The supplement industry can be a confusing landscape filled with inaccurate rumors, marketing claims, and misleading hype. Mushroom and mycelium products are relatively new to the modern supplement scene, with emerging scientific evidence continually revealing their potential health benefits. As their popularity grows, it's crucial to understand that not all fungi supplements are created equal. Recognizing the key differences between mycelium and fruiting body (mushroom) supplements can help consumers make informed choices for their wellness routines.

Mycelium or Fruiting Body: What’s in a mushroom supplement? 

When it comes to producing a mushroom supplement, there are two essential yet different parts of fungi. The actual organism is the mycelium—this is the underground thread-like network that moves through its environment, consuming and metabolizing nutrients in the substrate. During peak conditions, the mycelium is ready to reproduce and creates a fruiting body that we can see—a mushroom—to release its reproductive spores into the environment.

What’s Wrong With Mycelium?

While mycelium also contains all the same beneficial compounds as mushrooms do, it is incredibly difficult and costly to separate the substrate that it is grown on from the incredibly tiny and thin filamentous threads of mycelium to create an effective product. Most research studies that have studied the beneficial and therapeutic properties of mushrooms have been performed on fruiting bodies rather than mycelium. Studies on mycelium are often done on pure mycelium grown in a liquid substrate and effectively separated. Supplements that contain mycelium are more likely to be full of substrate, resulting in less concentration of medicinal compounds.

What Makes Medicinal Mushrooms Unique?

All mushrooms contain complex cell walls made up of chitin and beta-glucans. It is these large complex molecules that are part of the mushroom’s structure that contain the majority of the beneficial actions that are backed by research. Beta-glucans act as immune system modulators that help regulate the immune response, but also as prebiotics that feed our internal gut microbiota. Fruiting bodies of mushrooms have the highest fiber of any other food, by dry weight, due to these beneficial components.

Consider Your Reason to Incorporate Mushrooms into Your Daily Routine

Whether you’re looking to boost your immune system, enhance your cognitive function, general well-being, or seeking a more therapeutic approach, there are different ways to incorporate medicinal mushrooms into your daily routine. Some people prefer the ease and simplicity of a liquid tincture that delivers all the benefits of a dose that can be simply taken alone, or easily added to beverages or other foods. Tinctures are also much more readily absorbed through the mucous membrane, giving you more function at lower doses. Powders can be more challenging to use regularly as they are less concentrated, often contain fillers and additional flavorings that don’t mesh well with your favorite beverages. Depending on the extraction process and solubility, they also can end up as unappetizing sludge at the bottom of your coffee cup—wasting your efforts and money. Powders also rely on absorption through standard metabolic pathways, and it is unclear how much of the ‘good stuff’ your body is effectively using. If you are looking to add medicinal mushrooms to support a specific health goal, consult with an experienced health practitioner on the appropriate type and dosages.

When Selecting a Mushroom Supplement, Consider:

• Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium: This means that your supplement comes from 100% actual mushrooms. No fillers, grain, or residual substrate that will dilute your supplement’s effectiveness and potency.
  
  
• Extraction Method: Mushroom supplements should undergo heat processing to increase the bioavailability of medicinal constituents like beta-glucans, non-starch alpha-glucans, chitin, and proteins. Avoid labels that say “raw.”
  
  
• Purity & Potency: Does your mushroom supplement smell and taste like mushrooms? Rich, potent extracts should be dark and fragrant, with the earthy unique aromas specific to each species. 
  
  
• Origin: Look for mushrooms that are organically grown and sustainably sourced to avoid pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
  
  
• Transparency: Read labels carefully to find out where the product and raw materials are sourced, if it has been properly extracted and concentrated, organic ingredients, and what form of the fungi is used.
  
  
• Product Type: Consider the ease of use of a product and how it easily synergizes with your lifestyle. A powdered product can be added to a smoothie or other beverage, while a tincture or gummy can be taken while on the go at any time without any special preparation. 
  
  
• Specific Health Needs: All mushrooms have some beneficial overall health properties. However, if you are looking to support a specific health goal, consider which mushroom has been shown to support that area of concern. For example, reishi is known for its calming and immune-boosting properties; lion’s mane promotes cognitive health and neuroprotection; cordyceps enhances energy and athletic performance and chaga is rich in antioxidants and supports overall health. Feral Fungi’s blends have been specifically formulated to take the guesswork out for you, check them out here or take our quiz to see which blends and mushrooms are best for you.

Tips to Incorporating Mushrooms into Your Daily Routine

Make it a ritual, or add it to your existing morning or evening rituals which will help you to remember to take your supplements. Keep in mind ease of use—are you more likely to take something if you can bring it with you during your day, or do you have time to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Selecting a potent and effective mushroom supplement requires careful consideration of various factors, including the source and cultivation method, extraction process, third-party testing, bioavailability, and product formulation. By keeping these considerations in mind, you can ensure you choose a high-quality supplement that delivers the full spectrum of health benefits associated with medicinal mushrooms.

Don’t forget to change it up to keep things interesting—you can eat your mushrooms too! Culinary mushrooms make a delicious addition to a balanced diet and add essential nutrients and help to reach the daily recommended intake of dietary fiber. Mushrooms make great additions to soups, pastas, pizza or as a meat replacement in tacos, burgers and more. 

The information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions, are pregnant, nursing, or are taking other medications. The statements regarding mushroom supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.