Is Mushroom Chocolate the New Superfood?

Moksha Chocolate has a new addition to our vegan chocolate family that packs the power of premium superfoods in a deeply delicious paleo wonder bar: the Functional.  It’s new, it’s craft, and it uses the popular sweetener of organic coconut sugar for a rich caramel profile. The world is waking up to the wonders of mushrooms, so why not combine that with the irresistible love of craft chocolate? A bar of Amazonia is a convenient Paleo chocolate dessert with so many benefits!

Mushrooms have been used traditionally as medicine for thousands of years by cultures across the globe. Medicinal mushrooms like Shiitake, Lion’s Mane, and Cordyceps have been used in Chinese herbal medicine to provide immune support, improve digestive function, and increase energy or libido. In fact, in Tibet entire villages venture into the hills at certain times of year to seek out the elusive Cordyceps sinensis, revered by locals to support vitality and increase energy. The Red Reishi, Ganoderma lucidum, is known as Ling Zhi in Chinese, translating to “spirit plant” or “tree of life mushroom.” (Rogers 2011). The Red Reishi has been revered for centuries for its ability to increase clarity and focus, earning a reputation among sages and spiritual seekers to improve the quality of meditation. (Sun-dried Shiitake mushrooms even absorb nutrients from the sun’s rays and can be used as a vitamin-D supplement!)

There are so many accounts of the wonders of mushrooms from ancient lore, and modern scientists are also verifying these claims with robust research. For example, researchers have identified two important polysaccharide compounds from the beautiful gourmet Turkey Tail mushroom, Trametes versicolor, which are responsible for their tumor-fighting capabilities. These compounds, known as polysaccharide krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP) have been the subject of numerous cancer treatment studies. More than 400 clinical studies have been published in Japan regarding these compounds, and in 1987 more than 25 percent of money spent on natural anti-cancer agents in Japan were for PSK. The cancer treatment drug Krestin, derived from PSK, is approved by both the Chinese and Japanese governments. (Rogers 2011). 

Another culinary mushroom which has seen an abundance of research emerge regarding its medicinal properties is Lion’s Mane, Hericium erinaceus. Lion’s Mane has worked its way to the forefront of natural medicine, increasingly recognized as a powerful ally for the nervous system. Hericenones C-H derived from Lion’s Mane mushrooms have been found to induce synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF), required by the brain for developing important sensory neurons. In one Japanese study, elderly patients incorporated 5 grams of Lion’s Mane into soup for six months. After 6 months, 6 out of 7 patients who had taken the mushroom displayed improvement in perceptual capabilities. (Rogers 2011).

Chaga, Inonotus obliquus, a mushroom found growing on birch trees around the world, has been a subject of major study as well. It has been researched widely for anti-tumor activity, especially in Eastern Europe – an area where the fungus has been used traditionally (Kahlos et al. 1996), and due to the abundance of birch. Studies by Kahlos et al. (1996) also indicate the black skin of the fungus exhibits 100 percent inhibition of human influenza viruses A and B. Antiviral activity of Chaga is believed to be due to content of betulin, hispolon, hispidin, lupeol, and mycosterols. (Rogers 2011).