Best Mushroom Supplement Brand

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If you’re looking to try out supplements for health benefits, it’s best to take a good look at the brand; that way; you’ll know what to expect and be assured of its safety and quality. In this article, we’ve gathered some of the best mushroom supplement brands online to help you choose which suits you best.

Best Mushroom Supplement Brand

After sampling several brands, we recommend Real Mushrooms as the best brand that sells functional mushroom supplements. We chose them because they offer a full range with high beta-glucans levels, they use the correct extraction methods, and they use the entire fruiting body of the mushroom with no filler ingredients.

What To Look For In A Mushroom Supplement Brand

As mushroom supplements are on the rise, the best way to select the right brand for you is to look at the brand reputability, the quality and transparency of the ingredients they use, the kind of testing their products undergo, the number of reviews, and the values they adhere to.

You could consider other important factors when choosing a brand:

Beta-Glucans Levels 

Beta-glucan (β-glucans) is a soluble fiber with numerous, scientifically-proven health benefits. The best sources of beta-glucan are mushrooms, grains, wheat, oats, rye, and various types of yeast. 

The higher a product’s beta-glucan level, the more potent it delivers its benefits. 

Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium 

A mushroom is the “fruiting body” of a fungal organism called a basidiomycete (except for cordyceps mushrooms)  which has three distinct parts that develop throughout their lifecycle: spore, mycelium, and mushroom, while mycelium is the network of threads from which mushrooms grow and contains numerous novel compounds shown to benefit memory, sleep, and energy. 

The fruiting body contains more active beneficial compounds than others. On the other hand, the mycelium is typically grown on a solid substrate that will become part of the finished product. As a result, most supplements use the fruiting body to get more of the benefits.

Commercial producers grow mycelium on grains like rice or oats, which become inseparable from the mycelium and remain in the final product, making it starchy. When a supplement is composed of myceliated grain, it acts as a filler and greatly dilutes the beneficial compounds in each serving.

Some supplements from mycelium are marketed as “mushrooms” yet contain none. On top of that, the grain is usually not separated from the mycelium, so these products only consist of the grain on which the mycelium is growing.

Third-Party Testing  

A product undergoes third-party testing to prevent low-quality products from entering the market and ensures the products meet industry and safety standards, which is crucial to a brand. Check if the supplement of your choice holds strict quality control and third-party testing to ensure its maximum safety and benefits. 

Extraction Methods

The extraction is a process that extracts certain components present in the plant, in this case, the mushrooms. Various extraction procedures include hot/cold water, alcohol, dual (ethanol and cold water), and triple extraction (ethanol, cold water, and hot water)

Why does the extraction method matter in choosing a supplement? Suppose you are looking for a product with cordyceps, lion’s mane, turkey tail, or shiitake mushrooms. In that case, you should look for one that uses the hot water extraction method because their most important active ingredients – beta-glucans – are water-soluble. 

Using alcohol or dual extraction methods can cause some beta-glucans to solidify and be filtered out of the liquid. However, mushrooms like reishi and chaga may benefit from the dual extraction method because they contain water-soluble beta-glucans and alcohol-soluble terpenoids.

The 4 Best Supplement Brands

We’ve gathered some of the most popular mushroom supplement brands online to let you see how well they fare in these factors:

1. Real Mushrooms

  • Beta-Glucans Levels: Beta-glucan levels range from 8 – 25%
  • Fruiting Body or Mycelium: Fruiting body
  • Third-Party Testing:  All products undergo third-party testing
  • Extraction Methods: Dual extraction and hot water extraction

Real Mushrooms is a family-owned and operated business that has always prided itself in perfecting its unique formulas that use 100% pure, high-quality, and organic mushroom extracts scientifically proven to yield important health benefits. 

With over 40 years of continuous experience in mushroom growing, Jeff Chilton, a leading organic mushroom expert, and his son Skye sought to revolutionize the mushroom marketplace scene by using real mushroom extracts to maximize their promised benefits. 

The brand values ingredient transparency and has nothing to hide, showing how every ingredient falls into place and serves its purpose. Unlike certain brands that use myceliated grain (the mushroom’s root system) alternatives, their products contain no grains or starch fillers, just mushrooms.

Every batch of mushrooms undergoes rigorous quality control tests to ensure they are consistent with the existing body of medicinal mushroom research and guarantee potency, safety, and effectiveness. Their products also undergo 3rd party verification for beta-glucans, the most researched beneficial compound in mushrooms. 

Over a thousand practitioners and experts recommend and prescribe Real Mushrooms to their clients. Reviews also rave about the product’s quality, effectiveness, and great value for money. 

Pros

  • Uses pure mushroom extracts
  • Synergy between ingredients
  • Products are gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan
  • Conveniently sized for travel
  • Easy to ingest
  • Affordably-priced
  • Positive customer reviews from multiple online sources

Cons

  • The taste might not be pleasing to some (It can be taken with water right after)
  • Some products might leave sediment.

