The Power of the Mushroom and How Functional Fungi Can Support Your Mental Health
- Brainz Magazine
- May 14
- 3 min read
Written by Gemma Ogston, Chef, Author, and Wellness Advocate
Gemma Ogston is a chef, author, and wellness advocate passionate about nourishing food, mental health, and community. Founder of Mama Shrooms and Gem’s Community Kitchen, she blends plant-based recipes, recovery, and self-care into everything she creates.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, I’ve been reflecting on my own journey and the powerful role food plays in supporting emotional wellbeing. Before I trained as a chef, I spent years working as an addiction counsellor in women’s projects, supporting women who were battling drug and alcohol dependencies. Those experiences taught me a vital truth: food is medicine.
Many of the women I worked with were struggling to stay grounded, to feel safe, to connect. I noticed that when they’d eaten something nourishing, warm, soothing, and easy on the body, they could show up more fully in our sessions. Their nervous systems softened. They could listen. They could be heard. That deepened something in me, too: a knowing that food could hold space for healing.
That belief carried through as I trained and worked for over a decade as a plant-based chef, and later wrote The Self-Care Cookbook and The Healing Cookbook. My mission was always about more than recipes; it was about giving people the tools to feel well.
Now, with Mama Shrooms, I’m focused on the incredible potential of functional mushrooms, nature’s quiet healers, for supporting mental wellbeing, particularly in today’s chaotic world. So many of us are burnt out, overstimulated, disconnected, and running on empty. Functional mushrooms offer a daily anchor. A way back to balance.
Here’s why
Reishi: The queen of calm
Reishi is my go-to for stress and anxiety. This adaptogenic mushroom supports the nervous system, helping regulate cortisol (your stress hormone) and bringing the body into a more relaxed state. I think of it as a natural chill pill, gentle but powerful.
Lion’s Mane: Brain food
Lion’s Mane has been shown to stimulate the growth of brain cells and support neuroplasticity. It’s often used to help with focus, memory, and mood regulation. For those feeling foggy, low, or mentally sluggish, Lion’s Mane can be a game-changer. It helps you feel more present, more clear.
Cordyceps: Energy + resilience
While not a direct calmative, Cordyceps helps balance energy levels by supporting adrenal function and oxygen uptake. When your body is less exhausted, your mind tends to follow. It’s a powerful ally for people juggling work, parenting, and stress.
Tremella: Hydration + glow
This snow mushroom is best known for skin benefits, but what’s often overlooked is that hydration at a cellular level also supports mood and mental clarity. When your cells are nourished, you feel it emotionally too.
Maitake: Immunity + hormone balance
Maitake helps regulate blood sugar and support hormonal health, two key areas often linked to anxiety, mood swings, and brain fog. When your inner systems are balanced, your mood often reflects that.
Functional mushrooms aren’t a quick fix. They’re gentle, cumulative, and supportive, best taken daily as part of a nourishing, grounding routine. For me, they’re like fungi-based therapy: holding you steadily, softly, while the world swirls around you.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, I invite you to think about the small rituals that support your wellbeing. Maybe it’s a warm tea with Reishi before bed, a Lion’s Mane smoothie in the morning, or simply taking a moment to breathe and connect with your body.
Because just like the mushrooms, quiet, unseen, and deeply connected beneath the surface, your healing doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful.
Read more from Gemma Ogston
Gemma Ogston, Chef, Author, and Wellness Advocate
Gemma Ogston is a chef, author, and founder of Mama Shrooms, a wellness brand focused on women’s health and recovery. A former addiction counsellor, she’s now a recipe developer, community advocate, and bestselling author of The Self-Care Cookbook and The Healing Cookbook. Gemma regularly appears on BBC and ITV, works with brands like Soho House and Witch, and leads local projects promoting affordable, nourishing food. She’s also an ambassador for Young Minds UK and FareShare.
