!

Lion’s mane is one of the most popular functional mushrooms. It's renowned for improving focus and supporting a clear mind. One study shows that 250 mg of lion's mane taken 3x a day, significantly supported cognition in just 4 months.

It’s not just lion’s mane! Chaga is another powerful mushroom. It works like an internal anti-aging serum with about 1,300x more antioxidants than blueberries. In a study on chronic fatigue syndrome, reishi mushroom helped reduce fatigue markers.  Research on cordyceps mushroom shows it can improve VO2 max. It's also a favorite among Olympic athletes. The benefits of functional mushrooms are almost endless.

All these studies use the fruiting body of the mushroom. That's the part you think of as the actual mushroom (and ~15x more active compounds). Mushrooms have a root system, called mycelium. 

Some brands use mycelium in their mushroom chocolate. But don’t expect to feel any magic.

These products tend to have lots of fillers! They’re grown on grains like rice or oats making 90-95% of the end result grains and the rest lower in efficacy mycelium.

Are Functional Mushrooms Safe?

You bet! Functional mushrooms are safe, nontoxic, and sold as dietary supplements worldwide. As with any dietary or herbal supplement, pay attention to your body's response. Consult your doctor if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or have underlying health conditions.

The main thing to be watchful of is the quality of the mushrooms in your mushroom chocolate. Mushrooms are like sponges (aka bioaccumulators). They soak up everything in their environment. This is great if they're grown on nutrient-rich trees or logs (just like in nature). But it's bad news if your mushrooms are grown with bad stuff like pesticides or heavy metals.

All mushrooms you eat, both culinary and functional, should always be: 

• USDA certified organic

• 3rd party tested for toxins (heavy metals, mycotoxins, molds, yeast, and irradiation)

Try Magic Mushroom Chocolate With Four Sigmatic

If you want to try magical (legal) mushrooms you can trust, try Four Sigmatic’s ‘Shroom Chocolate. It’s made with ten different functional mushrooms for stress, energy, immunity, focus, and positive mood. 

You can trust the quality of Four Sigmatic mushrooms:

• High-quality: USDA certified organic and free of filler grains

• Safe: 3rd party tested for toxins, heavy metals, and mold

• Real benefits: effective doses of fruiting body mushroom extracts

As the Founder of Four Sigmatic, I personally use every product we make. Everything is USDA-certified organic. This makes sure our mushrooms aren't absorbing a bunch of pesticides. And we only use the extracted, fruiting body of the mushroom. AKA the part that will give you the benefits you’re looking for.

Top chocolatiers in Northern California craft our Mushroom Chocolate. We combine organic heirloom cacao with dual-extracted, fruiting-body functional mushrooms. Remember, that's the part packed with 15x more beneficial compounds for mood, focus, and energy.

This limited-edition treat isn’t available year-round. Check if you can grab a box today! Satisfy your chocolate cravings and get a powerful dose of functional benefits.

Benefits of Four Sigmatic ‘Shroom Chocolate:

• Rich, dark chocolate with 77% cacao infused with 780 mg of functional mushrooms

• Includes 10 functional mushrooms: reishi, chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, shiitake, maitake, enoki, agaricus, meshima, and tremella

• Ingredients support immunity, energy, focus, stress management and more

• USDA organic and 3rd party tested for mold, mycotoxins, and heavy metals

Adaptogenic & Mood Boosting Cacao

Sure, we could have added beneficial functional mushrooms to a cheap chocolate. But what's the fun in that? If you’re here to boost your mood with magic mushrooms, get excited! The synergistic effects of raw, unprocessed organic heirloom cacao are amazing.

Cacao, the world's most complex food, has a history spanning 15,000 years. This magical bean was once used as currency and revered in ceremonies. But it evolved into the chocolate we know today. The journey from cacao to chocolate involves more than meets the eye. And quality matters when it comes to reaping the benefits.

Pick the Best Chocolate: Cacao vs. Cocoa

Understanding the Difference for Greatest Benefits

There’s a big difference between your average hot cocoa mix (pronounced koh-koh), and the powerful adaptogenic cacao (pronounced kah-kow).

The Unrefined Journey of Cacao:

Cacao, processed at lower temperatures, retains more nutrients. It's rich, slightly bitter, and offers a natural chocolate flavor. Less processing means much higher antioxidants. This makes it the superior choice for health benefits.

The Benefits of High-Quality Cacao

• Over 1,200+ active compounds. Cacao supports the brain, heart, and immune system.

• Rich in magnesium. This helps regulate blood sugar and support a healthy heart. It can also help with relaxation on a cellular level.

• Contains 10% antioxidants. That's more than blueberries, goji berries, red wine, and pomegranates combined.

• Antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavanols. These all help with inflammation, protect your nerves, and keep your skin happy.

• Theobromine, known as the "food of the gods,” is like a booster for your heart and brain.

• Anandamide and phenylethylamine. These make you feel good! boosting your mood, motivation, concentration, and pleasure.

The Highly Processed Journey of Cocoa:

Cocoa undergoes high-heat processing, losing most of its nutritional value, including antioxidants. Plus, there are additives. These stabilizers, preservatives, milk fat, and sugar result in a sweeter, less nutritious chocolate bar.

The Downside of Highly Processed Cocoa

• High in transfat. Some cocoa products have oils that can be not-so-great for your health.

• Less dietary fiber. The process of making cocoa can take away the fiber that's good for your digestion and helps you feel full.

• Extra sugars and refined carbs. This can cause your energy to go up and down quickly, making you feel tired and want more snacks.

Tips for Choosing The Healthiest Mushroom Chocolate

Cacao Sourcing, Quality, & Dosage:

• Opt for organic cacao to ensure minimal processing and a rich nutrient profile.

• Check the origin – Ecuador, Peru, and the Caribbean offer high-quality cacao. Avoid West African cacao due to environmental and child labor concerns.

• Although a powerful superfood, cacao is safe to consume as your body craves. But as a starting point, 15-20 mg is a powerful and potent dose if used consistently.

Mushroom Sourcing, Quality, & Dosage

• Go for log-grown, fruiting body mushrooms. They have 15x more active compounds vs. mycelium.

• Choose USDA organic-certified mushrooms. This will cut down on contaminants like pesticides.

• Check for 3rd party testing. You'll want to make sure they're testing for mycotoxins, irradiation, and heavy metals.

• Look for the word "extract" on the Supplement Facts panel to make sure your body can break down and absorb it.

• Start with 500 mg/day. Slowly add 500 mg every 5-7 days until you find the right amount for you.

Make sure you’re buying from brands you trust! A study published in Nature, found that 74% of reishi mushroom products in the U.S. did not contain genuine reishi mushrooms. If you’re looking for a place to start, try Four Sigmatic. Our products have real functional mushrooms, and we've never had a recall. Plus, 100% of our products are certified organic.

In the quest for the mood-boosting benefits of chocolate, the key lies in choosing wisely. Whether savoring the rich history of cacao or indulging in our ‘Shroom Chocolate, focus on quality. Let every bite contribute to your well-being. Your chocolate journey just got a whole lot sweeter! 🍄🍫