Meet your new mushroom sleep aids

Sleep is often heralded as a cornerstone of effective athletic recovery, but not all sleep is created equal. For athletes, the quality of sleep can be the difference between a mediocre performance and getting closer to that peak. After all, you can't perform your best if you're not sleeping your best. 

Enter Reishi and Lion’s Mane mushrooms—nature’s answer to ensuring the most restorative sleep you've ever had. 

The best mushrooms for sleep: The benefits of Reishi and Lion’s Mane

These are the mushrooms that help with sleep — both Reishi and Lion's Mane functional mushrooms have been studied for their potential to improve sleep quality through different biological mechanisms.

Using Reishi mushrooms for sleep

Reishi, often referred to as the "mushroom of immortality" or "the queen of relaxation," is known for its ability to support the immune system and mitigate stress. It acts as an adaptogen, helping the body manage stress more effectively—an essential factor in recovery, as excessive stress can significantly impair sleep quality and muscle recovery. Jake Plummer likes to call Reishi "a warm blanket for your nervous system." So by helping relieve stress, taking Reishi can improve the length and quality of sleep. 

Using Lion's Mane mushrooms for sleep

Lion's Mane, on the other hand, helps to sharpen cognitive function, which is vital for skill acquisition, locking in learning, and reactions times in sports. Taking Lion’s Mane at night has been shown to improve REM sleep duration, enhancing the brain's ability to recover from daily stimuli and process complex motor tasks learned during training sessions. The hallmark of deeper REM sleep are the vivid dreams that come along with it. If you use Lion's Mane, be prepared to dream big! 

Optimal intake and timing of functional mushrooms for sleep

It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to tailor the amount of functional mushrooms you take for your individual health needs and physical demands.

On average, however, we believe that you need to get a meaningful amount of any given mushroom for it to have any effect. Too many products just sprinkle in a little bit of mushrooms, far less than could ever have any positive effect.

We recommend taking at least 300 mg of a functional mushroom per day. This is a meaningful amount — the threshold at which people can really start to experience results. 

So for improved sleep, take at least 300 mg of Reishi and 300 mg of Lion's Mane at night, about 20-30 minutes before bedtime. 

Consult our functional mushroom intake guidelines here. 

Melatonin vs. functional mushrooms for sleep  

While melatonin is widely used as a sleep aid, it is not without potential downsides. It can cause side effects such as dizziness, headaches, and daytime drowsiness, which might affect daily functioning. Additionally, over-reliance on melatonin might alter the body's natural production of the hormone, potentially leading to difficulties in falling asleep without supplementation. It’s also worth noting that melatonin may not be effective for all types of sleep issues and should be used under guidance for best results.

So many sleep aids beyond melatonin make people drowsy or groggy when they wake up in the morning. It's hard to get going — a horrible state, if you're an athlete. Functional mushrooms, on the other hand, do not make you groggy when you wake up.

While Reishi and Lion’s Mane are powerful tools for sleep enhancement, they should be part of a broader recovery strategy that includes proper nutrition, hydration, and physical therapies like massage or foam rolling. Don't forget about ice baths too! Combining these methods can help maximize recovery and enhance athletic performance by ensuring all aspects of health are addressed.

How UFC fighter Cory Sandhagen sleeps better using functional mushrooms

Many athletes who incorporate Reishi and Lion’s Mane into their recovery routines report not only better sleep but also improved mental clarity and less fatigue during the next day's workouts or competitions. 

UFC bantamweight title contender Cory Sandhagen talks about how he relies on Reishi and Lion's Mane for training, and especially in the intense training camp that happens in the week preceding a big fight: 

"What I do for a living, it takes just as much mental energy as it does physical energy. I don't have those 'wake up at 3 AM and roll around' moments anymore. I'm just a lot sharper when I wake up in the morning. I'm not as draggy as far as my mental clarity goes, which I think goes like a really long way in my physical body as well. I feel like super rested."

Winning at sleep with functional mushrooms

For athletes, recovery is just as important as training, and sleep is a critical component of that recovery. By incorporating Reishi and Lion's Mane functional mushrooms into their wellness routines, athletes can enhance the quality of their rest, helping their bodies and minds to recover more effectively and perform at their best. As with any supplement, it's wise to start with the guidance of a health professional to optimize the benefits these powerful mushrooms can offer in the realm of sports and beyond.