Description
100% fruiting body mushroom extracts.
We understand the most reliable therapeutic potency comes from 100% fruiting body extracts. this is where you get the highest concentrations of beta-glucans that modulate immune and inflammatory response and active compounds like the published and famed erinacines and hericenones that give lion's mane its neuroprotective, neurotropic and neuroplastic properties.
if you want the highest and most consistent therapeutic potential, fruiting body is the way to go.
>30% beta-d-glucan <5% starch | zero grain. zero filler. zero preservatives.
some tasty recipes for more involved prep.
featured reviews.
I absolutely love this so far! I’ve made it almost every morning and can really feel a difference in my energy levels and focus, (I work from home so it’s hard to focus sometimes). I will keep this routine up for sure!
Devon L.
."I was so surprised that this really does help improve my mental focus and concentration! I am a skeptic when it come to so many claims companies make about how the latest superfood will help you, but this one lives up to its claims! I make It with hot milk and it tastes like hot cocoa. I have in the afternoon to help me make it through the day."
Lori T.
"I add a tablespoon to my morning coffee and it sets me up for a better day. My energy and focus are increased, without that scattered, jumpy effect more stimulant based interventions give. It helps my mood & I have endured long term “treatment resistant” symptoms. It’s a must have on my shelf!"
Erin K.
top benefits.
chronic stress / anxiety.
addressing stress and inflammation is at the core of our product development. we understand that so many of today's dysfunctions are caused or made worse by stress and inflammation. this is a truly holistic problem. reducing stress and inflammation is not an overnight process, but the results are widespread and highly impactful to everyday health, wellness and performance. weaving high quality adaptogens into your daily routine helps reduce the body's response to internal and external stressors, keeping cortisol levels lower and helping your mind-body allocate resources to rest, repair and growth (parasympathetic processes). with consistent reduction is stress, your mind-body shifts to a state of healing and elevated performance. digestion improves, sleep improves, immune response improves, energy improves, mood improves, detoxification improves, clarity and focus improves.
the same concept applies to inflammation levels. with consistent inflammation reduction, the body and mind are able to enter a state of healing and improved resource allocation. inflammation causes stress and stress causes inflammation, so when you address both at the same time, the benefits are compounded. it's truly amazing what the mind and body are capable of when the conditions are right. the right conditions created with a nutrient rich diet, lowered stress and lowered inflammation levels. while there are countless factors to optimizing health and wellness, the foundation to improvement is lowered stress and inflammation.
digestion & gut health.
acacia fiber and agave inulin are powerful forms of prebiotic fiber that help strengthen your healthy, low inflammatory microbiome. as your healthy gut bacteria strengthen, the bad bacteria is weakened. the more we learn about optimal health and performance, the more we understand the importance of healing your gut through a balanced microbiome. while acacia fiber and agave inulin are the two featured probiotics, 85% of the adaptive cacao ingredients are considered probiotic supplements for a healthy microbiome.
when gut health is optimized, nutrient absorption is optimized, inflammation is moderated, immune system intelligence is improved, brain fog decreases, cognitive function improves, athletic performance improves, bones are strengthened, sleep improves, anxiety decreases and more. gut health lays the foundation for all mental and physical health. strengthening your beneficial ^resident bacteria is one of the most important aspects to strengthening that foundation.
while probiotics are supplemental bacteria strains that help provide temporary balance to an otherwise unhealthy and inflammatory gut microbiome, their benefits come from "non-resident" microbes that will pass through the intestine. this means the benefits are temporary or transient. prebiotic fiber feeds and strengthens your resident microbiome, which stay in your intestine as a long term player in gut health. probiotics are very beneficial to supplementing the journey to better gut health, but prebiotic fiber is an absolute requirement for sustainable progress and long term gut health.
additionally, reduced stress / anxiety pulls the mind-body into a proactive (parasympathetic) state where more energy/ resources are allocated to digestion and detox processes and healing the integrity of the gut lining. this further improves nutrient absorption and establishes balance in the gut microbiome.
energy and endurance.
