Almost everything you see has supplements available in the market today, from essential oils to food items. It shouldn’t come as a shocker the trend of mushroom supplements has grown in the market as well.
Mushroom supplements can be your new go-to essentials if you know what you’re looking for and you get the right ones from the wide range of choices available. Here’s everything you’d want to know on mushroom supplements:
What Are Mushroom Supplements?
A mushroom supplement is exactly what the name suggests, a dietary compound in the form of pills, tablets, capsules, and syrups. Supplements are intended to be taken as an additional item in your diet for various health benefits.
The most famous type of mushroom supplements are acquired from medicinal mushrooms due to the fact that you’re getting many benefits that the full mushroom is enriched with.
There are over 10,000 species of mushrooms, each having its own benefits and qualities that can be obtained from mushroom supplements, consequently giving you a wide variety of advantages from adding these supplements to your daily routine.
Why Take Mushroom Supplements?
Since there hasn’t been a lot of research done on mushroom supplements, the question arises then why should you be taking mushroom supplements in the first place?
Easily Digestible:
The first advantage of taking mushroom supplements is that they’re easily digestible. Medicinal mushrooms are often hard to digest if you’re eating them whole, even if you cook them.
Your body has to go through the extra effort of helping the mushroom go through the digesting process which can result in more work being put in by your internal systems than the benefits you’ll be attaining from the mushroom. Supplements, on the other hand, are easily digestible and you don’t have to put in the hard work to cook them first.
Don’t Worry About Taste:
You’ll find medicinal mushrooms to be bitter or earthy, a taste not many are accustomed to. This can make eating mushrooms on the whole hard because of the taste being different or unpleasing than what we’re used to. By getting mushroom supplements you won’t have to worry about taste anymore.
While supplements can still be somewhat bitter, taking small amounts with your food or drink can be easier to come by than having to force yourself to eat the whole mushroom.
Getting All the Goodness:
With mushroom extracts, if you’re buying them from a reputable source, you’ll be getting all the goodness of the whole medicinal mushroom in the form of supplements.
Not only is this option more convenient since you only have to take a tiny amount each day without prepping or cooking it, but you’ll also be getting all the benefits in one place.
Mushroom supplements are packed with the compounds of the medicinal mushroom it’s being taken from, consequently all the goodness of the magical mushroom in a teaspoon of the supplement.
Are Mushroom Supplements Safe?
Generally, mushroom supplements are safe to ingest if you’ve no specific allergies to any of the compounds present in it. You’ll be getting all the therapeutic and health benefits from the supplement. If you want to be extra careful with what you’re taking in, look for supplements that are FDA approved.
Additionally, medicinal mushrooms should come with exclusive labeling or logos that depict what compounds are present in the supplement alongside the quantity. It’s always best to be safe than to be sorry, which is why it is also suggested to properly research the product you’ve decided to buy before you get it.
If no harmful ingredients are present, alongside nothing that you’re allergic to, your supplement is completely safe to ingest and take the medicinal benefits from!
Tips on Which Mushroom Supplement to Buy
Once again, supplements come in many forms and can be divided into two main categories; Mycellium On Grain (MOG) and full-spectrum.
Most of the mushroom supplements you’ll be seeing in markets are MOG’s i.e. supplements that are obtained from sterile, lab-made mushrooms that are cheaper and grow faster.
However, MOG’s provide no medicinal benefits and are just a scam for manufacturers to make money by deceived consumers. On the other hand, full-spectrum supplements are those that are made from the fruiting body of naturally-grown mushrooms, these are the ones that will be providing you all the health advantages you’re looking for in mushroom supplements.
Always check the label and ensure that you’re buying a full-spectrum supplement, rather than a mycellium or mycellium+mushroom extract for the best results.
Additionally, another aspect to look into is that your supplement is only-water or water-and-alcohol extracted, and not only alcohol. The water and alcohol method ensures that the whole mushroom is completely dissolved in the supplement and you’re getting the exact benefits of a whole natural mushroom.
Your mushroom supplement should be additive and filler-free. Generally, a full-spectrum supplement contains bio-glucens that are the essential compounds you’re looking for in a supplement, rather than mycellium extracts that are filled with additives and fillers.
It should also have triterpene and polysaccharides in high quantities, but again check for assurance since polysaccharides could also mean the supplement is only packed with starch and not the goodness of the mushroom itself.
Extracts or Powders?
Many people remain confused over whether they should go for mushroom powders or mushroom extracts as a supplement to their diet. Mushroom powders are a more beneficial option over MOG supplements, but mushroom extract should be your #1 option. Concentrated mushroom extracts have many more benefits attained in them since they’re the concentrated part of the mushroom’s fruiting body.
Comparatively, mushroom powders are supplements that generally contain all of the mushroom’s body, and not just the fruiting body that is known for its medicinal properties. This way, your body will be getting exactly what it needs without wasting your dollars on an alternative option i.e. powders that work, but only gives half of the advantages of a concentrated supplement.
Moreover, you can also take product blends of mushroom extracts, meaning product mixtures that you can add to your daily meals. Mushroom product blends come in coffee, herbal tea, hot coffee mixtures, etc. These can add a tasteful impact to your daily routine for both you and your family while giving you the most benefits from the mushroom extract present in these blends.
How Much Should You Take?
In general aspects, 2-3 grams of your mushroom supplement on a daily should do the trick. However, mushroom supplements depend on the type of mushroom it is produced from.
Each mushroom is specific to its own quantity, while 2-3 grams work generally, you should always research and consult on the mushroom supplement you’ve bought to check how much can be taken on a daily basis.
If you take more than the required quantity of the supplement, you’ll be damaging your body instead of acquiring the benefits of the mushroom which can result in mild to severe symptoms including stomach ache, liver damage, etc.
When Should You Take It?
You’re probably thinking, it’s just a supplement I can take it any time of the day I want. For the most part, you’re right you can take mushroom supplements in the morning or with your dinner. But some supplements are better for ingesting on a specific time of the day than others.
For example, Cordyceps is the best pre-workout due to its ability to provide more endurance and energy.
Similarly, Reishi supplements are much more beneficial if you take them right before sleeping since they help in relaxing your body and helping you sleep.
Therefore, get the right information on the mushroom supplement you’ve bought to know the time that will be best for taking it.
Conclusion
Mushroom supplements are one of the best things you can incorporate in your daily routine with the numerous benefits it provides, and even as a better alternative to the whole mushroom in some cases.
You wouldn’t want to miss out on this superfood supplement. Just make sure you know what you’re buying to get the most out of these supplements!
Reference:
Chilton, J. (2019, January 29). 10 Questions to Ask About Your Mushroom Product. Retrieved May 15, 2020, from https://www.nammex.com/10-questions-to-ask-about-your-mushroom-supplement/
Paler, J. (2019, April 01). Mushroom supplements: Everything you need to know before buying… Retrieved May 15, 2020, from https://hackspirit.com/mushroom-supplements-everything-you-need-to-know-before-buying/
