The medicinal use of mushrooms has existed in Asia for centuries. And according to the Western world, we're a little slow. But recently, the use of mushrooms for health purposes has taken the rest of the world by storm. This post is about the best mushroom supplements to keep you healthy and what you need to know to get started with mushrooms.
Contents
How We Picked the Best Mushroom Supplements
We sincerely believe in the benefits of mushroom supplements. That's why we got them. So how do we choose our favourites? Simple. We had a few non-negotiable things:
- They must be organic and non-GMO mushroom supplements because we want our good stuff to come from the best.
- This should be done with the entire fruiting body (everything above ground can be eaten). This is where the beneficial beta-glucans are highest.
- It does not contain mycelium (the least effective mushroom roots). Many mushroom brands use it as a filler but add only trace amounts of the healthy stuff you crave.
- Without cereals, fillers and flavors - because yuck.
- The way it is processed affects the potency of mushroom supplements. The best brands use hot water extraction and/or double extraction methods to squeeze every drop of goodness out of the mushrooms.
How to take medicinal mushrooms
Supplements fall into two categories: mushroom capsules and medicinal mushroom powder.
If you choose mushroom powder, you can dissolve it in soups, tea, coffee, smoothies or any other food you can think of.
Medicinal mushrooms should not be eaten raw. So don't look for a turkey tail and put it in your salad.
Top Brands of Mushroom Supplements
- nice blanket
- nutritious
- moon juice
- defense
- Quatro Sigmatic
- compare
- royal mushrooms
- West Wolf drugs
East Indian Cherry
Chaga is a wonderful medicinal mushroom.
It has a high content of beta-glucan - which means amazing immune-boosting properties. It is also a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and inflammation.
In addition, it fights oxidative stress that causes skin aging. Therefore, many people use chaga for its anti-aging properties.
In addition to antioxidants, chaga contains polyphenols, triterpenoids, vitamins and minerals that support the health of the entire body. It is a total defender of the immune system and a fungus that balances the body.
Chaga grows on dead trees and is usually wild-harvested in Canada, northern Europe, and Russia. The beneficial substances of chaga depend on the relationship between the birch on which it grows and the fungus.
pro-tip:Attempts to grow chaga have resulted in unsuitable mushrooms, so it is imperative that you only buy wild-harvested chaga.
Interesting fact about chaga:During World War II, when the Finns ran out of food rations, they drank chaga instead of coffee because they said it tasted similar.
Our pick of the best chaga mushroom supplements:
Lion's mane paddestoel
The lion's mane is not like an ordinary mushroom. Instead, it looks like a small, white, hairy snowball and grows naturally on hardwood logs around the world.
Lion's Mane is a total brain booster in every way and supports overall neurological health.
It also improves concentration and may reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Lion's Mane stimulates the production of Nerve Growth Factors (NGFs), which are essential for the protection and maintenance of nerve and brain cells. The lack or imbalance of NGF can lead to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Therefore, taking it as a medicinal mushroom supplement provides intense nourishment for the brain.
Lion's Mane has become a mushroom supplement for all things smart. Whether you're taking it for cognitive enhancement or mood, it's a good thing.
Our pick of the best Lion's Mane Mushroom Supplements:
Reishi (mushroom of immortality)
Reishi is nature's relaxing pill and one of the most consumed mushroom supplements in the world.
It's a mushroom show stopper and one of the original superfoods. It has been displaying its medicinal mushroom for over 2,000 years, hence the nickname "mushroom of immortality".
Not only is it somewhat similar to Valium, but it can help with weight loss, balance the immune system, and has even been shown to fight cancer. So that pretty much covers all bases.
However, its most unique benefit is its calming properties. In addition, reishi is filled with a complex triterpene that improves mood and also helps you fall asleep.