sustainable mental and physical energy is a real measure of holistic health. you can only force energy with stimulants for so long. soon enough, the biological debt of regularly leaning on stimulants will catch up to you as the foundations of energy, endurance and mood are weakened. what does this look like? when you lack sustainable energy, it can feel like you're moving through molasses until you drink a coffee or energy drink. while stimulants offer some welcomed short term energy, it's clear they stress your adrenals and push your brainwaves into an inefficient and more reactive state (high beta - gamma). stimulants are like pressing on the gas in first gear, you will feel more energy and clarity, but you burn through energy quickly and regular use can accelerate wear and tear on the mind - body. this results in a "crash" that people will often counter with more stimulants. this continual pressure often results in generalized anxiety, low baseline energy, digestion and an overall stressed nervous system.
cordyceps and lion's mane help promote atp production, oxygenate the blood, promote blood flow to the brain and calm the nervous system. together, this synergy promotes clear mental and physical energy without the consequences of stimulants. on a deeper level, cordyceps and lions mane can help reset your circadian rhythm, which improves your cortisol cycle throughout the day. a smoother cortisol rhythm allows for deeper sleep at night and natural energy in the morning with better energy management throughout the day.
to be clear, we're not against good coffee, but caffeine is a very short term boost that puts additional stress on your adrenals. this additional stress is not good for people who already struggle with fatigue or anxiety. a cup of coffee or two can be a beautiful thing for otherwise balanced people with stable energy and strong resilience to stress. if you're a big fan of the coffee kick (like i am), adding adaptive cacao directly to your coffee (or drinking after your morning coffee) will help protect your adrenals and nervous system from the impact of caffeine. replacing coffee or including adaptive cacao in your routine can significantly improve your acute and long term energy.
focus & clarity.
improved blood flow to the brain with an emphasis on the prefrontal cortex gives more energy to the regions of your brain responsible for analytical thinking, attention, impulse control, emotional control and more. when you're studying, presenting, training, or doing anything cerebral, maintaining upper brain connection is critical. you need to focus on all the variables of the task / topic without impulsive distractions, mental fatigue or giving authority to the lower brain (fear center). analytical processing requires upper brain control. if you're in a reactive state (sympathetic, lower brain control), its difficult to maintain objectivity and a holistic perspective, so you're more likely to rush an incomplete solution, tossing out countless variables that would influence a well thought solution. anybody who has drank too much coffee can relate to being "overly amped" and you can't keep your thoughts straight. this is not a good place to be. your mind will unproductively race, then you're tired without getting much accomplished.
pulling the brainwaves into a more analytical and creative frequency allows you to process more inputs before responding. the alpha - low beta frequencies are far more efficient and allow for upper brain control. you have noticed some of your best ideas and clarity happen when you're on a walk, jog or hike or in the shower or when you lay down in bed. in all these "states" your brainwaves are calming into the lower beta - alpha frequencies where analytical and creating processing are strongest. maintaining lower stress levels, calmer nervous system and increased blood flow to the upper brain significantly improves analytical processing, focus, clarity and mental endurance.
new habit forming.
increased neurogenesis and neuroplasticity profoundly reduce internal resistance to change which is a big deal when you're working to implement a new habit / routine. anyone who has gone through a process of self improvement knows how difficult it can be. whether you're waking up earlier to exercise, carving out time each night to read, cleaning up your diet, getting more organized or simply practicing gratitude, there will be internal resistance and mental challenges. building new neural networks and promoting plasticity in your existing networks will significantly help reinforce discipline and overcome challenges in your new habit / routine. this mental growth and flexibility, combined with all the benefits listed above makes lifestyle changes much smoother. still, lasting self improvement is difficult. the adaptive cacao is a powerful tool to implement positive change but will not make it effortless.
coffee & stress video series
Caffeine has become such a daily part of our lives, we usually don’t think twice about pouring a second cup. We have even conned ourselves into believing that the second and third cup (and fourth and fifth) is necessary in order to keep blasting through the day on high. What you may not realize is that coffee is actually contributing to that chronic stress that constant stimulation is feeding...
real mushrooms.
