BUYING GUIDE | MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENTS
Are you interested in the benefits of mushrooms but unsure of where to start? Well, this comprehensive buying guide is for you! As can be seen below, there are a number of potential mushroom supplement benefits, and with a large selection of 18 different mushroom products available from Nootropics Depot, finding the best mushroom extracts for you may be a little difficult to navigate. Mushroom supplement benefits may include:
IMMUNE SUPPORT*
COGNITIVE SUPPORT*
MOOD SUPPORT*
CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT*
EXERCISE PERFORMANCE*
OXIDATIVE SUPPORT*
INFLAMMATORY SUPPORT*
METABOLIC SUPPORT*
To help you find the best mushroom products for you, use the quick comparison tables or see a comprehensive breakdown by benefit that expands with detailed information below.
BUYING GUIDE | MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENTS
BUYING GUIDE | MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENTS
Are you interested in the benefits of mushroom supplements, but unsure of where to start? Well, this comprehensive buying guide is for you! As can be seen below, there are a number of potential mushroom supplement benefits, and with a large selection of 18 different mushroom products available from Nootropics Depot, finding the best mushroom product for you may be a little difficult to navigate. Mushroom supplement benefits may include:
Are you interested in the benefits of mushroom supplements, but unsure of where to start? Well, this comprehensive buying guide is for you! As can be seen below, there are a number of potential mushroom supplement benefits, and with a large selection of 18 different mushroom products available from Nootropics Depot, finding the best mushroom supplements for you may be a little difficult to navigate.
IMMUNE SUPPORT*
COGNITIVE SUPPORT*
MOOD SUPPORT*
CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT*
EXERCISE PERFORMANCE*
OXIDATIVE SUPPORT*
INFLAMMATORY SUPPORT*
METABOLIC SUPPORT*
To help you find the best mushroom supplements for you, use the quick comparison tables or see a comprehensive breakdown by benefit that expands with detailed information below.
To help you find the best mushroom supplements for you, use the quick comparison tables or see a comprehensive breakdown by benefit that expands with detailed information below.
MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENTS: A QUICK BENEFITS COMPARISON
WANT TO LEARN MORE? SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN FURTHER BELOW.
MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENTS: A QUICK BENEFITS COMPARISON
WANT TO LEARN MORE? SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN FURTHER BELOW.
IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT | METABOLIC SUPPORT |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* |
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IMMUNE SUPPORT* | COGNITIVE SUPPORT* | MOOD SUPPORT* | CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | OXIDATIVE SUPPORT* | INFLAMMATION SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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CARDIO SUPPORT* | EXERCISE SUPPORT* | METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
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MUSHROOM EXTRACTS: A COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN
🤒 IMMUNE SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
Almost all of our mushrooms produce some immune supporting effects. However, there are a few stand out mushrooms that we consider, based on scientific research, to be the most effective for this goal. Check out the rest of this section for a detailed dive into three of the best mushrooms for supporting immune function!
IMMUNE SUPPORT* |
RED REISHI MUSHROOM
Ok, we are cheating a little bit with Red Reishi as all of the Red Reishi products produce excellent immune supporting effects. That being said, the higher the triterpenoid content, the better the immune supporting benefits become. So with that in mind, if you want the best of the best, skip the Red Reishi 1:1 and Red Reishi 8:1, and go right for the Ultra Concentrated Extact, which sports a whopping 9% ganoderic acids. This is the highest ganoderic acid content of any reishi fruiting body extract in the world! More importantly, Red Reishi doesn’t just promote immune function, it helps balance our overall immune response. This is important, as our immune response can also turn against us by producing inflammation. Red Reishi helps balance our inflammation levels and helps keep our immune system running like a well oiled machine!
