Life Cykel meets up with Dave Asprey from Bulletproof Radio: Summary

While in North America, Life Cykel co-founder Julian Mitchell met up with Dave Asprey from Bulletproof Radio to chat about functional mushrooms.

In case you didn’t catch the podcast, or simply could not commit to 50 minutes of listening time, here is a quick summary of what you missed:

Dave asked Julian about food security and why mushrooms are an important food source for the future. 

Where do you see the future of food 20 years from now? 

Firstly, mushrooms and mushroom-based foods are going to play a huge role in the future of food, Julian said, as they grow quickly requiring very little resources. In terms of water, power, and land, and the amazing nutritional profile that they have, and, of course being 100% natural.

I think it's safe to say soil-based foods, regenerative farming should take up to 65% of our plate, grass-fed permaculture raised animal protein sources somewhere around 15%, same with mushrooms being somewhere around 15%, and cellular-based foods, somewhere around 5%. I think that kind of diet attached to asking the important questions: Where was our food grown? How was it grown? Sets us up for a bright future of food and a healthier society.

People have a yearning for local food and connecting to where food comes from.

What are the benefits of regularly eating functional mushrooms?

Regularly consuming these is like upgrading your immune software, which means when pathogens are coming in from the outside or you're having autoimmune or hypersensitivity issues with your immune system, you're just running a smarter, faster software that can address those issues.

Dave and Julian then broke down each type of functional mushroom Life Cykel currently produces and their potential health benefits, including:

Lion's Mane: Said to improve cognitive function by reducing inflammation, encouraging neural growth and improving overall brain health. 

Cordyceps: Known to replenish energy levels by oxygenating blood cells. Pharmacological studies show that Cordyceps increases “adenosine triphosphate production”, which is a chemical that produces energy in our cells and slows the ageing process. 

Reishi: Commonly used for immune system support, reducing stress and anxiety, blood pressure management, and liver support.

Turkey Tail: Known to improve and support gut health by acting as a prebiotic because it increases beneficial bacteria and yeast in your stomach. 

Shiitake: Recognized for its potential health properties including cardiovascular health, as well as for skin and hair

Dave highlighted one mushroom extract in particular that he was happy with the results with: Lion's Mane. 

“I've been working with them for the last several months and really testing out their species and their extracts,” said Dave. “And I actually became an investor and advisor in the company because I'm pretty excited about it. 

He said he has found nothing else that increases his REM sleep as much as the Lion’s Mane extract does. 

“I’ve noticed very profound effects from your extracts and I’ve held them up against other strains,” he said. “When I tried the extract, my rem sleep dramatically went up. When I skip a night, I don’t get as much, when I take it again, it gets better.”

MUSHROOM EXTRACTS: 

From left to right:  Chief scientist Thomas Loussier, Co-founder Julian Mitchell, biohacker legend Dave Asprey and Chairman Will Scott.

What is the best way to consume functional mushrooms?

There are many different ways you can take functional mushrooms, such as in capsules, as a tea or a powder, but Life Cykel chose to shift into making extracts because they are "more bioavailable than in powdered form, it is easier for your body to absorb and for the most part tasteless, so as to not spoil your coffee, tea or smoothie."

What is a mushroom extract?

Dave asked Julian important questions about the extracts, as well as why Life Cykel decided to shift towards using liquid extracts rather than powders. 

A mushroom extract is formed by drawing out bioactive compounds of a particular mushroom. Julian explained to Dave that Life Cykel uses a double extracting process, which involves biotechnology-grade equipment and a series of purification processes. This, in turn creates a more concentrated and high quality end product, as we are able to extract both soluble and insoluble compounds from the mushrooms. This process has been submitted under patent.

Pros of using Life Cykel's liquid mushroom extracts:

• More bioavailable than powders. Everything is grown and produced locally so the product can be higher quality.
• Easier to consume in many ways
• Economics work out better for consumer

Cons:

• Some people think it doesn't taste great

However, Julian noted that Life Cykel has been really happy with the taste of our extracts. The team of scientists have worked hard to make something that is high quality and concentrated but tastes good. Attributes this to the Kakadu plum which adds a bit of sweetness to the extract.

What is a Kakadu plum? And why is it included it in all the extracts?

"I thought I knew all the weird stuff and you stumped me on this," said Dave.

Julian said the plum is very rich and rare, carrying amazing properties including anti-viral and anti-oxidants. He added that by mixing it with the mushrooms we find it heightens and amplifies the benefits of the mushrooms.

To listen to the full podcast, please click here!

To find out more about functional mushrooms or the Kakadu plum, please visit our mushroom blog.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or the Therapeutic Goods of Australia. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.