Buying Guide For
Mushroom Supplements
(Skip to Reccomended Brands)
More Than Half Of Commercial Mushroom Supplements Are Not What They Claim
If you want to experience the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms, it is important to understand how to identify a quality product. Many people never see the benefits from mushroom supplements, simply because the market is over run with bad business practices and low-quality products.
Study Shines Doubt On 75% Of Store Bought Supplements
In a 2017 study published in the journal Nature, researchers conducted chemical analyses on store-bought Reishi supplements to evaluate their quality. Their analysis revealed that almost 75% of supplements contained significantly fewer bioactive compounds than what should be expected. Some of the compounds that play an essential role in the therapeutic effects of Reishi were not even present in some supplements.
The Researchers Revealed
Label Inaccuracy
Only 26.3% of the tested products’ ingredients matched their labels.
Starch Additives
Starch “fillers” not found in Reishi mushroom occured in 68.4% of the products.
Triterpene Variation
Triterpenes, a key bioactive component of Reishi, were only found in 42.1% of products.
Polysaccharide Differences
The specific polysaccharides found in Reishi were only present in 26.3% of the tested products.
To help you navigate the market and choose a high-quality mushroom supplement, we have put together this buying guide for mushroom supplements.
How To Choose
Mushroom Supplements
(Read The Label)
The only way to really know the quality of the product, is to know the quantity of health-promoting compounds it contains. These are the compounds which have been shown by research to have therapeutic effects.
The quantity of these compounds can vary greatly depending on the quality/quantity of the primary materials used, and the production methods. This is why the best mushroom supplements are validated through analytical testing to ensure for potency of the researched-tested bioactive compoiunds.
Look For Beta-Glucan Content
of at least 20-30%
Beta-glucans are some of the most important therapeutic compounds found in mushrooms. When browsing products, consumers should look for labels which clearly state high quantities of beta-glucans, with levels of least 20-30%. Not only do beta-glucans play a significant role in the therapeutic effects of medicinal mushrooms, but they are indicators of other compounds which may be more difficult to test for. At the very least, any quality mushroom product should mention beta-glucan content.
What to Look For In Mushroom Supplements
*Note: The discussion isn’t as simple as fruiting bodies vs mycelium. Some products may use liquid-grown mycelium which is acceptable, but this is rare. Most mycelium products should not be trusted. Learn why here.
Red Flags On the Label
To learn, more about why there are so many low-quality products, make sure to check out our article “Why are there so many low-quality mushroom supplements?
Hint: It’s not the mycellium, it’s the grain“
Also if you want to learn how to test products at home for fillers, check out our article on how to test mushroom supplements for startch.
Note On Artisanal Products
We acknowledge that many small producers do not have the capital to test their products. If you prefer to buy locally, make sure to check out our guide on Artisanal Products here.
Certificate Of Analysis and Species Specific Compounds
Certificate Of Analysis are documents which display the test results of analysis conducted on a product. They will not only show how many bioactive compounds the product contains, but also if there are any impurities or contaminants. Reliable companies will provide COA for all of their products. Below are some of the species specific compounds you may also want to keep your eye out on.
- Cordyceps Supplements: Adenosine and cordycepin
- Chaga Supplements: Polyphenols, sterols and triterpenes
- Lion’s Mane Supplements: Erinacines and hericenones (types of diterpenes)
- Reishi Supplements: Ganoderic acids (>3-4%; might show up as triterpenes)
- Turkey Tail Supplements: Specific beta-glucans like PSP and PSK
Reccomended High-Quality Mushroom Supplement Brands
Below are brands that have been vetted for quality and transparency. We recommend any of the products produced by these brands, as they each follow research-based and analytical protocols.
For full transparency, we are affiliated with these brands and may earn commission from your purchase. Your purchase will help us to maintain and update this website. Thank you. Any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Any information given is not intended to replace medical advice offered by licensed medical physicians. Please consult your doctor or health practitioner for any medical advice.
Real Mushrooms (USA)
Real Mushrooms are pioneers in the mushroom supplement industry and the direct-to-consumer outlet of NAMMEX (North American Mushroom Extracts). NAMMEX is a bulk distributor that sells a large portion of other supplement brands. This is one reason Real Mushrooms is very competitive in the supplement market. Their products are made with 100% fruiting bodies, USDA Organic, and are analyzed for bioactive compounds. They maintain close relationships with their growers, their customers, and the wider mushroom community.
Nootropics Depot (USA)
Nootropics Depot is a well-trusted source for many different types of supplements. They are 100% transparent and offer very well done COA´s on all of their products. On top of the standard powders/capsules, they also offer specialized extracts with higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. Their Erinamax Lion’s Mane supplement is one of the only products on the market made with mycelium derived from submerged fermentation and standardized for the content in Erinacine A.
Purest Mushrooms (USA)
Purest Mushrooms is a relative newcomer in the supplement market that offers high-quality extracts. Their supplier partners directly with mushroom growers to source high-quality materials. All their products are quality tested and analyzed for bioactive compounds. COAs of all their products can be found directly on their website.
Antioxi (UK)
Antioxi is one of the most trusted mushroom supplement companies based out of the UK. They provide test results on all their products, many of which have astounding levels of bioactive compounds. While it´s relatively unheard of outside of the UK, it is one of the top-brands advocated for by the medicinal mushroom community in the UK.
Dr.Noels (Austrailia)
The most well-known and highly trusted mushroom supplements coming out of Austrailia. Dr.Noel is very well known in the herbalist community and his products are considered to be of exceptional quality.
Thanks For Reading!
We hope this text has been helpful. We encourage you to check out other aritcles, or search through our clinical trial database. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to mushroomclinicaltrials@gmail.com