CHAGA MUSHROOM
Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a natural treasure derived from the heart of pristine birch forests, which grows on the bark of birch trees in cold climates. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, particularly in Siberian, Russian, and Northern European cultures. Chaga is believed to offer a variety of potential health benefits, including immune system support. Packed with antioxidant-rich compounds, chaga aids in neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, thus promoting a resilient immune system ready to face challenges head-on. Our chaga supplement is a natural source of beta-glucans – dynamic polysaccharides renowned for their ability to stimulate immune cells, fortifying your body's natural defenses. Our chaga is a testament to the synergy between nature and science, designed to empower your body's defense mechanisms and elevate your overall wellness.
LION'S MANE MUSHROOM
You may be familiar with Lion’s Mane mushroom for its cognition promoting effects, but did you know that it is also a fantastic mushroom for helping to support your immune function? Lion’s mane does something quite unique as it helps promote SigA levels. SigA even helps support our body’s natural immune defenses in our intestines! This makes Lion’s Mane quite a complete package in terms of immune support. Don’t forget about those cognition promoting effects however, because not only will Lion’s Mane help promote your immune function it will also help support your cognitive function! Overall, we find that our Lion’s Mane 1:1 full spectrum has the best overall immune function promoting effect. However, if you would like to take advantage of Lion’s Mane’s cognition promoting effect, we would suggest going for the Lion’s Mane 8:1 extract as it preserves a lot of the immune modulating effects of Lion’s Mane whilst pushing the cognition promoting effects to the foreground!
🧠 COGNITIVE SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
Besides Lion’s Mane mushroom, there are not a lot of mushrooms which get much recognition for their cognition promoting effects, which is a shame, because there are a handful that have some pretty unique and exotic effects related to cognition! Take for example Maitake and Shiitake. They contain specialized beta-glucans which may help promote AMPA activity. AMPA activity is quite an exotic target for various Nootropics, so the fact that these mushrooms may exert AMPA effects is quite extraordinary!
COGNITIVE SUPPORT* |
LION'S MANE MUSHROOM
Lion’s mane is a giant amongst cognition promoting mushrooms, and for good reason! Lion’s Mane mushrooms has been extensively researched over the last few decades for its unique cognition promoting effects. It has been found that Lion’s Mane contains various cognition-promoting diterpenoid compounds such as the Erinacines and the Hericenones. These diterpenoids may modulate the function of NGF, which plays a crucial role in learning and memory. By promoting NGF activity, Lion’s Mane may help promote memory formation and overall cognitive function. This is a mushroom you cannot go wrong with, and it has proven itself over and over again over the years as being one of the best natural nootropics around! In particular, we have found that the dual extract Lion’s Mane, our Lion’s Mane 8:1, has the best overall cognition promoting effects. However, if you would like a little bit more balance between cognition, immune and cardiovascular promoting effects, then the Lion’s Mane 1:1 full spectrum extract will be your best bet! Then you have our two latest releases: Erinamax and Tiger Milk mushroom! These two are seriously effective products for both nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Try the combo today!
CORDYCEPS MUSHROOM
Cordyceps is also quite a well regarded mushroom for helping to promote cognitive function, and for good reason, because you can really feel it working! Cordyceps mushroom contains a unique compound called Cordycepin which may interact with various receptors in the brain that play a significant role in promoting focus, mood, motivation and memory formation. This is also the compound which is believed to give Cordyceps its unique energizing and motivation promoting effect. We find that Cordyceps really helps to dial in your focus, and may provide your mind and body with more endurance. We also find that studying goes a little smoother when supplementing with Cordyceps, and that it becomes easier to remember the content you are studying. In particular, we have found that the Cordyceps 10:1 extract appears to have the most prominent cognition promoting effects, so we would recommend the 10:1 extract for promoting cognitive function!
