The Balance with Britt Podcast · Holistic Britt Nutrition

Blood Sugar, Hormones, & Metabolism: The Power of Maitake Mushrooms & Ergothioneine with Eversio Wellness

·1 hr 20 min·5 clips

Dr. Desiree cites a PCOS study where maitake raised ovulation to 66.7% versus 30.8% in controls.

Brit welcomes listeners back to season two with her usual interest in holistic health, realistic nutrition, and balance. She sets up the conversation around medicinal mushrooms and the questions people bring to them about hormone balance, metabolism, blood sugar, cravings, and longevity. Brandy Garden and Dr. Desiree Caruso from Aversio Wellness join the episode; the company is described as a Canadian family owned mushroom wellness company focused on functional fungi. Brandy shares her personal story, explaining that after dealing with multiple bouts of skin cancer from long-term pharmaceutical prescription, she became interested in medicinal mushrooms and their place in natural healing and prevention. Dr. Desiree then brings in the research side. Maitake receives the most attention, especially in relation to ovulation and PCOS. The episode keeps coming back to one practical question: can a mushroom support the body signals people often ignore until they become harder to manage? One study discussed in the episode found that maitake improved ovulation in women with PCOS. Brit and the guests compare that result with clomiphene citrate, a pharmaceutical often used when ovulation is not happening. Maitake did not outperform the medication, but it did raise ovulation significantly compared with the control group. The discussion also notes that combining maitake with clomiphene citrate was most effective in non-responsive cases, with an ovulation rate of 87%. That gives the episode a grounded, usable edge. The guests are not claiming mushrooms replace medication for everyone; they are suggesting that functional mushrooms may deserve a place alongside standard care, especially when someone wants more tools available. Brit closes with her usual appreciation for thoughtful product choices and conversations that make wellness feel practical.

As heard by us

A mushroom episode that stays rooted in everyday wellness talk and ends with a more concrete research thread.

Brit keeps the tone welcoming, while Brandy Garden and Dr. Desiree Caruso keep the focus on how medicinal mushrooms show up in everyday wellness talk.

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Why you'd press play

You want a friendly, functional-fungi angle on hormone balance and blood sugar.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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