FOOD IS MEDICINE
MUSHROOM BOOM
Courtesy of Earth & Star
Earth & Star founders Erica Huss and ZoĂŤ Sakoutis discuss the power of functional mushrooms and the brandâs new line of adaptogen-packed treats with Cristina Cuomo. CRISTINA CUOMO: Earth & Star is a functional mushroom company that brings the immune-supporting benefits of adaptogenic mushrooms into the daily routines of consumers through a full range of products like ground coffee (and delicious, ready-to-drink lattes), gummies and tinctures. Can you describe the process, so people understand why adaptogens are so important to our energy levels, and the other benefits? ERICA HUSS: Essentially, they help you adapt. We put them into everyday products, so itâs as easy as possible to have them in your system every day. Your body works in tandem with these ingredients to understand where youâre in need of support. CC: Can you break down the key benefits of these specific functional mushrooms that you incorporated as ingredients into your products? ZOĂ SAKOUTIS: There are 15 or so functional mushrooms that have been identified to have specific properties, which all have their own unique superpowers. Across the board, all of these functional mushrooms have one thing in common: They are immunomodulators. A lot of people have an overactive immune system, and they need to calm it down, and a lot of people have an underactive immune system, which can be dangerous with COVID still around. Lionâs mane, which got its name because it looks like a bushy white lionâs mane, helps cognitive function, focus and memory. Research shows that it may be able to help protect against dementia. Chaga, which typically grows on a birch tree, is insanely powerful when it comes to immune support. Itâs said to have a thousand times more antioxidants
Earth & Starâs adaptogen-infused Colombian coffee
These mushroom gummies are strictly made with fruiting bodies.
Erica Huss and ZoĂŤ Sakoutis
than pomegranates and blueberries combined, so it really is a superfood. Reishi has very calming effects, which makes it ideal for when youâre struggling to chill or sleep; itâs also a great liver detoxifier, and itâs wonderful to take in the evening, because thatâs when your liver detoxifies. Cordyceps are these long, stringy, orange, caterpillar-shaped mushrooms. They are associated with performanceâa lot of athletes take itâand libido. Tremella looks like a loofah sponge. Itâs this white, kind-of-squiggly mushroom 79
thatâs incredible for your skin, hair and nails. Itâs great for hydration. Shiitake is pretty much in the same camp; thatâs why we combined them in the beauty tincture. CC: What makes Earth & Star different from other brands using adaptogens? ZS: The one thing a consumer really needs to be aware of and always look for on packaging is whether or not the mushroom extracts they are consuming are actual mushrooms. Thatâs also known as the fruiting body: the part of the mushroom that you see as the mushroom, as opposed to the mycelium, the root structure. Mycelium is great for many other things that usually have to do with environmental factors and textiles, like replacing leather and plastic. But when it comes to functional mushrooms and actually getting the polysaccharides, the beta-glucansâwhich is what gives you this great functionality that weâre talking aboutâthatâs all concentrated from the actual mushroom. CC: The ingredients are really refined in your product line. The chocolate doesnât have any added sugar. You have coconut sugar, coffee beans, cacao, and then the adaptogens. And everythingâs organic. What was the process of selecting ingredients? ZS: First and foremost, you have to have a clean label. Everything took a very long time to develop and get the formulation down. We use plantbased oat milk, formulated from scratch. We donât use any seed oils, gums or fillers. Everything is vegan. Across the board, our standards for everything we put into our products is super high. Use the code PURIST15 now through June 30 for 15% off sitewide at earthandstar.com.