PORIA MUSHROOM
Poria mushroom is a bit of a mysterious mushroom, it has been used for thousands of years, yet you have to dig quite deep to find much information about it. In fact you even have to dig quite deep for the actual mushrooms as it grows as a wonky underground coconut! This is what has earned it its name of Poria cocos. So what does Poria mushroom do? Poria mushroom, like other unique mushrooms such as Red Reishi, contains various triterpenoid compounds which appear to have interesting cognition promoting effects. Furthermore, Poria cocos even appears to be able to promote acetylcholine levels, which is for cognition! As the cherry on top, Poria Cocos appears to combine exceptionally well with various other herbs and mushrooms. This is why we see it pop up in quite a lot of Traditional Chinese formulations, especially formulations that are catered towards cognitive health. Poria Cocos is often combined with Panax ginseng and Polygala tenuifolia. The combination of Poria Cocos and Panax ginseng appear to have an additive effect in terms of promoting LTP while Poria Cocos appears to elevate the overall effects of Polygala tenuifolia. Overall, this is a mysterious and highly underrated mushroom!
😊 MOOD SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
When we think of natural ways of promoting a positive mood, we often think of herbs such as Lemon Balm, Magnolia Bark, Panax ginseng and Polygala tenuifolia. However, mushrooms are oftentimes forgotten about for the purposes of promoting a positive mood. This is a shame, as it has been found that quite a few mushrooms have some remarkable mood promoting effects. Take for example Shiitake mushrooms. In recent studies it has been found that these culinary mushrooms may have very robust mood promoting effects! Since the world of mushrooms can be such a treasure trove of happiness, we decided we needed to do a deep dive into the best mushrooms for promoting a positive mood.
LION'S MANE MUSHROOM
Lion’s mane is an amazing mood boosting mushroom, and for good reason! Lion’s Mane mushrooms has been extensively researched over the last few decades for its unique neurological effects. It has been found that Lion’s Mane results in increases to NGF and BDNF, and has shown effectiveness in clinical trials for mood. The diterpenoids in lion' s mane modulate the function of NGF, which plays a crucial role in mood and cognition. This is a mushroom you cannot go wrong with, and it has proven itself over and over again over the years as being one of the best natural nootropics around! In particular, we have found that the dual extract Lion’s Mane, our Lion’s Mane 8:1, has the best overall mood boosting effects. However, if you would like a little bit more balance between cognition, immune and cardiovascular promoting effects, then the Lion’s Mane 1:1 full spectrum extract will be your best bet!
RED REISHI ULTRA CONCENTRATED
Red Reishi is often considered as one of the best mushrooms for promoting immune health and for promoting longevity, but did you know it also has robust mood promoting effects? With normal Red Reishi supplementation, these effects are often missed and this is due to the fact that the Red reishi triterpenoids, or ganoderic acids, are largely responsible for the mood-promoting effects. In normal Red Reishi extracts, the level of ganoderic acids is simply too low to have a significant impact on mood. However, our Red Reishi Ultra Concentrated Extract boasts a whopping 9% ganoderic acids content! This is more than enough to take advantage of their unique mood promoting properties! Subjectively, the perceived effects of Red Reishi Ultra Concentrated Extract can be described as “natural.” It has a gentle, yet robust calming and uplifting effect that blends into daily life exceptionally well. It doesn’t feel as if something is pushing you into a positive mood, but simply that you suddenly find yourself in an uplifted and calm state of mind. Overall, this makes Lucidispore a fantastic choice for a mushroom based mood promotion supplement.
SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS
You’ve probably come into contact with this mushroom already in culinary settings, as it is an amazingly delicious mushroom! However, it reaches far beyond its culinary capabilities and recent research has found that Shiitake mushrooms may possess robust mood promoting effects. Shiitake contains a unique Beta-glucan called Lentinan which acts on a specialized beta-glucan receptor called Dectin-1. Dectin-1 also appears to regulate the activity of AMPA receptors, and through this Dectin-1/AMPA pathway, Shiitake appears to produce its mood-promoting effects. This mood promoting effect is very unique, and as far as we know not many other plants or mushrooms have this effect. With this in mind, we would highly recommend Shiitake mushroom if you have already tried a few traditional mood promoting supplements and are wanting to try something unique and different!
