Feeling Blue? How Mushrooms Can Make You Happier!

Did you see that cool article about how AWE, and how it relieves depression? Study out of Yale University found that “Finding moments of awe in everyday life can improve depressive symptoms and overall wellbeing”.

And it doesn’t have to be BIG AWE, either. It can be little moments of awe in daily life. Apparently just “pausing to admire the intricacy of the veins of a leaf or being amazed by the scale of the universe after listening to a science podcast” was often enough to spark the desired effect.¹

Okay, lovely. But problem with this is that when I say AWE too many times in a row, it starts to lose its meaning – you know, like when you say the word “banana” over and over, and eventually it stops meaning anything at all. What is awe, anyhow?

ChatGPT defines awe as “a feeling of deep wonder and reverence, often mixed with fear or respect, typically in response to something vast, powerful, or beautiful beyond ordinary experience”. Mmm. Fair enough. But personally, I define AWE as the opposite of ICK.

You know – the ICK? People can give you the ICK. Bad news when the new guy you’re dating turns up wearing latex, or shaves off his beard and you realise that he really, really looked better with the beard and now he gives you the ICK. (True story, this happened to me once long ago. I’m not proud of it. But it was the end of the relationship.)

So AWE is the opposite of that. Just my opinion.

Anyhow, funny thing is that I’ve noticed that mushrooms give a lot of people the ICK. They’re just – weird, right? Kind of slimy. Kind of – witchy. Kind of – grow-in-the-dark and strange and fungal. And honestly, I’m not that keen on eating them. Just don’t fancy the taste that much.

However. Medicinal mushrooms shouldn’t give you the ICK. Medicinal mushrooms should give you the AWE. Here’s why:

They’re More Like Us Than Plants
Mushrooms belong to the fungi kingdom, which is genetically closer to animals than to plants. They breathe oxygen and release carbon dioxide – just like we do.
They Can Communicate Underground. Through the mycorrhizal network (sometimes called the “Wood Wide Web”), mushrooms form vast underground connections with trees and plants, allowing them to exchange nutrients, warn each other of danger, and support weaker neighbours.
They Can Clean Up Pollution. Some mushrooms are natural bioremediators, capable of breaking down toxic substances like oil, pesticides, and even radioactive waste. This process is known as mycoremediation.
They’re Ancient Survivors. Fossil records show that fungi have been on Earth for over 1 billion years, with some species like the honey fungus estimated to be thousands of years old – and spanning several miles underground!
They Have Medicinal Superpowers and Can Boost Your Mood. Medicinal mushrooms can give your mood a real boost by helping your body handle stress and feel more balanced. Mushrooms like reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps are known as adaptogens, which means they help your body adapt to stress and keep things like energy and mood on a more even keel.² Lion’s mane is especially good for your brain – it supports nerve growth and can help with focus and mental clarity. ³ Reishi is calming and great for winding down or getting better sleep,⁴ while cordyceps can give you more energy and motivation when you’re feeling low.⁵ These mushrooms also support your gut health, which plays a big role in how you feel emotionally. When your gut’s happy, your brain tends to be happier too. So adding medicinal mushrooms into your routine can be a natural way to feel more steady, clear-headed, and upbeat.

Chuckling Goat Complete Mushroom Blend amongst flowers

Want to try it for yourself? Our Complete Mushroom Blend makes it easy – we just chucked all the medicinal mushrooms we could get our hands on into this mix! It’s got thirteen of nature’s most powerful mushrooms, including Reishi, Shiitake, Cordyceps and Lion’s Mane, so you’re receiving a full spectrum of benefits without the hassle of choosing between different supplements. It doesn’t taste too bad either – kind of a bitter, slightly chocolatey flavour – great to mix into coffee! Or I put mine straight into my kefir smoothie in the morning – up to you.

Questions? As ever, our gorgeous Nutritional Therapists are standing by on to answer your questions, 8 am to 8 pm weekdays. They’re just sitting there twiddling there thumbs and DYING to talk to you about mushrooms, happiness and gut health, so jump on live chat now for some free personalised advice!

And get out there and experience some AWE today –

Hugs,

Shann

Shann Jones MBE

Founder/Director Chuckling Goat LTD