Mighty Mushrooms: Get winter ready

We are delighted to welcome back Bristol Fungarium as our Organic Certified Medicinal Mushroom Company of the Month.

The popular Doctor’s Kitchen podcast, hosted by Dr. Rupy Aujla has a large number of monthly listeners and covers food, medicine and other health-related topics. He is joined by regular expert guests, often working on cutting-edge research to discuss the hottest health topics.

Back on the 6th November, the topic was: ‘Mighty Mushrooms: The culinary and medicinal world of Fungi.’ The panel of experts included Prof. Tim Spencer: Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, Dr Ester. Gaya: Senior Researcher in Comparative Fungal Biology at Kew Gardens and Tom Baxter: founder of Bristol Fungarium. The event was recorded at the iconic Fortum and Mason’s Food and Drink Studio.

The esteemed panel discussed the compelling evidence for the nootropic effects of mushrooms and how certain varieties can help mental health conditions, notably trauma. The podcast was fascinating, giving listeners an informed insight into the ‘shroom boom’ across the alternative health world.

However, there’s nothing new about the health benefits of fungi: it has been used as part of a systemic approach to human health, especially in Eastern cultures for well over thousand years. Mushrooms have existed on Earth for over 800 million years and remain integral to pharmaceutical research and products. Lifesaving medicine like penicillin and statin are derived from fungi and leading scientists are looking at how isolated fungi compounds can help treat a wide range of ailments and diseases.

Bristol Fungarium produces and distributes the UK’s first organic certified medicinal mushrooms, with a predicted 2024 turnover of £1.5 million. Rooted in science-led research & development, Bristol Fungarium is working with UWE Bristol to conduct research into the long-term benefits of mushrooms. Established in 2019 by Tom: an organic vegetable farmer and self-confessed mushroom forager, the company grows and clones UK-native mushrooms and turns them into tinctures for health food shops and private online orders.

“Our mushroom tinctures can support with a wide range of conditions, from acute cancer care, menopausal relief, thyroid stabilisation, insulin regulation, to possibly helping early onset dementia. With anti-viral properties, many young women treat herpes and type II diabetes sufferers have noticed an improvement in their condition.”

“With the festive season starting earlier and earlier, many Brits are looking to support their mind, body and spirit with alternative health. Though a time of joy and blessing to many, Christmas can also be a time of friction in many families. Reishi can support with anxiety and stress over Christmas, whereas Maitake balances food intake. For hangover treatment, reach for Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps is our top recommendation for renewed energy in January next year.”

“Of course, mushrooms are for life, not just for Christmas. Reishi is renowned for boosting the immune system, gut health and improving sleep, with possible antioxidant compounds that protect against cell damage in cancer.” explains Tom.

Bristol Fungarium supplies a wide range of organic mushroom tinctures and bundles for one-off and subscription-based online payments, in addition to health food shops. The products include:

• Lion’s Mane

• Reishi

• Turkey Tail

• Chaga

• Cordyceps

• Maitake

• Shiitake

• Menopause support (bundle)

• Festival recovery (bundle)

• Everything (bundle)

• Lion’s Mane (bundle)

• Father’s Day (bundle)

The products are all sustainably foraged or grown, with some wild-harvested or cultivated in the purposebuilt laboratory and with an ethical and short supply chain, they offer customers and retailers a greener choice for fungi tinctures.

“We have recently completed the first fungi survey on Barbados since 1940 and discovered two potentially new species, which is exciting for the world of mycologists. Research and development are at the heart of our operations and we are currently in talks with a former leading GlaxoSmithKline Chemist to collaborate on research in his purpose-built lab.”

“In January, Bristol Fungarium will have an installation in Fortum and Mason and after the success of the November podcast, we have been re-booked to appear on another episode of The Doctor’s Kitchen: watch this space!”

Bristol Fungarium products are available in high-street UK health food shops and are also available from the website.

To find out more about Bristol Fungarium’s mission, philosophy, science-led research and whole product range, please see the website below: https://bristolfungarium.com

Listen to the Doctor’s Kitchen November podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/272mighty-mushrooms-the-culinary-and-medicinal/id1316938642?i=1000675847910