Good day, Happy Campers!
We hope your week fares you well and are gearing up for a weekend of fun ahead!
Last week, we introduced our newest product: Psilly Gummies! Each delicious gummy is packed with medicinal mushrooms (and a little ganj) that’ll work their magic on your health system! Turkey Tail, Lions Mane, and Reishi are powerful antioxidants with adaptogenic properties to reduce the body’s stress and have us feeling our best. We added just the right amount of THCP to keep the vibe dialed to MAX serenity. This holistic synergy encompasses the vibe of our spirit and we’re so excited to share them with you!
Functional mushrooms are fungi that have added health benefits beyond just their nutritional value! They’re good for our bodies and our tummies. Of nearly 2,000 varying species of mushrooms, only 15 are considered to be “functional” and possess the following benefits:
- Promotes homeostasis within the body.
- Strengthens immune systems.
- Soothes poor digestion.
- Possesses antioxidant properties.
Functional mushrooms are full of polyphenols, polysaccharides, and beta-glucans, which are inherent to boosting our immune-responses and overall health! The antioxidant properties found in mushrooms are very beneficial to our bodies in general – especially our skin. A healthy body glows inside and out! Functional mushrooms are also high in dietary fiber, supporting our bodies’ digestive systems!
Now ya see why we’re taken a lichen* to these mindful mushies? Let’s take a closer look at that turkey tail:
The Talk On Turkey Tails:
Turkey tail mushrooms (ie: trametes versicolor, coriolus versicolor, and polyporus versicolor) get their name from their fan-like appearance! Usually foraged along the underside of dead trees, these mushies sport a vibrant, reddish/brown hue, and chunky bits of white and gray. Think of a male turkey unfeathering his tail to impress a lass… then you’ve got the idea! Turkey tails also play a major role in plant decomposition! They help return nutrients from decaying material back into the soil, inhibiting growth for future plants.
For millena, turkey tails have been utilized for their incredible antioxidant properties – they’re packed full of polysaccharides, polyphenols, tocopherols, and so much more. In traditional Chinese medicine, the turkey tail (Tun Zi) was also utilized for immunoregulation. As it turns out, these fungai’s* are great at fighting off infections and do well to help an underperforming or overactive immune system! Traditionally, turkey tails were also used to remove toxins from the body, inhibit healthy liver and spleen functions, remove any excess fluid build up within the body, and increase stamina. To increase stamina, TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) practitioners would boil Tun Zi then allow it to steep until it became a strong, herbaceous tea. This tea would then be drunk to quell lethargy, or to purify the body of toxic compounds.
Great For Your Gut Health:
Turkey tails, like all functional mushrooms, are high in dietary fiber, promoting gut health! Did you know that the microbiota in our gut doesn’t just affect our digestive health, but our cognitive functions, too? That’s why this mindful mushie is so great for you! Turkey tails are enriched with probiotics that can help replenish all the good bacteria in our gut. The polysaccharide peptides that are also present in turkey tail mushrooms can help achieve and maintain glucose homeostasis! Each of our cells is powered by glucose (aka: blood sugar) When there are insufficiencies in glucose, then our cells lack the energy they need to function properly. There are two, primary hormones in our bodies that are responsible for glucose homeostasis: insulin, which lowers blood sugar and glucagon, which raises it. In animal studies, the polysaccharide peptides found in turkey tails supported the regulation of insulin activity, and kept glucose levels within normal range; these are promising results! A healthy gut is key to maintaining overall health – and the talk on turkey tails is that they’re great benefactors, which is why we included them in our Psilly Gummies!
Functional Mushrooms: Great for Pets, Too?
As previously mentioned, a case study involving animals and the polysaccharide peptides found in turkey tail mushrooms showed promising results with regards to insulin activity. An additional study performed by Penn State University explored the possibility of utilizing functional mushrooms as cancer treatment. Their findings did yield promising results in dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma; the polysaccharide peptides found in functional mushrooms showcased their ability to fight tumors! “Prior to this, the longest reported median survival time of dogs with hemangiosarcoma of the spleen that underwent no further treatment was 86 days. We had dogs that lived beyond a year with nothing other than this mushroom as treatment” [Baille.¹]
Turkey tail mushrooms are recommended as immune-boosters for your pet! Turkey tails offer great support for our immune systems by stimulating certain cells called cytokines, which essentially act as little messengers to invoke our immune systems’ response to potential invaders! Like bacterial and other harmful microbes. Turkey tails are credited for supporting our furry friends in recovery, in addition to promoting a long, and healthy life! We do encourage consulting your veterinarian prior to beginning any treatment, just as a precaution.
At The Happy Camper, we care about what goes into our bodies, which is why we wanted to give you something that not only tastes great, but is beneficial for you, too! Turkey tail mushrooms are a great addition to your current wellness routine and provide a myriad of benefits ranging from immune-support, to gut health! In the next part to this series, we’re racking the brain bank on Lion’s Mane.
References:
- Medicinal mushrooms (PDQ®)–health professional version. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/mushrooms-pdq#_7
- Medicinal mushrooms: VCA Animal Hospital. Vca. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/medicinal-mushrooms
- Son, K. (2022, April 11). Turkey tail mushroom for dogs: The ultimate guide + 6 best products. Veterinarians.org. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.veterinarians.org/turkey-tail-mushroom-for-dogs/#Can_Dogs_Eat_Turkey_Tail_Mushrooms
- Stamets, P. (2012, November). Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail mushrooms) and the treatment of breast cancer. Global advances in health and medicine. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4890100/
- Venturella, G., Ferraro, V., Cirlincione, F., & Gargano, M. L. (2021, January 10). Medicinal mushrooms: Bioactive compounds, use, and clinical trials. International journal of molecular sciences. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7826851/