2. FreshCap

  • Beta-Glucans Levels: Products’ beta-glucan levels range from 25 – 35%
  • Fruiting Body or Mycelium: Fruiting body
  • Third-Party Testing:  All products undergo third-party testing
  • Extraction Methods: Uses both water extraction or dual extraction (depending on the mushroom type) 

Unlike most providers of mushroom-based supplements, FreshCap, a millennial-owned business, offers a more progressive, more modern approach to mushrooms by sharing inspiring information, advice, and step-by-step guidance in mushroom awareness to thousands worldwide and improve their lives in the long run — a “mushroom movement,” as FreshCap founders Tony and Tegan have coined it. 

Giving prime importance to quality, FreshCap strictly uses organically grown, carefully extracted, and analytically tested mushrooms to guarantee high levels of active beneficial compounds. No grain fillers, no shortcuts, no anything else. Just pure mushroom goodness. 

There’s something for everyone in FreshCap’s diverse product line, whether you want better mental focus and mood, more energy, stronger immune support and defense, or you can customize and create a bundle of everything under the sun. Even your furry pals can get to enjoy the benefits of shrooms. 

Each product is reasonably priced and is backed by a customer satisfaction guarantee. Hundreds of verified online reviews have consistently lauded this brand’s excellent customer service, product quality, and effectiveness.

Pros

  • Provides useful information, recipes, and growing tips related to mushrooms 
  • Uses organically grown produce 
  • Contains no grain fillers
  • Toxin-free
  • Free shipping on orders of $50+
  • 60-day return policy
  • Excellent customer service

Cons

  • Does not offer international shipping (Ships to Canada only) 
  • It may take consistent usage to see optimal effects and results 

3. Mushroom Revival

  • Beta-Glucans Levels: Products’ beta-glucan levels range from 0.611% – 2.151%
  • Fruiting Body or Mycelium: Fruiting body
  • Third-Party Testing:  All products undergo third-party testing
  • Extraction Methods: Uses dual extraction

Mushroom Revival is mushrooming the culture around mushrooms and aims to change how people see mushrooms by offering a wide selection of functional mushroom products that provide many health benefits like a boosted immune system, better mood, better heart health, and increased athletic performance.

MR strictly uses high-quality, scientifically-backed functional mushroom ingredients to yield maximum health benefits and ensure product quality. Their products come in various delivery forms like tinctures, gummies, capsules, and powders to best suit clientele preferences and needs. 

The company is USDA-certified organic and ensures that its products are free of heavy metals, insecticides, herbicides, and chemicals, so you enjoy the benefits of their specific mushroom blends without fear of consuming anything toxic. All products are vegan-friendly and Kosher-certified, catering to all diet types. 

Not only is Mushroom Revival health-conscious, but they also care about the environment. For every purchase, Mushroom Revival plants a tree on their customer’s behalf. As of date, over 53,000 trees have been planted all over the world.

And to gain a wider reach, Mushroom Revival also hosts informative podcasts that educate listeners on the benefits of mushrooms. Their podcasts have enjoyed high ratings on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Pros

  • All products are USDA-certified organic, vegan-friendly, and kosher-certified
  • Provides fast shipping
  • 90-day money-back guarantee
  • Fast returns
  • Environment-friendly
  • Results appear within weeks of use

Cons

  • Certain products may contain large doses of Lion’s Mane, which may cause significant effects with just a small dose.

4. Host Defense

Host Defense Brand Range
  • Beta-Glucans Levels: Not specified
  • Fruiting Body or Mycelium: Mycelium
  • Third-Party Testing:  All products undergo third-party testing
  • Extraction Methods: Uses both double and triple extraction methods.

Washington-based company Host Defense prides itself in being one of the best-reputed and longest-standing mushroom supplement companies in the U.S. Their unique mission is to explore, study, preserve, and spread knowledge about the use of fungi to help bees, people, and the environment.

Founded by medicinal fungi advocate and mycologist Paul Edward Stamets, Host Defense, unlike most mushroom supplement brands, proudly uses mycelium with its roster of functional mushrooms, touting its benefits, when joined with the other ingredients, could yield better optimal results. 

Host Defense’s products come in various readily-available forms; capsules, powders, liquid extracts, sprays, syrups, and drink mixes to cater to customer intake preferences. All products are vegan-friendly, non-GMO, gluten-free, and kosher-certified to suit people with different diet types.

True to its commitment to climate and environment positivity, Host Defense uses eco packaging in all its products to reduce carbon footprints, minimize energy usage, and minimize its harmful effects on nature. The brand also started the BeeFriendly™ initiative to help reverse the global bee population’s rapid decline that is critically threatening the world’s food security.

Reviews across the internet consistently speak of the product’s safety and swift results. 

