Reishi (ganoderma lucidum) has been referred to as the “mushroom of immortality,” and though that might be an overstatement, this medicinal mushroom has many ways to support your wellness.
An overview of reishi and its health benefits
Herbalists in traditional Chinese medicine have used reishi as a supplement for over two thousand years, and reishi’s popularity isn’t going down anytime soon as modern medicine has backed its many health benefits:
- Studies have found that reishi can promote restful sleep (1).
- The triterpenes in reishi are a compound that makes them bitter, but they have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral benefits (2).
- Reishi may lower blood pressure in some people because of specific peptides that reduce hypotension (3).
- They contain beta-glucans which have been shown to lower cholesterol (4).
- The polysaccharides in reishi have antioxidant effects that benefit the immune system and have been used in cancer treatment studies (5).
Though reishi is technically edible and has few known side effects, it is not preferable to eat raw because of its bitter taste and cork-like texture. We’ve gathered some delicious recipes that provide all of the fantastic health benefits of reishi mushrooms in a way that makes the mushroom more appropriate for human consumption. You can use fresh or dried mushrooms, or if you cannot locate any whole reishi mushrooms, try out a reishi mushroom powder which you can incorporate into several of your favorite recipes.
Reishi food recipes
Reishi Protein Brownie Bites
Image Source: Ashley Gish
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Difficulty: Beginner
Since reishi pairs excellently with chocolate, these protein-filled treats provide a great pick-me-up snack you can eat throughout the day. You use maple syrup or any other sweetener of your choice. Roll them in shredded coconut or chopped nuts for extra texture outside.
Reishi Mushroom and Green Olive Tapenade
Image Source: Simple Mills
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Difficulty: Beginner
Make this tasty tapenade with a twist the next time you need a dip or spread for your favorite snacks. Green olives, garlic, and lemon juice complement each other, while the reishi powder boosts this savory spread.
Reishi Mushroom Ramen Bowl
Image Source: My Tiny Laguna Kitchen
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
Fill your stomach with this warm, comforting reishi ramen made with nourishing superfoods like bone broth and turmeric. For a gluten-free alternative, you can switch out ramen noodles with Shirataki noodles. If you’re a fan of spice, you can top this soup with chili oil for an additional kick.
Reishi Mushroom Veggie Soup
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
This plant-based soup packs a punch with flavorful ingredients like fennel, cloves, and ginger. The recipe’s veggies and shiitake mushrooms add an additional benefit to reishi’s medicinal qualities.
Reishi Mushroom Chocolate Almonds
Image Source: Mushrooms 4 Life
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minues
- Difficulty: Expert
Sometimes you just need a sweet snack to munch on, and these reishi chocolate almonds will satisfy your cravings. This recipe might take more effort, but it’s a delicious way to incorporate reishi into your snacking routine.
Reishi beverage recipes
Reishi Lemonade
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Beginner
If you want a refreshing drink packed with all the benefits of reishi, then you should try this lemonade. All you need to do is boil together reishi and cinnamon for an hour, mix with lemon juice and your favorite sweetener, then chill until it’s cold.
Reishi Mushroom Tea
Image Source: Vida Cap
Here is a tea recipe that is simple to make and customizable to your taste. Brew your reishi mushrooms for an hour, then add in your favorite tea ingredients like ginger, lemon, and dried fruit.
Reishi Mushroom Chocolate Milk
Image Source: Champagne Tastes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Beginner
Mix your reishi powder with cacao, your favorite kind of milk, and a sweetener like maple syrup or honey to make this delicious chocolate milk. Blend it up with ice or cubes of frozen coffee for a frappuccino-like treat.
Adaptogenic Gingerbread Latte
Image Source: Choosing Chia
If you’re a coffee lover who wants a sweet, warming twist to your daily cup of joe, take this reishi gingerbread latte for a spin. Since this drink is sweetened with molasses and flavored with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, it tastes strikingly like a gingerbread cookie. This recipe calls for almond milk, but feel free to substitute it with any of your favorite kinds of milk for the creamiest latte of your dreams.
When looking out for your health and wellness, reishi is a fantastic supplement to consider due to its several health benefits. Even though you can’t eat it on its own, it boosts many recipes with its medicinal qualities. If you’re using fresh or dried reishi in your recipes, steep it for at least an hour to get the most beneficial compounds from the mushroom.
For more, check out our roundup of dishes featuring pink oyster mushroom recipes. To learn more about functional mushrooms, check out our guides on chaga and cordyceps to get started.
References
- Qiu, Yu, Zhu-Jun Mao, Ye-Ping Ruan, and Xin Zhang. 2021. “Exploration of the Anti-Insomnia Mechanism of Ganoderma by Central-Peripheral Multi-Level Interaction Network Analysis.” BMC Microbiology 21 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-021-02361-5.
- Wu, Yan-Li, Fei Han, Shan-Shan Luan, Rui Ai, Peng Zhang, Hua Li, and Li-Xia Chen. 2019. “Triterpenoids from Ganoderma Lucidum and Their Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 67 (18): 5147–58. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b01195.
- Tran, Hai-Bang, Atsushi Yamamoto, Sayaka Matsumoto, Hisatomi Ito, Kentaro Igami, Toshitsugu Miyazaki, Ryuichiro Kondo, and Kuniyoshi Shimizu. 2014. “Hypotensive Effects and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides of Reishi (Ganoderma Lingzhi) Auto-Digested Extract.” Molecules 19 (9): 13473–85. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules190913473.
- Berger, A., D. Rein, E. Kratky, I. Monnard, H. Hajjaj, I. Meirim, C. Piguet-Welsch, J. Hauser, K. Mace, and P. Niederberger. 2004. “Cholesterol-Lowering Properties of Ganoderma Lucidum in Vitro, Ex Vivo, and in Hamsters and Minipigs.” Lipids in Health and Disease 3 (1): 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-511X-3-2.
- Seweryn, Ewa, Anna Ziała, and Andrzej Gamian. 2021. “Health-Promoting of Polysaccharides Extracted from Ganoderma Lucidum.” Nutrients 13 (8): 2725. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082725.