CORDYCEPS MUSHROOMS
Cordyceps is another fantastic mushroom that has been found to have some unique mood promoting effects. The other mushrooms in this category, lean more towards the calming side of the spectrum, which is highly beneficial to most. However, some of us really just need some extra energy and a bit of extra motivation in order to support our mood. If this is the case for you, then our full spectrum Cordyceps 1:1, is a great choice for you! Not only does Cordyceps promote energy levels and motivation, it also appears to help promote a positive mood through AMPA receptors in a somewhat similar way to Shiitake. By signalling through AMPA receptors, Cordyceps may promote a robust mood promoting effect. Thus, the combination of extra energy, extra motivation and a promotion of positive mood makes Cordyceps mushroom an ideal choice for supporting our mood!
💝 CARDIOVASCULAR SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
Mushrooms are highly regarded for being incredibly healthy for a plethora of reasons, and one of those reasons is that they have a very positive impact on our cardiovascular systems. Various different mushrooms have the ability to help support normal cholesterol levels and can even help maintain blood pressure that is already in the normal range! These effects are fairly wide spread throughout all of the mushrooms, which is due to beta-glucans generally having a positive effect on cardiovascular function. However, there are a few stand out mushrooms that go above and beyond to promote cardiovascular function. Here are our three top mushrooms for promoting cardiovascular function!
CARDIO SUPPORT* |
MAITAKE MUSHROOM
Maitake is quite a well known mushroom in the culinary world. In fact, it is one of the most highly regarded culinary mushrooms! However, it’s effects on human health have only recently become more well regarded. Maitake has a plethora of unique and beneficial effects associated with it, but one of the most interesting effects associated with Maitake is its cardiovascular effects! Maitake appears to support blood pressure that is already in a healthy range by a variety of unique mechanisms. The main mechanism however, is its effects on supporting balanced activation of the renin-angiotensin system, which plays a major role in supporting healthy blood pressure. Maitake, through its effects on blood sugar, may also help promote Nitric Oxide signalling as Nitric Oxide signalling can be reduced due to elevated blood sugar levels. Nitric Oxide is an important gaseaseous transmitter in our bodies, which helps dilate our blood vessels and promote blood flow. Thus, by promoting Nitric Oxide function, Maitake may help promote blood vessel relaxation and blood flow. In consideration of all this, Maitake has a highly comprehensive and supportive effect on our cardiovascular function!
CHAGA MUSHROOM
Chaga is an interesting and widely used mushroom which grows wild on birch trees in cold climates. When picked just at the right time, Chaga is chock-full of triterpenoid compounds which it derives from the birch trees it grows on. These triterpenoid compounds have a wide range of effects, including immune promotion, support for balanced oxidation and inflammation levels, and most importantly for this section -- highly beneficial effects on cardiovascular function! Chaga supports our cardiovascular function through balancing oxidation levels and inflammation levels, which has a generally positive effect on cardiovascular function. However, if we dive a little deeper, we quickly find that Chaga may support the levels of our good cholesterol (HDL-C), while supporting regulation of LDL-C levels. Taken together, these effects help promote overall cardiovascular function. Furthermore, Chaga does something pretty unique which is that it helps regulate uric acid levels. Uric acid has may negatively influence healthy cardiovascular function, By regulating Uric acid levels, Chaga may have a positive impact on cardiovascular function! Overall, Chaga is a fantastic choice for supporting cardiovascular function, as it works through some unique and comprehensive mechanisms!
