In case you haven’t heard, mushrooms are quickly becoming the next big thing in holistic wellness – yes, those mushrooms. What was once seen as a recreational activity is now gaining serious attention from researchers. They are discovering the potential benefits of these mushrooms, mainly thanks to psilocybin, the psychoactive compound responsible for their well-known effects.

However, even seasoned mushroom users often find the taste and smell unpleasant. Mushrooms are known for their earthy flavor, and this type takes it to a new level. To solve this, companies are making mushrooms more enjoyable to consume, and our favorite option is mushroom chocolate.

Mushroom chocolate is simply mushrooms coated in chocolate. The rich taste of chocolate masks the mushroom flavor well. Plus, chocolate has its own benefits, including antioxidant properties.

Most mushroom chocolate contains a mushroom blend, meaning that in addition to psychoactive mushrooms, other mushrooms are present that will not cause mind-altering effects, but do have profound health benefits.

Why Should You Consider It from a Health Perspective?

Now, if you’re new to mushrooms, you might be wondering what the big deal is about taking them.  Well, rather than giving you our own favorite reasons for trying them, we’re going to let science do the talking by sharing with you some of the clinical studies that have been done in recent years to show what these mushrooms are capable of.

#1: Mental Health Benefits

Many believe mushrooms’ effects last only during the trip, but they may offer long-term mental health benefits. One clinical study found that mushrooms help anxiety and depression by rearranging neurotransmitters and changing neural pathways. Suicidal patients reported that one therapeutic psilocybin dose changed their perspective and renewed their desire to live.

#2: Help with Addiction

Currently, a lot of research is underway to determine a clear connection between psilocybin usage and addiction cessation.  Studies over the years have found that those who took mushrooms were far more likely to successfully quit both cigarettes and alcohol, and now new studies are moving onto more hardcore drugs including cocaine.  The research is very promising so far, because it appears that this active compound has the ability to reorganize the brain’s reward center which is hyperactive in those who suffer from addictive behaviors.

#3: Relief from Migraines

If you suffer from migraines, then you know fully well that this type of pain can be absolutely debilitating.  Migraine sufferers experience intense headache pain as well as light sensitivity, nausea, impaired vision and speech.  All of these symptoms combined can greatly reduce one’s quality of life while interfering with their overall functionality.  Migraines can prevent a person from working enough to earn a livable income, can disrupt social relationships and can lead to anxiety and depression due to the enormous pain that can occur fairly frequently.

An interesting series of studies is finding that the lead compound in these mushrooms may be able to help fight migraine pain.  In fact, the studies have been so promising that more and more people are micro-dosing as a way to manage and prevent migraines.  Micro-dosing involves taking extremely small doses daily so that the mushroom’s potential therapeutic benefits are present, but the intense psychoactive experience is not initiated.

#4: Cognitive Improvement

We’re now beginning to discover that mushrooms may offer impressive cognitive benefits as well.  Note that this study refers to both psychoactive and standard edible mushrooms.  In particular, psilocybin seems to play a role in neurogenesis, meaning that it may be able to boost the development of new, healthy brain cells.  As we age, our neural pathways weaken and our neurons slowly die off.  This is why cognitive decline occurs so frequently among Older People.  Further, young people can experience cognitive decline as well, as a result of poor diet, substance abuse, traumatic brain injuries and epilepsy, among other things.

Cognition is a complex series of brain functions that includes memory, concentration, motivation, mental stamina and mood.  Maintaining healthy cognitive function is a big key to living a long and happy life.

#5: Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Interestingly, both “magic” mushrooms and culinary mushrooms seem to offer unique anti-inflammatory benefits, as mushrooms contain a unique variety of compounds that don’t exist in other plants.  Inflammation is a growing concern among medical professionals, as new research indicates that inflammation alone can be responsible for a wide range of major health issues, ranging from digestive ailments to depression. The immune system responds to uneasiness within the body through inflammation, which poor diet, stress, overexertion, lack of sleep, substance abuse, genetic factors, underlying illnesses, and poor overall health can trigger. Inflammation manifests in various ways throughout the body, wreaking havoc on bodily systems and interfering with their functionality, ultimately leading to major systemic diseases.

Therefore, consuming anti-inflammatory foods may be a critical component to maintaining good overall health.  Mushrooms with their rich anti-inflammatory properties seem to be an obvious choice, as they are nutritious and widely accessible.

The Added Benefits of Consuming Mushroom Chocolate

We’ve talked about the unique potential health benefits of mushrooms, primarily thanks to psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in “magic” mushrooms.  But this article is about consuming mushroom chocolate, and as we know, chocolate can provide some useful benefits as well.

To benefit from chocolate with mushrooms, consume real, unprocessed cacao in its raw, pure form. Convenience store chocolate is highly processed and packed with sugar, increasing inflammation and reducing any benefits.

Pure, raw chocolate can offer cognitive benefits while boosting the function of the nervous system, largely thanks to the flavonoids, which are chemical compounds found in the beans.  Further, chocolate is rich in nutrients, and as we said earlier, offers potent antioxidant effects.

Mushroom Chocolate Has Something to Offer on the Health & Wellness Sides

As you can see, mushroom blends in chocolate can offer a lot to your overall wellbeing. Seek the highest-quality product, paying close attention to both the chocolate and mushrooms when making your choice.