Functional Mushroom Supplements That Are Actually Worth Buying
When it comes to the ingredients to seek out in a daily supplement or vitamin subscription, mushroom powder may not top your list. That could soon change, as fungi are gaining attention for their impressive health benefits.
Whether you’re looking to switch out your morning coffee for adaptogenic mushrooms or merely want to give yourself an extra edge at the gym, here’s what you need to know about mushroom extracts to choose the best mushroom supplements for your situation.
What are Mushroom Supplements?
Mushroom supplements are wellness products that contain dried mushroom extract, either in capsules or as a loose powder. Most people blend the powder in hot water to drink straight, although you can also add it to soup, smoothies, oatmeal, and other foods, just like a plant based protein powder. Some even use mushroom powders as a healthy energy drink to replace their morning coffee.
These supplements aim to provide the maximum benefits of adaptogenic mushrooms in a highly concentrated form. Many of the varieties may offer health benefits ranging from increased energy and better athletic performance to cognitive enhancement and more. Certain mushroom supplements can work like supplements to boost your immune system and help you fight off infections.
The Mushrooms Supplements Benefits of Medicinal mushrooms
Mushrooms may not seem the obvious choice for keeping your immunity strong, skin glowing and blood sugar balanced, but numerous clinical studies have proved medicinal mushrooms can benefit multiple systems in our bodies.
Dr. Vivien Rolfe PhD, Pukka’s Head of Herbal Research, explains Mushrooms Supplements Benefits and why they are a great go-to natural remedy to keep you in good health.
1. Keep your immunity strong and support natural defences
Mushrooms are high in beta-glucans – natural substances that have been found to help ‘prime’ our immune system, making sure it’s ready for action to fight off bugs and other invaders (1). Certain types of mushrooms such as reishi, shiitake and maitake are especially rich in the most powerful beta-glucans. So, a daily serving of these could be beneficial at times when we need extra support, such as during the cold and flu season. A recent study found that maitake mushrooms have a protective effect against the flu virus and reduce cold symptoms (2), so it might be worth adding a dose of maitake to your wellbeing rituals.
2. Rich source of vitamin D
Mushrooms contain a pre-cursor to vitamin D, which is converted to an active form (a form that is useable by the human body) following UV radiation (3), so try popping your mushrooms on a sunny windowsill or on a table in the garden for a couple of hours in the midday sun for a great plant-based source of vitamin D. (Note that this requires stronger UV rays, so will only be effective between April and October.) Alternatively, look out for “vitamin D enhanced” mushrooms in your local supermarket, which have been pre-exposed to UV light. Pukka’s Mushroom Gold contains 248% NRV of natural vitamin D, so try including a daily dose for this and many other immune-regulating benefits.
3. Increase energy and help you cope with stress
Certain medicinal mushrooms are traditionally used in many parts of Asia on a daily basis as a mood tonic or ‘adaptogen’. Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body adapt to stress and protect against some of its negative effects, such as fatigue and poor sleep (4) resulting in more energy too. Maitake and reishi are among the mushrooms said to have adaptogenic qualities.
4. Keep blood sugar balanced
When blood sugar levels are out of balance, it can affect our everyday energy as well as increase the risk of weight gain and conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Studies have found that the maitake mushroom can help bring blood sugar levels down by improving sensitivity to insulin (5,6) – the hormone that triggers cells to take glucose out of the blood. It may also help protect the pancreas, which produces insulin.
5. Keep joints healthy
Inflamed and aching joints can be an issue for many people, especially those with arthritis or joint damage, and may prevent us from doing activities we enjoy. Mushrooms appear to be anti-inflammatory, so could help to ease some of this pain and discomfort (7). A clinical trial found that reishi mushrooms helped to ease pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis over a period of 24 weeks (8). So, a daily dose of mushrooms could help keep you active and pain free.
6. Look after your natural glow
Studies Mushrooms Supplements Benefits have found that mushrooms such as shiitake (9) and reishi (10) are rich in antioxidants, such as polyphenols. They are also a good source of the minerals copper and zinc (11), used by our body to make its own powerful antioxidants. Together, this means that mushrooms may have anti-aging and protective activity for our skin, as well as other cells around the body.
How do I get medicinal mushrooms into my diet?
You may have seen shiitake mushrooms in your local supermarket, but maitake and reishi are not as readily available in food form. For a convenient and effective way to get all the Mushrooms Supplements Benefits of these powerful mushrooms, try a good-quality Turmeric organic nutritional mushroom supplement combining all three. Pukka’s Mushroom Gold is a blend of organic full-spectrum reishi, shiitake and maitake mushrooms.
