In this episode, Eric Puro joins Teemu Arina for a broad exploration of Functional Mushrooms. As the CEO of KÄÄPÄ Biotech, a pioneering biotechnology company, Eric is at the forefront of unraveling the science behind fungi and their profound impact on human health.

With a passion for pushing boundaries, Eric has revolutionized mushroom cultivation in Finland, setting new industry standards. His expertise extends beyond entrepreneurship; he's a member of the executive committee of the International Medicinal Mushroom Society, amplifying his commitment to advanced use of Medicinal Mushrooms.

In the ever-evolving landscape of health and wellness, functional mushrooms have become a top-selling ingredient category. Eric delves into the traditions surrounding them across cultures, the importance of proper lab testing and high production standards, and the massive but as of yet barely explored potential of mushrooms in contemporary medicine.

Learn more about Eric and Kääpä at https://www.kaapamushrooms.com!

This interview was recorded after Biohacker Summit Amsterdam 2023.

Visit https://biohackersummit.com for upcoming events & tickets!

Devices, supplements, guides, books & quality online courses for supporting your health & performance: https://biohackercenter.com

Key moments and takeaways:

00:00 Introduction by Teemu Arina

01:27 Eric's background & the origins of Kääpä

03:56 Nature connection & superfood abundance in Finland

07:51 How Eric got "into mushrooms"

09:34 Compounds found in functional mushrooms

11:39 Erroneous lab testing procedures

14:10 Those products are not cheap, so you better not be paying for sawdust

15:32 EU regulations are a good thing

16:30 10 years of Biohacker Summit, 10 years of mushroom products

17:52 The mystery around Soma, "magic" mushroom marketing & psychedelics

20:20 How functional mushrooms became a trend

21:32 Specific uses of different mushrooms

24:10 Cordyceps sinensis vs. militaris

26:13 Cordyceps approval in EU

27:16 How to get your hands on "free samples" from Kääpä!

27:43 Amanita Muscaria

33:20 Other psychedelic compounds

34:23 Be very careful and identify mushrooms properly when picking them!

36:30 Psychedelics and the endocannabinoid system

37:06 The Default Mode Network

38:54 Finnish state-supported functional mushroom therapy trials

41:35 Boundary dissolution and empathy

42:45 Psychedelic Mushrooms for World Peace

44:17 It starts with deprogramming yourself

45:07 Prominent figures experiencing life change after psychedelic use

47:18 Empathy and sense of community

48:53 The cultivation of mushrooms

50:18 The Global Mycelial Network

51:49 The theme for the Biohacker Summit Anniversary and its meaning

55:49 The nutraceutical industry vs. the public healthcare system

59:06 Mushrooms are closer to humans than plants

60:07 What real healthcare is actually like

60:47 The red conk mushroom as an example of what could be

64:34 Why it's so very important to check your sources & lab tests

67:08 Only the best quality companies will survive the "mushboom"

67:45 Kääpä as a supplier for other high-quality brands

68:08 Chaga Risotto

69:02 Words of gratitude and The Mushroom Coffin