Traditionally, it was believed that only the nobility could afford the rare mushroom. But today it is grown on wooden stumps in greenhouses around the world. The growth of the fruiting body takes about 9 months. But before it is harvested, billions of spores are harvested to increase the super power of the reishi supplement.
Pro Tip: The best reishi mushroom powder contains both spores and fruiting body.
Our pick of the best reishi mushroom powder:
Cordyceps Mushroom (Athlete Mushroom)
Cordyceps is an excellent overall body stimulant. It is energizing and known for its libido-boosting properties.
Many athletes use these medicinal mushrooms with orange stem as they help the body use oxygen more efficiently, providing excellent stamina. It also supports muscle recovery after training.
Cordyceps fungus naturally grows on a parasitic fungus found on certain caterpillars in the highlands of Tibet. So as you can imagine, it's very rare. At one point, prices reached $20,000 per pound. Fortunately, her sister variety is just as potent and can be grown organically on soybeans and rice.
Pro Tip: The best cordyceps supplement is organic and vegan. If it's not vegan, it's not authentic. Do not buy.
Our Pick of the Best Cordyceps Mushroom Supplement:
Turkey Tail - The best mushroom supplement for your immune system
Turkey tail mushrooms have been used for centuries for their health benefits. Beta glucan levels are very high.
Studies have shown that it has cancer-fighting benefits and can alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy. Turkey tail contains PSK (polysaccharide-K), which stimulates the immune system and is approved in Japan as an anticancer drug.
Overall, it provides the ultimate immune defense.
The turkey mushroom can be found all over the world. In fact, if you've ever walked in the woods, you've probably seen it. It grows on rotten trunks, dying trees and fallen logs. It is so abundant in nature that it is harvested directly from the forest.
Our pick of the best turkey mushroom topping:
The ultimate mushroom anti-aging supplement
If you want a mushroom supplement that supports brain power and overall stamina (who wouldn't?!), give it a tryAn anti-aging blend of herbal and mushroom extracts from West Wolf Medicinal. Cordyceps and Lion's Mane combined with turmeric, holy basil, ginger, cinnamon and marshmallows make this powerful mushroom supplement that will make you want to add it to any beverage.
The ultimate mushroom supplement if you want it all
Why buy a medicinal mushroom supplement when you can buy a blend? Many brands combine their own super blends to make it easy to get all the nutrients you need in a spoonful, pill or mushroom extract.
The ultimate medicinal mushroom blend is FreshCap Thrive 6. This is your go-to blend for immune support, focus and energy.
Thrive 6 is a fat and juicy combination of the best mushrooms for health: chaga, cordyceps, reishi, turkey tail, lion's mane and maitake mushrooms and nothing else. No additives, no grains, only organic whole fruit products.
Our pick of the best mushroom supplement blend or complex:
Side Effects of Mushroom Supplements
In general, mushrooms are considered safe and have been used for centuries. However, that doesn't mean you should just buy a few of them and hope for the best.
You should always consider your current health condition and medications you are taking. For example, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not eat mushrooms. Consult your doctor if you have low blood pressure, immune disorders, diabetes, etc. In life, as a rule, it is always worth seeking professional medical advice before arbitrarily taking supplements. And by professional, we don't mean Google.
Some mushroom capsules and powders may cause mild side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, dizziness, and dry mouth. So start with the lowest dose and work your way up.
O Ultimo Schroomie
The bottom line is that mushrooms have a significant number of health benefits that go far beyond eating a portobello burger for lunch. I hope this post helped you choose the best mushroom supplements to get you started.
Whether you're trying single-origin mushroom capsules or looking for a mix of mushrooms, there's more and more research being done, and it's all showing promise.
Let us know in the comments below if you've tried mushroom supplements and which ones are your favourites.
FAQs
What is the best mushroom for overall health? ›
- Lion's Mane.
- Reishi.
- Cordyceps.
- Chaga.
- Turkey Tail.
- Shiitake.
- Maitake.
- Bonus: Oyster, Agaricus, Tremella.
