Musings about Mushroom Supplements

In this article, the terms “fruiting-body” and “mushroom” both refer to the reproductive part of a fungus and are used interchangeably. If you take or ever thought of taking a mushroom supplement or eating a mushroom product, you were probably overwhelmed by all of your choices. When choosing a supplement, you should consider whether the product is all fruiting-body, all mycelium, or a blend of both.

Some mushroom supplement producers claim “there is no significant functional or biological difference between the mycelium and the fruiting-body; both offer a full-spectrum profile of the organism.” Well, as the French would say, au contraire Mon âme. In actuality, the chemical makeup of fungal cells in the mushroom can differ significantly from those that comprise the mycelium. While both consist of hyphae (thread-like tubes), they serve entirely different purposes. The mushroom’s sole purpose is reproduction while mycelium is primarily focused on feeding itself. Differing goals result in differences in their internal chemistry. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as picking one part over the other. It is very dependent on what you are hoping to obtain from your product. If your objective is to maximize Beta-glucans for immune support, they are typically more prevalent in the fruiting-body than in mycelium grown on grain. Conversely, if you want to take Lion’s Mane for brain support, the beneficial compound hericenones is found mainly in the fruiting-body while erinacine is exclusively found in the mycelium.

Once you’ve decided on what mushroom supplement you want, it is very important to know what extraction method was used to create that product. The extraction method determines which active compounds your body can actually absorb from the supplement. The main extraction methods are hot water extraction, alcohol extraction, and dual extraction. Hot water extraction uses heated or simmering water to pull out water-soluble compounds like beta-glucans. Alcohol extraction pulls out compounds that do not dissolve in water, such as inflammation fighting triterpenes. Dual extraction uses both hot water and alcohol to capture the full range of beneficial water-soluble and water-insoluble compounds.

Another important decision making factor relates to what the mushrooms were cultivated on. When we first started hunting wild mushrooms we were told to avoid picking from areas that could have been contaminated with fungicides, herbicides, pesticides or any other toxic substance. The unfortunate truth is that fungi are powerful bioaccumulators. Their mycelium absorbs water, minerals, heavy metals and other toxins present in their substrate. They can pull harmful elements like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic directly into their physical structures. The contaminants absorbed by the mycelium are readily translocated into the developing mushrooms. The concentration of these heavy metals and chemicals inside the mushrooms can actually exceed the levels present in the surrounding substrate. Obviously, ingesting products derived from contaminated mycelium and/or mushrooms can create undesirable health effects. To limit these unwanted additives, I would recommend purchasing supplements containing organically sourced content.

Finally, you definitely want to make certain that what the product claims, is actually what you are getting. The best way to verify this is to check with the manufacturer to see if the product has been tested by an independent third-party testing lab. Sample testing helps verify content accuracy and safety in mushroom capsules. These labs use a combination of chromatography, spectroscopy, microscopy, DNA analysis, and mass spectrometry to verify the identity, potency, and safety of mushroom capsules.

This example label from Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane supplement bottle shows the amount of total extract and amount of Beta-glucans content per 2-capsules. It’s always important to link supplement potency to the number of capsules needed to achieve that result. Specifics for extraction method and content verification for Real Mushrooms can only be found on their website. With any supplement, do not assume the existence of other, unlisted beneficial compounds for that product without them being explicitly listed. Stick with the “what you read is what you get” philosophy.

When it comes to the availability of mushroom supplements, there are hundreds of global brands and private-label manufacturers that make these supplements. You can find single as well as multi-species options. No matter what product you’re considering, I highly recommend to start with researching the company you’re thinking about buying from.

As a cautionary note, much like eating grapefruit can intensify the potency of some pharmaceuticals, so can certain mushroom supplements. Medicinal mushrooms like reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps can change how your body processes some prescription drugs. If you take prescription drugs, it is advisable to talk to your doctor before taking any mushroom supplements.

In addition to supplements, there has been an explosion of fungal based food products. They include mushroom burgers, steaks, dips, mushroom chips, bacon, sausages, kombucha, coffee and far too many more to list. There’s so little time and so many mushroom products one can try. Well, someone has to do it so hit your favorite grocery store and see what interesting mushroom based culinary treats you can find. However, as with supplements, organic is always recommended.

Google’s Gemini lists these companies as leading organic mushroom brands:

• Real Mushrooms: Best known for using 100% organic mushroom fruiting bodies (the actual mushroom cap and stem) rather than grain fillers or mycelium, with verified beta-glucan levels and public certificates of analysis.

• Host Defense: Founded by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets, this legacy USA-grown brand specializes in certified organic, bee-and-immune-friendly mushroom mycelium and fruitbody capsules, liquids, and daily blends. Their website states they do third-party testing.

• FreshCap Mushrooms: Highly rated for its potent hot-water extracted USDA organic capsules and powders (such as the Ultimate Complex and Thrive 6) that feature high concentrations of measured beta-glucans.

• Om Mushroom Superfood: A popular USA-grown, certified organic brand offering a wide variety of bulk powders, drink mixes, and functional gummies utilizing full-spectrum lifecycle cultivation.

Reference Link: Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium: A Bioactive Comparison of Functional Mushrooms

Happy mushrooming, stay safe, and bring a friend or two on your mushroom outings. It’s always great to share experiences.

Ron

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