therapeutic mushrooms are becoming very popular. like most natural remedies that become popular in the mainstream, the industry is being flooded with low quality, low-therapeutic-value mushrooms. the majority of mushroom products on the market test very low in beta-glucan and active compounds. when a mushroom tests high in polysaccharide content, but low in beta-glucan content, it's basically an exotic potato. high in starch, low in therapeutic value.
our mushrooms are grown by the world's top respected mushroom farm. we literally use the best mushrooms in the world. certified organic, low starch, high beta-glucan.
chaga.
inflammation. oxidative stress. gut health.
chaga, the mushroom of immortality, is one of the most anti-oxidant rich superfoods on the planet, topping the orac scale at approx. 140,000 and contains over 200 phytonutrients. chaga is used in functional medicine to boost immune system, reduce inflammation and mitigate oxidative stress. chaga is shown to strengthen beneficial cytokines while reducing damaging cytokines such as TNF-a (tumor necrosis factor - alpha). this immunomodulating effect improves the body’s ability to fight pathogens while reducing the damaging effects of acute and chronic inflammation. chaga’s high fiber and anti-oxidant properties are especially helpful in improving conditions of the gut.
roots apothecary chaga fruiting body extract. >20% beta-d-glucan <2% starch
reishi.
immune support. stress. liver + kidneys. overall wellbeing.
similar to chaga, reishi is very diverse in benefits with high anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety and immune boosting properties. reishi is considered an adaptogen for its ability to calm the fight or flight response, strengthening resilience in both physically and mentally stressful situations.
reishi is additionally known for its potential benefits to the kidneys and liver by reducing inflammation and reducing erosion of the nephron outer membrane (decreasing kidney permeability).
reishi’s immune supporting properties are well rounded, including promoting the innate immune function, humoral immunity, and cellular immunity. in particular, reishi extract may improve the function of B and T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells.
roots apothecary reishi fruiting body extract. >30% beta-d-glucan <5% starch
cordyceps.
physical + mental endurance. inflammation.
cordyceps is known for supporting mental and physical performance and is especially popular in the athlete community. this mushroom (which is technically not a mushroom) supports healthy adrenal function while increasing ATP and VO2 (peak oxygen uptake during exercise). cordyceps is highly recognized for helping improve acute and chronic fatigue and is often paired with lion’s mane to promote creative focus. studies have associated cordyceps supplementation with increasing activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) making it a powerful anti-oxidant as well.
roots apothecary cordyceps fruiting body extract. >25% beta-d-glucan <5% starch
lion's mane.
focus + clarity. neuroplasticity. mood. inflammation. brain health.
lion’s mane is one of the most mainstream and popular mushrooms on the market. shown to stimulate neuroplasticity, memory, focus and overall brain health, lion’s mane contains two special compounds that can stimulate the growth of brain cells: hericenones and erinacine.
in addition, animal studies have found that lion’s mane extract can improve the functioning of the hippocampus, a region of the brain responsible for processing memories and emotional responses. this may explain the effects of lion’s mane on improved mood, decreasing resistance to new habit forming and influence on depression. lion’s mane may also help prevent neuron damage caused by amyloid-beta plaques, which is an area of interest for alzheimer's and dementia therapy.
roots apothecary lion's mane fruiting body extract. >25% beta-d-glucan <5% starch
ashwaganda.
ashwagandha is considered the most fundamental adaptogen with powerful balancing influence on the stress response (hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal system or HPA axis). balancing stress response helps to lower baseline stress and cortisol levels, stabilize mood and support sustainable energy levels.
fruiting body vs mycelium biomass.
