Mama Mushroom: interview founder Martijn Been
, 8 min reading time
Discover the transformative journey of Martijn Been and his brand, Mama Mushroom, in our latest feature. Dive into the world of functional mushrooms.
Martijn Been (45), once started off as a graphic designer and worked for years as a brand-strategist and marketeer. After years of helping others grow, he embarked on his journey to establish Mama Mushroom.It all started in February 2021, Martijn’s whole world flipped upside down when he first came across the mind-blowing benefits of functional mushrooms. This experience changed the course of his professional career. We sat down with Martijn to chat about his vision, aspirations, and the future of functional mushrooms.
Who is Mama Mushroom?
“Mama Mushroom is a functional mushroom, and healthy lifestyle brand, offering a range of products with carefully extracted functional mushroom compounds, each with its own unique effects. Our products, primarily sourced from premium Dutch mushrooms, are created to provide sustained energy and enhanced focus. While our current products consist of supplements, we have plans to expand into other formats, allowing for seamless integration into your daily routines. At Mama Mushroom, we believe in an integrated approach to well-being. Next to high-quality 100% natural extracts, we aim to inspire individuals to prioritize self-care through invaluable tips, (hacks) and health-oriented events, enabling them to unlock their full potential.”
“We believe in a holistic approach to well-being, enabling individuals to unlock their full potential”
How it All Started
“For a long time, I have had a strong desire to build something for myself that serves people and our planet. A brand that is truly my own and that I can potentially pass down to future generations. While my professional career has been dedicated to helping others realize their dreams, the time has finally come to pursue my aspirations. It was in 2021 when I had my first personal experience with functional mushrooms, and right from the start, I was captivated by their immediate and profound effects. With just a mere 4g dose, I experienced an astonishing boost of energy that lasted for two days. This experience sparked a deep dive into the realm of functional mushrooms. I discovered their classification as adaptogens, which means they work synergistically with the body's natural balance. Unlike caffeine, which suppresses certain receptors to deliver you a quick boost (and ultimately a crash) functional mushrooms operate in perfect harmony with our intricate systems. It was this realization of having found sustained energy & focus without crashing that birthed the concept of Mama Mushroom. Our products are designed to benefit our physical and mental well-being.
Prioritizing my well-being has been a pursuit for the past decade. As an entrepreneur, and dedicated father to three kids, ranging from 15 years to just 14 months old, I strive to maintain maximum energy and a clear, sharp mind. Embracing practices like yoga, intermittent fasting, cold showers, the occasional ice-bath and abstaining from alcohol since August 2022, I embrace a healthy lifestyle.
I started researching various suppliers of functional mushroom supplements and found that while there are different brands offering similar products, extensive testing with a renowned professor in the field revealed that the available products were barely effective. That's why I decided to start my line of high-quality supplements that truly deliver on their promises.”
High-Quality Adaptogens
“Mama Mushroom products undergo scientific testing and are developed in collaboration with two professors. Professor Muszynska from Poland has created a unique blend of Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. While in the Netherlands, we work with Professor Leo van Griensven, an established researcher with over 50 years of experience in studying functional mushrooms. These collaborations allow us to offer scientifically proven, high-quality mushrooms.”
The Benefits of Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps
"So, let’s dive a bit deeper into the world of adaptogens. For our Mama Mushrooms supplements, we concentrate on: Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. Lion's Mane is beneficial for your brain. It enhances neuroplasticity, allowing the formation of new neural pathways and improves your memory. This results in prolonged mental clarity (no more brain fog). Additionally, Lion's Mane offers other health benefits, such as:
- Improves the immune system
- Protects the brain
- Supports the nervous system
- Reduces inflammation and oxidative stress
- Benefits digestion
- Improves heart health
- Mitigates anxiety
- Alleviates symptoms of depression
Cordyceps enhances your energy levels. It improves your blood's ability to take in more oxygen, allowing you to sustain physical exertion for longer periods. Additionally, it boosts your immune system and raises sexual desire and stamina, particularly in men. Other benefits of Cordyceps include:
- Upgrades health of the cardiovascular system
- Beneficial in regulation of cholesterol
- Supports kidney health
- Assists in detoxifying the body
- Improves heart health
- Works as anti-aging agent
Important side note: The effects of functional mushrooms take place over a longer period of time. When taken daily, most people notice the effect of Cordyceps after 48 hours, while it takes about one and a half weeks to experience the positive effects of Lion's Mane. Remember: as adaptogens they work in balance with the body. Therefore, functional mushroom extracts are safe to consume - as with everything you consume, you need to find out what works for your body - and know there's no risk in case you exceed the recommended dosage as they cannot overstimulate."
Cultivating the Mushrooms
“The functional mushrooms used in Mama Mushroom's Dutch-certified organic extracts also come from Dutch soil. That is quite unique. The process of cultivating these mushrooms is more complex compared to growing common mushrooms. Functional mushrooms, such as Lion's Mane, get their nutrients from both 'the soil' they are grown on, known as substrate, as well as absorb everything from their atmosphere. This meticulous cultivation requires strict conditions and a lot of attention to ensure the mushrooms reach their maximum potential. Once the Lion's Mane mushrooms have reached full maturity, they are carefully harvested and subjected to a freeze-drying process, locking in all their benefits. Afterward, they undergo hot water extraction to create the powder extract supplements.”
Ensuring High-Quality Products
“Securing quality is one of our top priorities. Firstly, we strive to offer a genuinely effective, high-quality product with the highest bioavailability. Our Premium Dutch Functional Mushrooms are certified organic by SKAL. Transparency regarding the origin of ingredients is key for Mama Mushroom, we want to allow our consumers to trace the process behind our claims and products. Together with our scientists, we are on an ongoing mission to optimize the active components in our mushrooms and extracts.”
The Future of Functional Mushrooms
“Functional mushrooms have been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years in, for example, traditional Chinese medicine. After gaining popularity in Australia and the United States more recently, we now we see it gradually coming over to Europe. There appears to be a growing group of ambitious individuals - across various sectors - seeking natural ways to optimize their day and overall well-being. Mama Mushroom products caters to these needs by offering high-quality, backed by science, transparent products that deliver on their promise.”
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