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s we prepare to head into the deepest darkest depths of winter, many of us will endeavour to look after ourselves better, what with flu season and the colder weather - throw in a global pandemic and its no surprise were all searching for something to get us through the next few months with our immune systems still intact and stress levels at bay.

The latest hype? Shrooms. No, not that type, medicinal mushrooms, also known as functional mushrooms, are having a moment - and the likes of Elle Macpherson and Gwyneth Paltrow add them to everything from their morning lattes to protein shakes.

Functional fungi is even making its way into craft beer and face serums - so do they deserve a space in your winter wellness toolkit?

Mushrooms have long been used in Asia for their ability to improve health, maintain vitality, preserve a youthful appearance, and to counter the adverse health effects of chronic stress, says integrative medicine specialist Dr Andrew Weil. Research also demonstrates that a variety of traditional mushrooms possess anti-bacterial, anti-viral and immune-enhancing properties.

Are all mushrooms created equal? All mushrooms are good for us and contain beneficial levels of antioxidants and other plant chemicals, offers Grace Kingswell, a nutritional therapist specialising in functional medicine, but those called 'medicinal' simply have greater levels.

Its still worth eating a diet rich in the brown paper bag variety, even the common white button mushroom has immune-modulating properties, says Martin Powell, mycologist and author of Medicinal Mushrooms. While Dr Weil points to oyster mushrooms, which contain compounds that can help address high cholesterol.

When it comes to the so-called medicinal kind, some, like shiitake and maitake, can be found on supermarket shelves. The shiitake mushroom is a personal favourite, it appears to enhance immunity and may reduce the risk of several types of cancer, Dr Weil says. Maitake contains complex sugars called beta-glucans that have immune-enhancing effects.

Others, like lions mane, reishi, cordyceps and chaga, are more commonly found in supplement form, as they are considered less edible due to their woody or bitter taste.

This special class of fungi is also believed to have adaptogenic properties, along with herbs such as ashwagandha and ginseng, which are thought to help the body deal with stress and balance hormones. Adaptogenic mushrooms have the ability to modulate stress hormones from our adrenal glands and regulate the functioning of our immune system," says Tom Smale, co-founder of London-based functional food brand Wunder Workshop."

Shrooms to know

The use of reishi has been recorded for over 2,000 years in China, say Patricia Lopez, founder of the London Academy of Healing Nutrition, and Nam Singh-Tao Shi, a San Francisco-based TCM practitioner and faculty member of the school: It contains bioactive components as well as antioxidant properties that enhance the immune system. It has also been deemed the mushroom of immortality as it is believed to enhance longevity.

Reishi also helps to regulate sleep patterns and achieve homeostasis balance in our system and is an ideal year-round daily supplement, offers Smale.

Chaga is known as the king of mushrooms and is very high in antioxidants," Smale continues. It also contains the beta glucan-rich polysaccharides giving it potent immune supporting properties.

Cordyceps is deemed a kidney and lung tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), explains Lopez, it is best known to support improved stamina and studies have backed its ability to support athletic performance.

Smale agrees, suggesting adding a teaspoon to coffee 30 minutes before exercise to help your body deal with training stress. Cordyceps has been proven to increase aerobic capacity and respiratory function and help with oxygen flow in the brain, he says.

Lions mane is typically taken to support nerves and brain function, Powell says, it may help to promote focus and energy.

Healing (and warming) elixirs

So, how best to reap all of these benefits? When buying supplements, look for organic and wild-foraged mushroom sources, advises Lopez, who suggests adding them to warm elixirs, stews, sauts, or porridge to promote better digestion.

Wellness types are increasingly spiking their morning coffees with shrooms, too. Wunder Workshops Superior Chaga (25) is sustainably wild-harvested from birch trees in the Greater Khingan Mountains in northeast China and dual-extracted, a process which removes the fibrous proteins from the mushroom to give better access to the nutrients. Its the perfect coffee substitute in terms of flavour or you can add it to your coffee for faster absorption. Equally mix it with hot water and a bit of milk, and its not too dissimilar to your regular cup of tea," Smale says.

Glow Bar now sells a variety of mushroom powders, including coffee alternative chaga-ccino (30, glowbar.co.uk), which blends wild chaga and raw cacao, for a mocha with a difference. The brand advises you consult with a doctor before using its products if you are on any medications or are undergoing medical treatment.

Bottoms up

Cutting down on booze? Fungtn, a new alcohol-free craft beer brand born out of the first lockdown, has launched the UKs first range of 0.5% ABV lagers and IPAs brewed with functional mushrooms, including lions mane, reishi and chaga (18/case of six, fungtn.com). The brand says its tapping into the new wave of mindful drinkers - and the addition of myco adaptogens apparently enhances the depth, body and mouthfeel of the beer without the need for additives commonly used in non-alcoholic beers.

Super-charged skincare

Beauty buffs are also getting in on the shroom action. Dr Weil teamed up with Origins to create the brands now best-selling Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience range which features products designed to nourish the skins natural barrier and soothe inflamed skin - one bottle of the Soothing Treatment Lotion (32, origins.co.uk) is sold every eight seconds. Studies on several unique mushroom species show promising anti-inflammatory effects, and the topical use of anti-inflammatory mushrooms may help protect the skin against damage from environmental stressors, Dr Weil says.

Meanwhile, snow mushroom, also known as tremella fuciformis, is another fungus-derived active ingredient making its way onto your shelfie. It acts in a similar way to hyaluronic acid to quench parched skin, lock in moisture and support healthy ageing. Try Volitions Snow Mushroom Water Serum (52, cultbeauty.co.uk) or The Inkey Lists jelly-like Snow Mushroom Moisturiser (9.99, boots.co.uk).

Time to shroom-charge your winter wellness? Anythings worth a shot at the moment.

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Functional fungi: why mushrooms are the winter wellness trend to try - Evening Standard