The first thing to look for in a good mushroom supplement is an Organic certification. Mushrooms are very porous, and absorb everything from their environment- both good and bad- meaning they can easily absorb pesticides, fungicides, heavy metals and other toxins used in non-organic growing and can accumulate toxins.
What is the best mushroom supplement for anti aging? ›Reishi mushrooms provide a broad-spectrum approach to the treatment and prevention of many of today's age-related diseases. With their diverse molecular makeup, they offer a broad spectrum of actions that attack aging at its root.
Which mushroom is most anti inflammatory? ›video Making Our Arteries Less Sticky the answer is that plain white mushrooms worked the best! The cheapest, most convenient to find mushroom appeared to suppress inflammation the best.
Which mushroom is best for obesity? ›White button mushrooms are also rich in selenium, which helps to boost your immune system and prevent cancer. Chaga - Chaga mushroom is one of the most powerful weight loss supplements in the market. It is known to suppress appetite and promote fat burning.
What mushroom supplement does Dr Weil recommend? ›Shiitake Mushrooms
Dr. Weil likes them so much he's trying to grow them near his summer home in British Columbia. Shiitakes contain substances that may help lower cholesterol, boost immune function, combat viruses and reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer.
Lion's Mane is all about brain function and mood support, while Reishi (otherwise known as the 'mushroom of immortality') is linked to its immunity support, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Both mushrooms are beneficial in their own right. And together, they may be even better.
Is it safe to take mushroom supplements everyday? ›High-quality mushroom powders are safe when the recommended dose is consumed. At Om Mushroom, the dose we recommend for our single-species mushroom powder blends is one teaspoon (2 grams) daily. Each serving of single-species powder contains 2,000mg of organic mushroom superfood.
What mushroom prevents dementia? ›Lion's mane mushroom and its extract have been shown to have various health benefits. Research has found that lion's mane may protect against dementia, reduce mild symptoms of anxiety and depression, and help repair nerve damage.
Are mushroom supplements worth taking? ›Mushroom Supplements
Preliminary research suggests that some varieties may complement the treatment of certain types of cancers. But claims that mushrooms boost immunity (turkey tail), help with anxiety and mood (reishi), or improve concentration (Lion's mane) have only lab or animal studies to support them.
Can you take mushroom supplements long term? ›
When taken by mouth: Reishi mushroom extract is possibly safe when used for up to one year. Powdered whole reishi mushroom is possibly safe when used for up to 16 weeks. Reishi mushroom can cause dizziness, dry mouth, itching, nausea, stomach upset, and rash.
Is it OK to take multiple mushroom supplements? ›One of the most common questions is, "Can you take multiple mushroom supplements at once?" You can and should. When combined or "stacked," mushrooms work collaboratively on your body and mind. Each mushroom brings its unique flair to each combination.
How many mushroom supplements should I take? ›recommend taking no more than 2g of mushroom extract per day and spreading these capsules throughout the day. At best, taking too many mushroom supplements, or using large portions of supplements with overlapping ingredients, could mean that your body is simply getting rid of an excess of nutrients.
What is the most safest mushroom to eat? ›Hen-of-the-woods, oyster, and sulphur shelf mushrooms are safe, delicious, and nutritious wild varieties prized by mushroom hunters. While these and many other mushrooms are safe to consume, eating varieties like the death cap, false morels, and Conocybe filaris can cause serious adverse health effects and even death.
What are the disadvantages of mushroom for health? ›Wild mushrooms can cause a variety of possible side effects, most commonly nausea, vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea, which can show up within 20 minutes to four hours after ingestion.
Which mushroom for cognitive health? ›Scientific studies show that Lion's Mane, Reishi and Chaga mushroom are the three most effective medicinal mushrooms for brain health. They help protect the brain from neurodegeneration, boost cognitive function scale, improve memory, mood, focus and concentration, and support diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia.