Introduction: Why We’re Revisiting Cyclical Living

Hello everyone, Brandi Garden here, co-founder of Eversio Wellness and your guide on The Eversio Experience Podcast. Today, I’m diving deep into one of the topics that has resonated most with our community: cyclical living.

We first shared this conversation over a year ago, and it quickly went viral. Since then, we’ve learned even more, launched new mushroom products, and seen countless members of our community transform their relationship with their bodies by embracing cyclical living.

So, whether you’re brand new to this concept or ready to refine your practice, today’s blog will walk you through:

• What cyclical living really means (and why it’s not just for women)
  
• The deep connection between functional mushrooms and hormonal balance
  
• A week-by-week protocol that blends mushrooms, nutrition, movement, and mindfulness
  
• Real-life results from women (and men!) in our community
  
• Resources to help you start your own cyclical living journey today
  

By the end, you’ll have the tools to sync your wellness routine with the natural cycles of your body and the earth—unlocking balance, resilience, and vitality.

What is Cyclical Living?

At its core, cyclical living means aligning the way we eat, move, rest, and supplement with the natural rhythms around and within us:

• The Menstrual Cycle (for menstruating women)
• The Lunar Cycle (for those in menopause, perimenopause, or men)
• The Seasons (for everyone—because we are nature)
  

Unlike the 24-hour circadian rhythm (our body’s sleep/wake cycle), cyclical living honours longer rhythms—weekly, monthly, seasonal—that affect our hormones, energy, and moods.

Here’s the key idea: nothing in nature blooms year-round. Trees lose their leaves. Oceans ebb and flow. The moon waxes and wanes. Yet we live in a society that expects us to “go hard” all the time. Cyclical living challenges that mindset and gives us permission to rest, reflect, and grow in alignment with natural cycles.

Functional Mushrooms: An Ancient Ally

Before we dive into protocols, let’s ground ourselves in the kingdom fungi.

Mushrooms aren’t new. They’ve been revered as medicine for thousands of years. Ancient carvings and texts tell us our ancestors relied on them for healing, vitality, and spiritual connection. Today, modern science is catching up.

When I searched PubMed recently, I found over 7,000 published studies on medicinal mushrooms. These papers show benefits across 40+ clinical trial-supported indications, including:

• Anxiety and mood balance
  
• Athletic performance
  
• Sleep support
• Allergies and immune health
• Hypertension and metabolic syndrome
  

And that’s just the beginning.

At Eversio Wellness, we’ve always believed that functional mushrooms are the ultimate “food as medicine.” They interact with receptors all throughout the body to support balance, resilience, and healing. When combined with cyclical living, they become even more powerful.

Why Cyclical Living + Mushrooms is Revolutionary

A few years ago, Dr. Desiree and I were experimenting with cyclical living during workouts and nutrition. One day, I asked: Why aren’t we changing up our mushrooms too?

That sparked a trial that has since evolved into full protocols. And here’s what we discovered:

• Most mushroom companies are owned by men. No one was really researching mushrooms in the context of women’s cycles.
  
• Our hormones shift dramatically week by week. If nutrition and workouts should change, why not mushrooms?
  
• The results were mind-blowing: better sleep, balanced energy, reduced PMS, improved libido, and more consistent moods.
  

We even worked with an Olympic athlete who suffered from irregular periods—bleeding 50% of days over two years. Once she integrated our mushroom cyclical protocol, she experienced balance for the first time in years.

The Hormonal Hierarchy You Need to Know

To understand why this works, let’s zoom out on hormones.

At the foundation, we have:

• Oxytocin (the love hormone, boosted by connection and joy)
• Insulin (regulates blood sugar)
• Cortisol (stress hormone)
  

When stress is high and blood sugar is unstable, our bodies go into survival mode--not reproduction mode. This throws off sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Functional mushrooms help at both levels:

• Supporting stress resilience (Reishi, Lion’s Mane)
  
• Balancing blood sugar and metabolism (Maitake, Cordyceps)
  
• Boosting oxytocin indirectly by promoting better sleep, mood, and connection
  

This creates a stable foundation for our cycles to flourish.