How To Chose the Best Mushroom Supplements
Here are the primary factors we considered when comparing the best mushroom supplements on the market today.
- Types of Mushrooms – Does the supplement contain one variety of mushroom or many? Are the types of mushrooms included known for specific health benefits?
- Mushroom Concentration – How many milligrams of mushrooms are in each serving?
- Other Ingredients – Does the mushroom powder contain filler ingredients or flavoring agents?
- Payment System – Can you make a one-time purchase, or is a subscription required?
- Instructions for Use – Will the mushroom extract be taken through a supplement or dissolved in liquid?
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicinal Mushroom Supplements
Q: Are the medicinal mushrooms I take legal?
A: Yes, or you would not have been allowed to purchase them without approval. The FDA has authorized that mushroom extracts are safe to consume.
These extracts are called GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).
Q: What are controlled substances?
A: Mushrooms that contain hallucinogenic properties fall under controlled substances. For example, psilocybin is a controlled substance and a psychoactive ingredient. Therefore, it is illegal to sell them in supplements.
Q: Will I get addicted to mushroom supplements?
A: No, but you can experience a need to consume them at a specific time, like a regular schedule.
Q: What is the proper dose for taking medicinal mushroom supplements?
A: Each mushroom supplement product will come with an individual dosage recommended by the manufacturer. You should follow it after consulting with a doctor.
Generally, the doses should contain 1 to 2 g every day. It can vary based on the supplement concentration and mushroom type.
Q: Are medicinal mushrooms the same as other mushrooms?
A: Technically speaking, the other mushrooms you use for cooking do not always possess medicinal properties. But the latter subject has different qualities that support numerous health benefits.
Q: Are there side effects of taking medicinal mushroom supplements?
A: No, but you can feel nausea upon excessive consumption. Besides, further potential reactions may vary according to your medical history. So, consult your doctor first.
Q: Is it safe to consume medicinal mushrooms supplements when breastfeeding?
A: While some mushrooms are okay to eat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, mushroom supplements are still uncertain.
Some species are safe to consume, but others are not confirmed due to the lack of further studies. We recommend you seek an expert’s advice before taking them.
Q: Are the mushroom supplements in this list reliable?
A: Although most mushrooms originate from China and India, we chose companies that grow the variety of mushrooms right in the United States. The products mentioned in the article contain high-quality mushroom extracts to deliver the best performances.
Some companies are family-owned as well, making the source further trustworthy within the country. Plus, all the ingredients mentioned in all the supplements above are USDA organic certified.
Q: What are magic mushrooms?
A: Magic mushroom is not the conventional type of mushroom extract. Magic mushrooms deliver psychedelic effects that usual mushroom extract blends don’t. However, magic mushrooms aren’t usually utilized in fermented mushroom pills or mushroom products manufactured by mushroom manufacturers. Magic mushrooms are banned by the Drug Administration. No USDA organic certified mushroom product is eligible to contain magic mushroom as an ingredient.
5 Best Mushroom Supplements Conclusion
Choosing the best medicinal mushroom supplements has become a rather difficult task nowadays. A lot of new manufacturers and brands claim to use real mushrooms. The mushroom supplements we enlisted in this article contain proven mushroom extracts and organic mushrooms.
We suggest you go for the mushroom supplement companies that comprise mushroom extracts, lion’s mane mushroom, organic mushroom powder, mushroom complex, and other natural mushroom sources in their products.
The doubt remains in our minds. Medicinal mushroom supplements are not candies that one can purchase from any store without a guarantee.
That is why we stood sturdy against shady companies and brought to you products that real consumers have taken without experiencing any complications.
Medicinal mushrooms come in so many forms – mushroom powder, capsules, gummies, tinctures, etc. What matters is that you achieve the health benefits promised to you with no flashy advertisement.
The 10 best medicinal mushroom supplements we reviewed are helpful and trustworthy and render quality and value. These mushrooms and mushroom supplements are made of top-quality mushroom powders, Chaga mushroom extracts, proven organic mushrooms, etc.
Moreover, all the products are USDA organic certified and that’s an assuring thing for buyers. Now, selecting the best mushroom supplement among them is your call and you need to make the decision wisely. Good luck to you.
After working at a a leading weight loss brand for over 8 years she decides to start her own expert blog where she reviews the market's top beauty , health & wellness products and helps clients make the right choice for their needs.
