What Are Functional Mushrooms? A Beginner's Guide

 

Where Fungi Meet Function

Functional mushrooms have been part of traditional medicine for centuries, long before “wellness” became an industry. Their resurgence today isn’t a trend so much as a cultural reset; away from overstimulation, quick fixes, dependency cycles, and toward nervous system support and more sustainable ways to support the mind, mood, and nervous system. 

At their core, functional mushrooms are fungi that contain bioactive compounds known for their potential effects that go beyond basic nutrition. Naturally rich in vitamins and minerals that many people struggle to get through diet alone, such as selenium, vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium, and are widely known to support brain cognition, immunity, and stress. 

Functional mushrooms are generally utilized for two primary reasons:

• Antioxidant and polysaccharide content, including beta-glucans that help support immune function.

• Adaptogenic properties, which may influence how the body responds to stress over time.

Functional mushrooms also sit entirely apart from psychedelic mushrooms. Psychedelic varieties contain psilocybin, a compound that alters perception; functional mushrooms do not.

Alice products do not contain psilocybin—zero, none, not a trace.

Functional Mushrooms aren’t a trend as much as a recalibration. As people drink less, rethink the jitters and cortisol spikes of caffeine, and supplements that promise intensity but deliver exhaustion, they’re gravitating toward ingredients that support the body rather than wear it down. Daily rituals are replacing quick fixes, and functional mushrooms sit in the center of that shift.

The appeal isn’t about overnight transformation. It’s the quieter, cumulative changes: feeling more clear-headed during a stacked workday, less reactive as stress builds, and genuinely ready for rest when the day winds down. Emerging research explores how compounds like beta-glucans, diterpenes, and triterpenes may influence pathways tied to mood, brain cognition, and inflammatory balance, not spikes.

Meet Alice’s Mushrooms

Four functional mushrooms sourced with intention, chosen for how they influence the way your body thinks, feels, and recovers.

Lion’s Mane

The brain mushroom. Works gradually rather than an instant spike, Lion’s Mane is so molecularly light that it’s able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Research has shown it supports Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a protein essential to the brain’s ability to learn and communicate.

Cordyceps

The energy mushroom. Rather than overstimulating, cordyceps provide a steady stamina, energy that feels sustained and even throughout the day.

Reishi

The calm mushroom. Reishi supports the body’s nervous system balance, helping the body shift out of fight-or-flight mode and into a more restorative rest-and-digest state. With consistent use, it’s often associated with improved sleep quality and a feeling of being more calm and collected. 

Tremella

The hydration mushroom. Tremella is known for skin hydration from the inside out and has become a staple in the holistic beauty space. Beyond skin, its polysaccharides play a role in immunity and help maintain overall cellular balance throughout the body. 

How Alice Uses Functional Mushrooms: The ‘Now & Later’ Approach

Alice was built around a simple truth: long-term wellness only works if you actually enjoy it. Our ‘now and later’ philosophy is proof of that. When the immediate and the incremental results coexist, consistency becomes effortless, and consistency is what makes functional mushrooms actually matter.

The “now” comes from fast-acting nootropics, adaptogens, and botanicals that support neurotransmitters tied to focus, calm, motivation, and mood. They offer a more subtle but noticeable shift almost instantly. 

The mushrooms are the “later”. Their bioactive compounds, beta-glucans, triterpenes, diterpenes, and other polysaccharides, work gradually. Over time, this slow build can translate into clearer mental processing, steadier energy, more resilient stress response, and a better regulated immune system. It’s long-term meaningful support, not a quick fix.

Alice blends both in a daily decadent chocolate square.

Why Chocolate?

Digestion begins in the mouth, where enzymes and saliva start breaking down compounds before they even reach the stomach; which can support how the body begins to process and absorb nutrients when they’re consumed as food. Chocolate squares turn function into a daily routine, something you can enjoy and look forward to.

 

Finding Your Daily Rhythm with Alice

Each formula is designed to fit naturally into your day, morning through night.