The Four Phases of Cyclical Living with Mushrooms

Now let’s get practical. Below you’ll find a week-by-week mushroom protocol, nutrition guidance, movement suggestions, and lifestyle notes. Think of it as your seasonal map within each month.

Week 1: The Menstrual Phase (Winter / New Moon)

Theme: Release, Rest, Receive

Mushrooms:

• Morning: Turkey Tail (immune + gut support)
  
• Afternoon: Five Mushroom Blend (antioxidants, hormone balance, skin support)
  
• Evening: Reishi (calming, sleep support)
  

Nutrition:

• Warm, mineral-rich meals: soups, stews, root vegetables, beans, beets
  
• High-quality proteins and good fats
  
• Berries + herbal teas for antioxidants
  
• Reduce caffeine and alcohol
  

Movement:

• Gentle yoga, stretching, walking
  
• Rest and reflection
  

Seed Cycling: Flax + pumpkin seeds

Weeks 2–3: The Follicular + Ovulatory Phases (Spring + Summer / Waxing + Full Moon)

Theme: Awaken, Create, Expand

Mushrooms:

• Morning: Three Mushroom Blend (focus + creativity)
  
• Afternoon: Cordyceps (energy + stamina)
  
• Evening: Lion’s Mane (brain + mood support)
  

Nutrition:

• Fresh, light, colourful foods: salads, citrus, sprouted grains
  
• Lean proteins, fermented foods, probiotic-rich meals
  
• Seeds: sunflower + sesame
  

Movement:

• Cardio, HIIT, strength training--your energy peaks here
  

Lifestyle:

• Creativity flows—start new projects
  
• Socialize and connect

Week 4: The Luteal Phase (Autumn / Waning Moon)

Theme: Ground, Balance, Reflect

Mushrooms:

• Morning: Maitake (blood sugar balance, hormone support)
  
• Afternoon: Chaga (anti-inflammatory, skin support)
  
• Evening: 4 Mushroom Blend (calming PMS symptoms, sleep support)
  

Nutrition:

• Root vegetables, complex carbs, magnesium-rich foods
  
• Dark chocolate, leafy greens, lentils
  
• Stay hydrated and avoid excess sugar
  

Movement:

• Moderate exercise: pilates, barre, walking, cycling
  
• Honour your energy, slow down as needed
  

Lifestyle:

• Journal, organize, reflect
  
• Prepare for release in Week 1

Why Men Shouldn’t Skip This

If you’re a man reading this, you might be thinking, “This isn’t for me.” But cyclical living applies to everyone.

• Men can follow seasonal cycles (winter, spring, summer, fall)
  
• The lunar cycle is another guide (new moon to full moon to waning moon)
• Mushrooms adapt beautifully to these rhythms, giving men variety and balance
  

For men, think of Week 1 as your winter rest phase, Weeks 2–3 as your spring/summer energy phase, and Week 4 as your autumn reflection phase.

The Bigger Picture: Living in Harmony

At the heart of cyclical living is a radical but simple truth: we are nature.

When we stop suppressing cycles (with stress, synthetic hormones, or constant productivity demands), we begin to feel what our bodies were designed for:

• Creativity during ovulation
  
• Rest during menstruation
  
• Reflection during luteal phases
  
• Renewal each month
  

Mushrooms amplify this harmony by offering immune support, hormonal balance, brain health, and resilience, all while being 100% natural.

How to Get Started

1. Choose your starting point. If you menstruate, begin with Week 1 on the first day of your cycle. If not, align with the lunar cycle or the current season.
   
2. Pick your mushrooms.
   
3. Adjust your nutrition and movement. Don’t overhaul everything at once-- start small.
   
4. Track your results. Journal your energy, mood, sleep, and cycle patterns.

Final Thoughts: Permission to Flow

Cyclical living isn’t about perfection, it’s about permission. Permission to rest when your body asks. Permission to shine when your energy is high. Permission to adapt your supplements, workouts, and meals in tune with nature.

When paired with functional mushrooms, cyclical living becomes a sustainable, powerful way to nurture your body and mind.

So my invitation to you today: try it. Let your body lead. Use the support of mushrooms to guide the way. And let us know how it changes your life.