Ozempic-Like Mushrooms, Brain-Healing Lion’s Mane, and One-Dose OCD Relief

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• 🩸 | Diabetes defense

• 💉 | GLP-1 mushroom boost

• 💊 | OCD relief in one dose

Hi Shroomers. Last year, I got to experience the magic of the Telluride Mushroom Festival — the people, the costume parade, the mountains, the mycology — and it truly left a mark on me. This year, I want to share that incredible feeling.

We’re giving away 2 full festival passes and a ½ campsite (sleeps up to 4) to one lucky winner, so you and a friend can soak it all in, too.

⏰ The giveaway opens at 10am CST today on our Instagram. Just follow us, tag who you’d bring on the giveaway post, and you’re in. Keep an eye on the post for ways to earn bonus entries!

P.S. Not sure what to expect? Check out our trip last year:

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Diabetes defense 🩸 Triterpenoids—natural compounds found in mushrooms like reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and poria (Wolfiporia extensa)—target the root causes of type 2 diabetes. This critical review shows how they improve insulin sensitivity, reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes, and lower inflammation and oxidative stress.

Fungal shield 🛡️ Phoenix oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) extract helped immune cells fight Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that poses serious risks to people with weakened immunity. It boosted protective inflammation, suppressed harmful immune suppression, and reduced the fungus’s spread inside cells by 42%.

GLP-1 mushroom boost 💉 Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) powder added to a single meal increased GLP-1 levels—a key hormone involved in blood sugar regulation and appetite control, also targeted by drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The effect was especially strong in people with specific gut microbiota profiles, pointing to the potential for personalized, food-based approaches to managing prediabetes and metabolic health. ​ ​

Fat browning boost 🔥 Ostreolysin, a protein from oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), helped diabetic mice lose weight and improve insulin resistance by triggering “fat browning,” or the conversion of white fat into energy-burning beige fat. Mice given the mushroom-derived protein lost 14% body weight and had a 35% drop in insulin resistance. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40626523/ 

Brain boost breakdown 🧠 A new systematic review confirms that erinacines, neuroactive compounds from lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), consistently support brain health across preclinical models. Erinacine A, the most studied, stimulated nerve growth factor (NGF), reduced inflammation, protected against brain cell death, and improved memory in models of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and depression. This is the strongest synthesis to date of how lion’s mane compounds protect the brain at the cellular and behavioral level.

Liver repair support 🧬 Polysaccharides from Tricholoma mongolicum, a rare edible mushroom, helped reverse metabolic fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in mice by restoring gut balance and blocking oxidative cell death. The extract reshaped gut microbiota, increased helpful metabolites, and suppressed ferroptosis, an iron-driven form of cell damage. This gut-liver axis approach offers a promising fungal path to protect against liver inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

Liver fat fix 🍄 Soluble dietary fiber from Ganoderma sinense, a lesser-known medicinal mushroom, helped reduce liver fat and improve metabolic function in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The mushroom fiber restored healthy gut bacteria, reduced inflammation, and improved key liver metabolites tied to fat breakdown and energy use.

Gut-cancer connection 🧫 This sweeping review maps how mushrooms may help prevent or slow cancer by changing the gut microbiome. Across 23 studies—mostly in mice—mushrooms like reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) altered gut bacteria, increased beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and activated cancer-fighting gene pathways. Though human data is limited, this preclinical evidence supports mushrooms' role in immune support and integrative cancer care.

Lavender’s hidden fungi 💜 Fungi living inside wild lavender (Lavandula stricta) produced powerful medicinal compounds with up to 93% antioxidant activity, significant anticancer effects against colon and breast cancer cells, and strong antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Several strains also blocked biofilm formation, a key factor in antibiotic resistance.

PSILOCYBIN & LEGISLATION

Post-concussion recovery 🏈 A single 2.5 g dose of dried psilocybin helped reduce long-term concussion symptoms in a college football player, including anxiety, fatigue, and irritability. This rare case study suggests psilocybin could support neuroinflammation recovery and cognitive resilience after traumatic brain injury.

OCD relief in one dose 💊 A single 10 mg dose of psilocybin significantly reduced symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults for up to two weeks. Participants reported a 33% average drop in symptom severity the day after dosing, with continued improvement at day 7. Backed by top psychedelic researchers, this marks a breakthrough in fast-acting mental health interventions.

Baeocystin breakdown 🧪 In one of the first behavioral studies on baeocystin—a psilocybin analog found in Psilocybe mushrooms—researchers found little to no psychedelic effect in rats. The compound showed poor brain penetration, with minimal impact on movement, anxiety, or sensory processing. While its metabolite norpsilocin reached the brain, levels were too low to produce noticeable changes, suggesting baeocystin alone may not drive the effects seen in whole-mushroom experiences.

Neurovascular shift 🫀 Psilocybin altered how brain activity and blood flow work together in Alzheimer’s mice, but not in healthy ones. This mismatch—called disrupted neurovascular coupling—could become a key biomarker for understanding how psychedelics interact with brain disorders. The study used live brain imaging to reveal these changes, offering early insights into psilocybin’s impact on Alzheimer’s-related brain function.

ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION

Fungi-fed chickens 🐔 Feeding oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sapidus) to broiler chickens improved growth, reduced gut inflammation, and boosted beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus. It also shifted gene expression in liver and muscle tissue. While niche, this supports mushrooms as a sustainable tool in agriculture and animal gut health.

Fermented fungi boost 🌾 Fermenting Tartary buckwheat with reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), and wood ear (Auricularia auricula) significantly enhanced its nutritional value. The process increased antioxidants, GABA, and enzyme-inhibiting compounds linked to blood pressure and blood sugar regulation. 

Fungi for furniture 🪑 Researchers tested reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) mixed with sawdust and sugarcane bagasse to create 3D-printed, biodegradable materials. The mushroom composites showed strong printability with dimensional accuracy under 0.7 mm and absorbed over 300% of their weight in water—ideal traits for sustainable packaging or indoor furniture.

MUSH MORE

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