SHIITAKE MUSHROOM
Just like Maitake, Shiitake is another highly regarded culinary mushroom, prized for its deep umami taste. However, recent research has also found that Shiitake may be a fantastic mushroom for helping to promote cardiovascular function! Shiitake has been shown to help regulate cholesterol oxidation, which has a highly positive effect on cardiovascular function. It is a common misconception that all cholesterol is bad for you. In fact, some cholesterol like HDL-C, is considered to be “good cholesterol”. Even the “bad cholesterol”, LDL-C, has a plethora of positive effects associated with it. However, when HDL-C and particularly LDL-C become oxidized, it may impact healthy cardiovascular function. Due to this, it is important to minimize the oxidation of cholesterol, and this is where Shiitake mushroom comes in! Recent research has shown that Shiitake mushroom may help regulate cholesterol oxidation, thereby promoting overall cardiovascular function!
🚴 EXERCISE PERFORMANCE MUSHROOMS*
Mushrooms can also help keep us healthy by supporting our exercise efforts! There are a select few mushrooms which have been shown to promote physical endurance and strength, helping us reap more benefits from our exercise regime. This category will be a little bit shorter, because we currently only carry two different mushrooms that are capable of supporting our exercise capabilities, which are Black Hoof and Cordyceps. These mushrooms do a fantastic job at promoting exercise performance, so let's take a detailed look at each of them!
TIGER MILK MUSHROOM
Tiger Milk mushroom is a fantastic product to improve lung performance and breathing. While we are obviously very interested in the NGF mimetic properties of tiger milk mushroom, it is actually particularly famous for its respiratory and immune function benefits. In fact, this is what tiger milk mushroom is traditionally used for. Modern science has also backed these effects up by clearly illustrating that tiger milk mushroom has a highly beneficial effect on overall immune function while also promoting respiratory function. Unlike with its NGF mimetic properties, we do actually know what compounds in tiger milk are responsible for the respiratory and immune function promoting effects, the beta-glucans. Thus, the fact that our tiger milk mushroom has 50% beta-glucans makes it a fantastic immune modulating supplement!
BLACK HOOF MUSHROOM
Black hoof is a mushroom which tends to fly under the radar in general, as it often gets dwarfed by the giants of the mushroom world such as Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane and Red Reishi. However, Black Hoof has some really unique effects when it comes to promoting exercise performance! When we exercise and start to become tired, our brains start producing more serotonin. This enhanced serotonin production during exercise eventually leads to mental and physical exhaustion. This is where Black Hoof comes in, as it can attenuate serotonin production in the brain during exercise. This effect has been shown to result in a significant improvement in time to exhaustion during exercise! This means that Black Hoof mushroom may give you a distinct advantage in endurance-based exercise. Furthermore, Black Hoof mushroom has also been shown to promote monocarboxylate transporter levels, in particular MCT1 and MCT4. The purpose of these transporters is to shuttle lactic acid out of our muscles. By promoting MCT1 and MCT4 activity, Black Hoof mushroom may help regulate lactic acid in our muscles, thereby further increasing time to exhaustion. Black Hoof mushroom has also been shown to pair particularly well with caffeine, to even further enhance time to exhaustion.
CORDYCEPS MUSHROOM
Cordyceps, unlike Black Hoof, is a very well known mushroom and has a long history of use in promoting exercise capabilities. In fact, Cordyceps has recently found its way into quite a few pre-workout supplements! This is with good reason, as Cordyceps has a unique ability to help promote physical energy levels and to help promote physical endurance. This effect is also quite acute, which is why it has been popular in various pre-workout formulations. The main active compound in Cordyceps is cordycepin and it is believed that this compound helps promote exercise capacity. With this in mind, we believe that our Cordyceps 10:1 extract is the best choice for promoting exercise capacity as it has a higher concentration of cordycepin in it. Cordyceps has been shown to promote endurance which may be attributed to its effects on oxygen utilization and ATP production. Cordyceps may also help regulate lactic acid in our muscles in addition to helping to support balanced levels of oxidation, both of which can help promote physical endurance.
⚙ OXIDATIVE SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
Various different species of mushrooms have robust oxidative support properties and through these effects they may benefit our cardiovascular function, skin health and even help keep our support general brain health!
