Mushrooms

Mushroom supplements

Fungi (mushrooms, fungi and fungi) are indispensable organisms crucial to all life on earth. We all know the above-ground parts of mushrooms (the fruiting body) from autumn walks in the woods, and as a tasty ingredient in the kitchen. But there is still a whole system underground.

The underground parts, called the mycelium, form a widespread network that contacts and lives in symbiosis with other organisms. In order to survive, mushrooms convert a range of biologically active compounds.

Bioactive compounds

After consumption of mushrooms, these bioactive compounds have various physiological effects in the human body.

Some types of mushrooms can lead to poisoning, others can even make people hallucinate. The so-called medicinal mushrooms, of course, do not have these properties; instead, they contain a wide range of beneficial compounds.

Extracts of the latter group have been used traditionally in Japan and China because of their therapeutic effects.

In the Western world, mushrooms are increasingly becoming a part of our menu, because of their taste or as a healthy meat substitute. The mushroom has also been rediscovered in the West because of its health benefits.

Mushrooms are full of valuable substances such as vitamins, minerals, essential sugars (glyconutrients and polysaccharides such as beta-glucans) and sterols. This is why mushrooms are increasingly in demand in supplement form.

Applications

Every mushroom is used for different purposes. For example, for our blood vessels, Reishi is a suitable mushroom to use. And for our immune system, Reishi and Agaricus blazei (Almond mushroom) are effective. In addition to single mushroom products, there are also mixes for various uses.

Brands

There are now quite a few brands of mushroom supplements on the market. Smeets & Graas offers a selection of the most reliable. It is important that the mushrooms used are from organic cultivation. Mushrooms have a super absorbent capacity and absorb almost everything from their environment, including harmful substances when they are present.

Further, it is important that the most valuable components of the mushroom are used. Also, the production process must be pure and without the use of excipients that can hinder absorption or cause allergies.

GOBA

Producer Mycomedica of the GOBA brand is based in Slovenia, in a pure mountain environment, and is one of the absolute top mushroom brands. Mykomedica has 100% control over the entire production process because it grows the mushrooms used itself.

Thereby, the company has created the largest spore bank of mushrooms in the world. Its founder, Dr. Andrej Gregori is an international authority on medicinal mushrooms and their applications.

Mushrooms4Life

Mushrooms4Life is a British company that specializes in organic mushroom supplements. Not only in the form of capsules and powder, but also in the form of tasty lattes. The mushrooms used have been carefully cultivated and processed to bring you the full bioactive power of mushrooms.

Pure Mushrooms

The supplements from Pure Mushrooms are pure, unprocessed and prepared according to Traditional Chinese Medicine and fully certified organic. A low dose of Acerola is added to each capsule to make the mushrooms extra beneficial. In addition to quality standards and certifications, Pure Mushrooms is completely transparent by having each batch tested by an outside laboratory.

Living Nutrition

Living Nutrition is a British company that specializes in fermented herbs and mushrooms. The raw materials undergo a kefir-kombucha fermentation process that improves concentration and bioavailability, while preserving the more delicate nutrients in a natural synergy.

KAAPA mushrooms

The mushroom tinctures from the Finnish company KAAPA Mushrooms are produced using their self-developed Extraction 2.0 method. This extraction process breaks down the chitin cell walls of the mushrooms. Chitin is a fiber that is indigestible in the human gut. Through this technology, KAAPA is able to extract water-soluble and alcohol-soluble compounds from the mushrooms.

Foodsporen

This Dutch brand is in full development. Currently the range consists of chaga, reishi, cordyceps and lion's mane supplements in liquid form and as capsules. Foodsporen uses a so-called "triple-extraction" technique. Because the mushrooms undergo as many as three different, technical high-quality extraction methods, they can guarantee a pure product with as much as 30% polysaccharides.

Thorne formula supplementation with mushrooms

Thorne Daily Greens Plus and the VeganPro Complex Chocolate are formula products that also contain mushrooms. Thorne products are distinguished by their unparalleled purity, rigorous quality controls and the highest quality ingredients.

Written by: Marcella van der Wel
Reviewed by: Liesbeth Thoen

Updated on: March 7, 2023