Mushroom Surthrival

Ace back to school season with mushrooms! In this section, discover fungi support for focus, energy, gut health, immunity, and stress relief.

🧠 A+ Level Focus 🎯

Lion's Mane to Wake Up Productivity, Creativity, and Mental Focus

After a summer of fun, it's time to get back into your groove! Lion's Mane may just be the key you need to unlock motivation and ignite your brain to full power. A sharp mind is essential for homework help and quick-witted replies to sleepy kiddos on weekday mornings.

How lion’s mane works: 

• Lion’s mane mushroom contains many active constituents, including the 2 well researched brain supporting compounds: hericenones and erinacines.
• Erinacines have the rare ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier 🩸and can help our brain produce more of the protein, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). 
• This protein supports and regenerates neurons in our brain. 🧠

Where to Start: Think Coffee (whether it's ground, instant, pods, whole bean, or cold brew, we've got you covered!). Not a coffee drinker? Try our Think Matcha, Focus Blend, or Focus Capsules. They all contain effective doses of Lion’s Mane in the flavor and format of your choosing.

Extra Credit: Tips for Focus

• Quick, snap into focus! Try a cold shower–or even an icey splash to your face. 🥶 This increases blood flow to your brain, wakes up neurotransmitters, and boosts respiration (more oxygen = better thinking) in seconds. (Pro tip: do this first thing in the morning when you wake up to activate your body’s vital response or chi!)
• Establish consistent routines to train your brain to turn on. Works best if you wake up with sunlight (and daily lion’s mane)! Try getting outside within the first 30 minutes of waking up and exposing your eyes to the sunlight to help regulate your circadian rhythm.☀️

⚡ Long-Day Energizer 🏃

Cordyceps to Revitalize Energy and Stamina

Hectic mornings, school drop-offs, and a full workday can be draining. Cordyceps is your natural energy booster to keep you going all day long without the jitters of caffeine. 🚀

How cordyceps works: 

• Cordyceps can help boost the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy source for cells in our body.
• This can improve oxygen utilization, 😮‍💨 🫁 making it easier for the body to perform daily tasks.
• It also supports blood flow, reduces fatigue, and gives you endurance to maintain better energy levels throughout long, busy days.

Where to Start: Blend our Boost Elixir Mix with Cordyceps into your post-workout protein shake or in a mid-day smoothie. You can also try Boost Cacao Mix with Cordyceps as an energizing chocolatey-ginger treat. 🍫

Extra Credit: Tips for Energy

• You’ll feel drained and fatigued when dehydrated. So make sure you’re drinking water with minerals! This ensure’s you’re actually hydrating. Spring water is ideal. Otherwise, add trace minerals, Himalayan salt or a squeeze of lemon for optimal hydration.💧
• Try 10 minutes of movement. Quick bursts of exercise naturally boosts energy as oxygen-rich blood surges to your brain and body, kicking energy levels back into high gear. 🏋️‍♂️

🥗 No Time to Bloat Gut Support 🍽️

Turkey Tail for Gut and Digestive Support

A healthy gut is essential for overall well-being, especially with kids bringing home all sorts of germs. Turkey Tail supports gut health, keeping you and your family feeling great. Plus, ~70% of immune cells are located in the gut, which means a healthy gut also supports your immunity. 🦠

How Turkey Tail works:

• Turkey Tail mushrooms contain the key compounds, polysaccharopeptides (PSP) and polysaccharide-K (PSK). 
• PSP acts as a prebiotic, which means it provides food for the good bacteria in your digestive system. 
• Promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria can improve nutrient absorption, help reduce inflammation ️‍🔥 in the gut, and prevent digestive issues. 

Where to Start: Love coffee? Try our Happy Gut Coffee for a daily dose of Turkey Tail (plus 1 billion CFU of heat-resistant probiotics!) in your cup of joe. Alternatively you can sip our Happy Gut Golden Latte for caffeine-free gut support.