CHAGA MUSHROOM
Chaga is a very interesting mushroom that grows in the wild primarily on birch trees in cold climates. When harvested just at the right time, Chaga is full of phenolic compounds that it obtains from the trees it grows on. These phenolic compounds are amongst some of the most potent oxidation-regulating compounds found in mushrooms! This is part of the reason why Chaga is such a highly sought after mushroom. Chaga’s oxidation-regulating effects may support our brains from oxidative stress and various stressors which promote oxidation. It has been found, for example, that Chaga may help restore two enzymes in our brains when they become depleted under various stressors. These enzymes are glutathione and superoxide dismutase, which are two of the most important enzymes in our brains. Furthemore, Chaga can also help regulate sun-induced oxidative stress, particularly in the skin. This helps our skin stay firmer and healthier, but remember to try to still minimize your sun exposure! Chaga may also help support lower levels of lipid peroxidation by regulating hydrogen peroxide levels in our bodies. Overall, it is clear to see why Chaga is so highly regarded for regulating oxidative stress! This may be one the best mushrooms to take if you want to help balance out levels of oxidative stress throughout your body and brain.
WHITE JELLY MUSHROOM
White Jelly is a funky looking mushroom that kind of resembles a translucent ear. It has the ability to absorb large amounts of water, which is why it is popular amongst skin care enthusiasts, as they believe it will help draw moisture into their skin. While the final verdict on this is still somewhat out, it is fairly well established that White Jelly mushroom may help protect against oxidative stress, and it's particularly good at doing this in our skin! White Jelly, in particular, helps support our skin fibroblasts by regulating oxidative stress. These oxidative stressors may exist in our bodies in the form of hydrogen peroxide, but can also be the result of sun exposure. The overall net effect is that collagen synthesis and skin collagen levels may drop as oxidative stress impairs the ability of our skin fibroblasts to produce collagen. If you would like to learn more about how White Jelly protects us from oxidative stress and how White Jelly mushroom helps keep our skin happy and healthy, then check out our skin care blog where we explore the skin health promoting effects of White Jelly!
RED REISHI MUSHROOM
If you’ve checked out a few sections of this mushroom guide before arriving at this section, you may have noticed that Red Reishi makes an appearance frequently. This is because Red Reishi is one of the more versatile mushrooms we carry and produces highly beneficial effects on multiple systems throughout our body. One of these effects is that Red Reishi does a fantastic job at supporting balanced levels of oxidation. Red Reishi has a multi-faceted effect on supporting balanced levels of oxidation. Primarily, it appears to upregulate the production of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, Red Reishi also appears to be able to regulate the levels of oxidants in our body, such as malondialdehyde. Overall, this makes Red Reishi a very comprehensive mushroom supplement for supporting balanced levels of oxidation!
🎯 INFLAMMATORY SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
The most well known use for mushrooms is their ability to help promote our immune function, but what people do not often realize is that the immune system is one of the main regulators of inflammation throughout our body. This also means that mushrooms are great at promoting balanced levels of inflammation throughout the body. Whereas some mushrooms help promote inflammation in various areas of the body in an effort to help ramp up our immune response, other mushrooms help support lower levels of inflammation throughout the body and brain. We handpicked three of our favorite mushrooms that help promote balanced levels of inflammation. So, let's explore these mushrooms!
INFLAMMATION* |
PORIA MUSHROOM
We talked about this mysterious mushroom earlier in this guide as it relates to it’s unique and under the radar cognition promoting effects. However, Poria mushroom also has the ability to help promote balanced levels of inflammation throughout the body and brain! Poria mushroom helps regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway which has a large cascading effect on inflammation. In particular, it helps regulate the function of various inflammatory factors such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Overall this may produce a robust inflammation balancing effect, making Poria mushroom a very versatile inflammation balancing supplement!
