Fasting combined with the use of medicinal mushrooms

During fasting, there are various beliefs about what is allowed. Some believe that drinking only water during fasting is the only true way to reap its benefits. However, others argue that digestion of sugars, carbohydrates, and proteins are the main factors that disrupt fasting.

At Foodsporen, we offer medicinal mushrooms such as Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, and Lion's Mane that contain small amounts of proteins and carbohydrates, but not enough to break the fast.

Working with medicinal mushrooms during fasting can even enhance the benefits of your fast. These mushrooms are potent adaptogens and have anti-inflammatory properties that support the process of autophagy. I'll explain what autophagy is later in this blog.

Certain medicinal mushrooms, such as Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, and Lion's Mane, are particularly beneficial to use in the morning. Cordyceps provides a slow and steady energy boost, while Turkey Tail is a good addition due to its anti-inflammatory benefits and prebiotic properties.

Lion's Mane can also be enjoyed in the morning to activate neurons. As a nootropic, Lion's Mane supports focus, creativity, and mood, which can be helpful in the final hours before the end of fasting when tackling the day's most important tasks.

It's important to note that the use of some medicinal mushroom products can break your fast. At Foodsporen, as you may already know, we only use the fruiting bodies of mushrooms grown on wood to ensure that our extracts are compatible with fasting. Be cautious with extracts grown on grains or rice, as they may contain higher amounts of carbohydrates that can disrupt fasting. This is because in these products, the mycelium soaked in grain is processed together with the grain in the products. Grain contains a high concentration of starch, for example, which will break your fast immediately. With Foodsporen products, you can be sure that your fast will not be broken because we only use the fruiting bodies and do not fill our products with ingredients that do not belong in them.

A 40-hour fast in 3 phases

Phase 1: Initial phase (0-12 hours)

The first (and obviously the easiest) phase of Lent has arrived. I lie in bed around 12:00 AM and wake up around 10:00 AM the next morning, feeling well rested. The first 14 hours are already over. I first drink a large glass of water and then make a cup of coffee in which I mix two full pipettes of Cordyceps extract. In the first 12 hours of the water fast, the body begins to adapt to the absence of food. Blood sugar levels gradually drop as glycogen stores in the liver are used up. This is the phase in which the transition from glucose burning to fat burning begins. The hormone insulin decreases, while the hormone glucagon increases, which prompts the body to release stored fats for energy. 2 hours before I woke up, the second phase of the fast has already started.

Phase 2: Fat Burning (12-24 hours)

After about 12 to 24 hours of fasting, the body enters a state of ketosis, where ketone bodies are produced from fatty acids in the liver. This is the point at which the body begins to burn primarily fat for energy instead of glucose. Research shows that ketones not only serve as an energy source, but also have several beneficial effects on health, including reducing inflammation and promoting mental clarity. The latter is clear to me every day as I feel very clear at this stage. I can accomplish mental tasks easily and have a surprising amount of energy. This changes quickly at nightfall. For me, around 6:00 PM (22 hours of fasting) usually starts, and this time it is the second most difficult period of a 40-hour fast. I'm starting to get really hungry. My body, which is used to eating all day long, requires its periodic portion. I feel a bit weak and my stomach is growling like a piglet. I try to distract myself and decide to take a long walk through the woods. I make sure that I move calmly and do not exert myself too much. I'm back from the walk around 8:00 PM and it's been 24 hours. Soon the most difficult part of a 40-hour fast will begin for me personally.

Phase 3: Deeper Ketosis (24-40 hours)

As the fasting period progresses, the state of ketosis deepens. The body becomes increasingly acclimated to using ketones as a primary fuel source. During this phase, people often experience increased mental clarity and focus, which can be partly attributed to increased production of the neurotrophic factor BDNF, which promotes the growth and survival of neurons. This is the moment that I add a generous dose of Lion's mane to my herbal tea. At 8:00 PM I make a cup of chamomile tea and add two full pipettes of Lion's mane extract. In addition to the benefits that fasting gives me, the Lion's Mane also promotes neural growth through the nerve growth factor in Lion's Mane.

Around 11:00 PM the most difficult phase of my 40-hour fast begins. Namely, trying to sleep on an empty stomach. This doesn't work well for me. I average between 2 and 4 hours of sleep when I go into the second night of a fast. That's not much, but what is striking is how fit I feel the next day. After all, my body has simply fed on mainly fats and because my system is clean through a process called autophagy, I feel incredibly energetic and clear of mind in the morning.

Fasting and Autophagy

Autophagy literally means 'self-eating'. It is the self-cleaning system of your cells. Autophagy clears out harmful cells and removes waste from your cells. This has a rejuvenating effect on your cells and thus on your body.

During autophagy, waste in your cells is detected and encapsulated. The substances that do not serve your body can no longer escape in this way.

The encapsulated package is sent as a garbage bag via transport vesicles in your body (vacuoles) towards a recycling cell. You call such a recycling cell a lysosome. A lysosome is a sort of acid pouch filled with powerful enzymes.

When the garbage bag and the lysosome come together, the contents mix. The enzymes from the lysosome break down the waste. During this breakdown process, building blocks for new, well-functioning cell components are created. The result is a cleaner and healthier body.

Autophagy is particularly valuable for many bodily processes because it restores your body at the cellular level. Scientific evidence has been found regarding health benefits through the autophagy process for the following conditions:

• Virus infections
• Weakened immune system
• Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
• Fatigue
• Inflammation
• Diabetes
• Skin problems
• Premature aging
• Growth of harmful body cells

I like to enhance the benefits of the autophagy process in the final hours of my fast with Turkey Tail extract. The antiviral effect, the effect on the immune system, and the anti-inflammatory properties of Turkey Tail are, in my opinion, fantastic supplementation in the final moments when I subject my body to autophagy. When I wake up on Monday after a short night, I also have a cup of coffee with 2 droppers of Cordyceps, 2 droppers of Lion's Mane, and 2 droppers of Turkey Tail. I drink plenty of water and go to work full of energy and with a clear mind. When it's 11 o'clock, I walk to the kitchen to prepare a healthy meal. My first meal in 40 hours. Now, it's not that you have a free pass to eat whatever you want after fasting. The intention is to break the fast with healthy, nourishing food. Avoid processed foods and opt for a meal that is relatively light but contains plenty of natural fats. I break my fast with a tasty, yet healthy meal. 4 scrambled eggs, 1 avocado with some Celtic sea salt, and fried broccoli with pine nuts. It feels wonderful to eat again. And besides, I'm happy that I've given myself another fast because I feel good! My skin is glowing, and I am relaxed, present, and happy.

I recommend it to everyone. Well, not everyone because fasting is better avoided when you are pregnant, suffer from eating disorders, or experience other health problems.

Are you inspired by this blog and have you also combined fasting with medicinal mushrooms? Let us know your experience!

Mush love, 
Mart from Foodsporen