Pros

  • All products are USDA-certified organic, vegan-friendly, non-GMO, gluten-free and kosher-certified
  • Uses ethically-sourced, organic mushrooms and other ingredients
  • Uses eco packaging
  • USDA organic-certified
  • Bee-friendly
  • Climate positive

Cons

  • Products are a bit more expensive compared to other brands
  • Certain products may cause certain side effects
  • Others may need to use it consistently to see results.

Benefits Of Functional Mushrooms

Functional mushrooms are types of fungi that are used for health benefits. The exact benefits depend on the species of mushroom used. These mushrooms are categorized into two main types: medicinal and adaptogenic mushrooms.

Medicinal mushrooms are nutritional powerhouses that contain compounds that provide specific health benefits. Many of these mushrooms offer antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties, which means they may inhibit the damaging process of oxidation and kill harmful cells. They also contain B-complex vitamins and fiber, making them ideal diet additions. While these mushrooms may provide medicinal benefits, they’re not considered dietary supplements. 

Adaptogenic mushrooms, on the other hand, contain adaptogens, which are compounds that help bodies adapt to and combat chemical, biological, and physical stress, meaning they help our bodies’ stress response systems function as they should, rather than relieving a cough or get rid of the inflammation behind a headache,  Contrary to one might think, they are not the same as hallucinogenic or “magic” mushrooms and do not affect one’s mind or perception.

Supplements containing extracts from functional mushrooms are becoming increasingly popular these days. The most popular types of mushrooms used for this are:

  • Chaga – A type of mushroom rich in antioxidants and replete with potential health benefits, it’s often used across northern Europe as a natural remedy for various ailments and served as an herbal tea. It’s known to help boost the immune system, reduce bodily inflammations, lower blood sugar levels, and improve insulin resistance.
  • Cordyceps –  A fungus used in ancient Chinese and Tibetan herbal medicines to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It helps treat conditions like respiratory problems, liver disorders, arrhythmias, high cholesterol, and even sexual problems among men.
  • Lion’s maneLion’s mane mushrooms are used for medicinal and culinary purposes. It helps with proper digestion, prevents cognitive decline (e.g., Alzheimer’s, dementia et al.), relieves symptoms of anxiety and depression, causes faster recovery from nervous system injuries, and decreases the risk for heart disease.
  • Reishi – This mushroom boosts the immune system, reduces stress, improves sleep, controls blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lessens fatigue, and is extremely beneficial to the production of estrogen and progesterone.
  • Shiitake – Commonly used in many dishes, shiitake mushrooms are particularly rich in polysaccharides like lentinans and other beta-glucans, which protect against cell damage, help the immune system, boost white blood cell production for fighting off microbes, and have anti-inflammatory properties. It promotes proper liver function, healthy blood sugar levels, and cardiovascular health.
  • Tremella –  Tremella mushroom is the highest food source of pro-vitamin DT, the precursor of Vitamin D, and contains high amounts of polysaccharides which help keep skin hydrated, promote hair growth, nerve growth, and collagen production, and support brain function. 
  • Turkey tailTurkey tail mushrooms keep the gut microbiome balanced and improve overall health. It’s also used to improve response to cancer medicines and radiation. It is also used for muscle strength, fatigue, UTIs, and many other conditions. Certain cultures brewed turkey tail into a soothing tea to clear dampness, increase energy, and strengthen the lungs, stomach, and spleen.

Are Mushroom Supplements Truly Worth It?

Many people attest to the health benefits of mushroom supplements, beverages, and other products, but experts recommend that one initially take such health claims with a grain of salt. Unlike drugs, nutritional supplements are only loosely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning claims may not be fully substantiated.

According to Miami biology professor Dr. Nicholas Money, most claims attributed to functional mushrooms still lack experimental evidence and need further scientific research. Human clinical trials such as those used to test pharmaceuticals or vaccines would better determine and establish whether different functional mushrooms deliver their promised health effects.

Microbiologist Jianping Xu says that without the proper testing, it’s difficult to attribute health effects to either mushrooms or supplements since an individual’s genetic and environmental factors can affect things like immunity, cognitive function, physical performance, etc. 

Other dietitians have also recommended adding edible functional mushrooms to a regular diet to better enjoy their benefits than taking them in supplement form.  

While current scientific trials involving functional mushroom extracts reveal their potential for use in future medical treatments, there’s still a long way to go before evidence validates the claims. In the meantime, experts recommend taking mushroom supplements with the appropriate caution and discretion. 

Takeaway

Mushroom-based products have taken the world by storm with their reported health benefits. 

Should you decide on taking a mushroom supplement, things like transparency, quality of ingredients, testing, customer reviews, and company values are important factors that will help you choose which supplement brand will best meet your health needs. That way, you’re more likely to enjoy the product’s expected benefits. 

Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.

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