Morning - Brainstorm

Mushroom: Lion’s Mane & Cordyceps

Nootropics + Adaptogens: guarana, phosphatidylserine

A smooth, sustained lift for mornings where clarity and focus matter. No crash, no wired feeling, just sharper thinking and steady energy. 

Midday - Zen-X

Mushroom: Tremella & Reishi

Nootropics + Adaptogens: kanna, rhodiola, saffron, L-theanine, magnesium

Formulated to support a more balanced stress response and reduce the physical tension that builds throughout the day. Calm, clear, collected.

Afternoon - Happy Ending

Mushroom: Cordyceps

Nootropics + Adaptogens: ashwagandha, maca root, tribulus, mucuna, h-goat weed, damiana

A blend designed for stamina, mood, and sensuality. This is the ‘set the mood’ square, setting the stage for your happy ending.

Evening - Party Trick

Mushroom: Cordyceps

Nootropics + Adaptogens: kanna, mucuna pruriens, gotu kola, L-taurine, guayusa

Targets pathways related to dopamine, serotonin, and GABA - the neurotransmitters link to mood, confidence, and connection. With less caffeine than a sip of green tea, the shift is subtle.

Night - Nightcap

Mushrooms: Reishi

Nootropics + Adaptogens: L-theanine, magnesium, zinc, chamomile

Nightcap is designed for nights when your mind won’t quite shut off, the kind where you’ve made it to bed, but your thoughts haven’t. The formulation of ingredients are used to settle mental tension and support your body’s wind-down process.

What functional mushrooms ultimately offer is a shift in how we think about wellness: not a series of highs and lows, but a physiological steady change within our bodies. Each chocolate square contains powerful ingredients that support mood balance, stress resilience, clarity, and hydration on a cellular level. Combined with the fast-acting effects of nootropics and adaptogens, the daily ritual becomes something you can look forward to and only gets better with time.

Disclaimer: This blog contains promotional content about our products. The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your wellness routine, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

References

● WebMD. (2023). Health Benefits of Mushrooms. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-mushrooms

● Medical News Today. (2024). Health benefits of turkey tail mushrooms. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/turkey-tail-mushroom

● National Library of Medicine. (2021). Medicinal Mushrooms: Bioactive Compounds, Use, and Clinical Trials. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7826851/

● UCLA Health. (2022). 7 health benefits of mushrooms. Retrieved from https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/7-health-benefits-of-mushrooms

● Banner Health. (2025) What Are Functional Mushrooms and Are They Good for Your Health?. Retrieved from https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/are-functional-mushrooms-right-for-you

● Mayo Clinic (2023). Mushrooms Make Healthy Magic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/mushrooms-make-healthy-meal-magic

● Element Apothec. (2025). THE RISE OF FUNCTIONAL MUSHROOMS: HOW ADAPTOGENIC FUNGI ARE REVOLUTIONIZING PLANT-BASED WELLNESS. Retrieved from https://elementapothec.com/blogs/element-apothec/the-rise-of-functional-mushrooms-how-adaptogenic-fungi-are-revolutionizing-plant-based-wellness?srsltid=AfmBOorh9VwiJnVj0LQjMgE4wS7f3q328kuPjSrDwwSkvRu4A57gu2OQ

●     American Psychological Association. (2025). Stress in America 2025. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/stress-in-america/2025/full-report.pdf

●    Today. (2025) What are functional mushrooms, and do they have health benefits?. Retrieved from https://www.today.com/health/what-are-functional-mushrooms-rcna62473

●    Regenerate Medical Concierge. (2025) Supplements vs Food: The Truth Behind Multi-Vitamins and Eating Right. Retrieved from https://regeneratemedicalconcierge.com/supplements-vs-food-the-truth-behind-multi-vitamins-and-eating-right/

●    Harvard Medical School. (2015) Get nutrients from food, not supplements, from the June 2015 Harvard Health Letter. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/get-nutrients-from-food-not-supplements#:~:text=That%27s%20because%20vitamins%20and%20minerals,aren%27t%20in%20most%20supplements