Extra Credit: Tips for Gut Health

• Combine with probiotics for optimal gut health. Turkey Tail helps feed good bacteria, so by combining it with probiotics, you ensure they have the food they need to flourish and support digestion. Try eating probiotics in your daily diet with natural fermented foods like yogurt, pickles, kombucha, miso, or kimchi. 🍴
• For quick digestive relief, try drinking a warm cup of tea (we recommend our Happy Gut Instant Tea made with Turkey Tail and a strong kick of ginger and lemon). The heat, hydration, and soothing herbs calm a tense gut and help digestion move along a bit smoother.

🦠 School-Proof Immune Shield 🛡️

Chaga for Immune Support, Beauty, Skin Health

With kids back in school, germs are everywhere. Chaga is your immune system's best friend, helping you stay healthy and feel refreshed so you’re ready to tackle whatever comes your way. As a bonus, Chaga also helps keep your hair, nails, and skin looking refreshed and rejuvenated! ✨

How chaga works:

• Chaga is loaded with antioxidants (~1,300x more than blueberries 🫐 ) and melanin.
• Both protect the skin from the harmful effects of oxidative stress like sun damage. 
• Chaga also contains beta-glucans like Inonotus obliquus polysaccharides (IOPS).
• IOPS has anti-inflammatory properties and boosts white blood cell activity.
• One study found that polysaccharides from Chaga can slow cell death and keep our mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells, alive longer.

Where to Start: Start your day with an incredible combo of Chaga, vitamin D, and turkey tail (for gut support) in our Protect Ground Coffee. If you’re not interested in coffee, our Protect Herbal Tea is an ideal anytime of day immune booster with a mix of Chaga plus vitamin rich berries.

Extra Credit: Tips for Immunity

• Bask in the sunlight (or take Vitamin D supplements)! Just 10–15 minutes of direct sunlight ☀️ on your arms and legs can help support a balanced immune system.
• Enjoy eating mushrooms? Let them sit in the sun for at least 15 minutes beforehand and you’ll have a significant source of vitamin D. Note, it only works with fresh mushrooms. 
• Pro tip for culinary 'shrooms: opt for varieties like shiitake, oyster or trumpet mushrooms which are teeming with beneficial compounds for your health as opposed to the classic button varieties (like cremini or portobello).

⛔ Hectic Day Stress Stopper 💆🏻‍♀️

Reishi for Relaxation and Stress Relief

Balancing work, school schedules, and home life can be stressful. Reishi is your go-to for stress relief, helping you stay calm and centered 🧘🏻‍♀️ from morning drop-off to after-school practice and every minute in between.

How reishi works:

• Reishi mushrooms help reduce stress by affecting the body's stress response system. 
• They contain triterpenes: compounds with calming and anti-inflammatory effects.
• Ganoderic acid is a specific type of triterpene in reishi mushrooms. 
• These acids are known for their ability to help balance hormone levels, including cortisol.
• By balancing cortisol levels, Reishi can help you feel more relaxed and less stressed.

Where to Start: Try a daily cup of calm in our Calm Decaf Ground Coffee Bag with reishi. You can also unwind in the afternoons with Calm Cacao (essentially a healthy hot chocolate) or Calm Chai Latte (a caffeine free option rich with warming, cozy spices).

Extra Credit: Tips to manage stress

• If you’re feeling stressed, slow deeeeeeep breaths can instantly help you feel better by reducing the concentration of stress hormones in your blood. Let's try a few together now. Breathe in…. Hold 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…. And let it out slowly. See if you can make your exhales a few seconds longer than your inhales to calm your nervous system in seconds. 😮‍💨
• Short term stress is okay (and even beneficial!) but chronic stress is linked to diseases, poor sleep, and a lower quality of life. When stress becomes chronic, mix in mood boosting activities to your daily routine like exercise, sunlight exposure, social support, and therapy.