"mushrooms that test high in polysaccharide and low in beta-glucan are basically exotic potatoes".
beta-d-glucan is a type of polysaccharide found in mushrooms that give them powerful inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. many performance mushroom benefits stem from their beta-d-glucan content. however, these compounds are only found in therapeutic levels in the fruiting body. mycelium biomass is high in polysaccharide content from the starch substrate it's grown on, but low in beta-glucan content. many products will show polysaccharide content as a measure of potency, but this means nothing since polysaccharides are the most common carbohydrate found in food. you need to see beta-glucan content specifically to know the therapeutic potency of a mushroom / product. you want a mushroom that's high in beta-glucan (>15%) and low in starch (<5%) to know it's a legit fruiting body extract.
fruiting body - contains 2x-3x higher concentrations of beta-glucans and active compounds. contains no grain substrate.
mycelium biomass - an inseparable block of oat substrate and mycelium network. contains 30%-70% oats and 30% - 80% mycelium. the entire block is processed for product making and is significantly weaker in beta glucan and active compounds than the fruiting body.
a long video on mushrooms.
enjoy this unnecessarily long video on the importance of label reading on mushroom products. there's some really good information here if you can muscle through some redundant information. if you have 20 mins to invest, it's worth a listen.
how we stack up.
BIG TAKEAWAY : when running comparisons to the most heavily marketed mushroom blends, it’s obvious there’s need for more transparency on labels regarding mycelial biomass vs fruiting body and extract vs non-extract. these are very powerful factors in assessing therapeutic potential of a mushroom product. mycelial biomass is a cheap ingredient that doesn’t contain comparable beta-glucan content or active compounds that give mushrooms their therapeutic reputation (relative to 100% fruiting body). products that use mycelial biomass and non-extracted mushrooms are piggy-backing on the reputation of fruiting body extracts (intentionally or unintentionally). they will still deliver some benefit but will leave a lot of therapeutic potential behind when it comes to legitimate shifts in mind-body health. some brands put more resources into marketing efforts than optimizing quality and efficacy of ingredient and formula. there are levels to this.
real mushroom / serving* : a red question mark next to mushroom milligramage means the product is using mycelial biomass which also contains grain substrate that can account for 25%-45% of the ingredient by weight (or more!!). this is problematic for assessing therapeutic potential of a product. even though oat substrate can be considered as total mushroom content on the label, it is NOT mushroom at all, it’s just the oats that the mycelium grows on. for this reason, there is a question mark next to the total mushroom content / serving for brands using mycelial biomass in their mushroom blend.
^ MUD WATER: label claims 2240mg mushroom blend (which would be great), but this blend is based on mycelial biomass, which also contains oat substrate in unknown concentration. mycelial biomass is an unreliable source of mushroom potency. we applied a 25% reduction in claimed mushroom content to account for the likely minimum grain content included as a "mushroom” ingredient.
adaptive cacao FAQ
what are the white floaty things?
since coconut milk powder has a high MCT content, it has a tendency to stick together and rise to the top. we recommend mixing with a little hot water before adding milk. this will help melt the MCT for more even distribution. some batches have better distribution of coconut milk than others. this is the nature of the ingredient. this does not effect the function of the product in any way and hopefully it doesn't impact the experience.
do I need to heat the adaptive cacao to improve bio-availability?
you don't need to heat the mushroom cacao to improve bioavailability. our organic adaptogens and mushrooms are already extracted, so active compounds are pulled from the fiber and chitin cell walls. heating helps some of the fats in the coconut milk break apart, but the mushrooms and adaptogen extracts are good to go. you can use in smoothies, yogurt bowls and whatever else you want without preheating. if you decide to heat the adaptive cacao, don't hold above 195F for more than a few minutes. excessive heat can start to damage more fragile compounds.
can I put this in my coffee?
yes. adding adaptive cacao directly to your coffee (or drinking after your morning coffee) will help protect your adrenals and nervous system from the impact of caffeine. replacing coffee or including adaptive cacao in your routine can significantly improve your acute and long term energy.
what is the "organic flavor" in your ingredient deck?
"natural flavor" means nothing in terms of quality control and could definitely be a synthetic blend of chemicals. "certified organic flavors" do come with the organic quality control and ensures there are no synthetic compounds or pesticides used. basically, the organic flavor is a heightened form of the ingredient. so the cacao flavor, for example, will be cacao as a base with heightened flavor notes from the cacao plant itself. we use a company to make these flavors. they are routinely USDA Organic audited and we check on their quality reports quarterly. they have a good reputation.
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