WHITE JELLY MUSHROOM
The oxidation balancing effects of White Jelly, which we discussed in the Oxidation support section of this mushroom guide, go hand in hand with White Jelly’s inflammation balancing effects! White Jelly may exerts its inflammation balancing effects via regulating the miR-155 and NFκB pathways in macrophages. By regulating these pathways, White Jelly may have the ability to attenuate a very large amount of inflammatory factors. This may give White Jelly a robust and highly comprehensive inflammation balancing effect! White Jelly’s inflammation balancing effects work hand in hand with its ability to regulate oxidative stress. These two effects join forces to help optimize our skin health.
RED REISHI MUSHROOM
This time around, we are featuring the 10:1 Red Reishi extract which has a higher percentage of triterpenoids whilst still preserving polysaccharide levels. This is important because Red Reishi triterpenoids and polysaccharides work together to help promote balanced levels of inflammation. Red Reishi may help regulate the production of various proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17A. It appears that this effect is largely attributed to Red Reishi triterpenoids/ganoderic acids. The polysaccharides may also possess inflammation balancing effects, and thus they can help further fortify the inflammation balancing effects of Red Reishi triterpenoids! Overall, the combination of Red Reishi triterpenoids and polysaccharides make for a great inflammation balancing supplement! As a bit of a pro-tip, for the most serious Red Reishi aficionados out there, our Red Reishi 1:1 has 35% Beta-Glucans (a specialized type of polysaccharide) and when combined with Red Reishi Ultra Concentrated Extract (which contains 9% ganoderic acids), you have one of the most powerful Red Reishi extracts available! This is especially true when it comes to helping balance inflammation levels.
🏃 METABOLIC SUPPORT MUSHROOMS*
Last but not least, is a fairly unexplored aspect of mushrooms, which is their ability to promote metabolic function. Who would have thought that mushrooms may help assist you in your weight loss goals?
METABOLIC SUPPORT* |
BLACK HOOF MUSHROOM
Black Hoof made an appearance earlier in this guide, as a mushroom supplement that may help promote exercise capacity. What we didn’t discuss in that section however, is that Black Hoof may also help improve metabolic function. In our opinion, this makes Black Hoof an ideal mushroom supplement for helping to promote metabolic function and furthermore, helping to support weight loss! Black Hoof mushroom may help regulate blood glucose levels. Furthermore, it even appears that Black Hoof may have a positive influence on our gut health which may also help promote overall metabolic function. Black Hoof may also helps with the mobilization and storage of fats. Taken together, this makes Black Hoof mushroom a fantastic choice for supporting metabolic function!
SHIITAKE MUSHROOM
Shiitake is a very popular culinary mushroom and appears in many rich dishes to add depth of flavor through its umami flavor profile. However, it also appears that Shiitake mushroom helps promote metabolic function! Shiitake appears to support metabolic function via various different pathways. Recent research has found that Shiitake mushroom may help prevent fat deposition in addition to supporting lower plasma triglyceride levels. In a study on rats, it was found that the addition of Shiitake to a high fat diet, led to significantly lower body weight and fat mass gain than rats eating the same high fat diet without Shiitake. Based on these results, Shiitake may help promote weight loss and improve overall metabolic function!
RED REISHI MUSHROOM
Red Reishi seems to have an almost endless list of effects associated with its supplementation! Besides its immune promoting, inflammation balancing, oxidation balancing and mood promoting effect; Red Reishi also appears to positively benefit metabolic function! Red Reishi does this through a few different mechanisms, but one of the more interesting mechanisms is its positive effect on our gut microbiome. The polysaccharides in Red Reishi appear tmay be effective as prebiotics in the gut. Through this action, Red Reishi may help balance our gut microbiota in a manner that is conducive to promoting and restoring metabolic function. In fact, it has been shown that the changes in gut microbiota induced by Red Reishi may regulate weight gain. In our opinion, this makes Red Reishi one of the most unique natural weight loss supplements! In order to reap the most gut microbiota modulating benefits from Red Reishi, we would recommend going for the Red Reishi 1:1 full spectrum. This Red Reishi extract contains the highest amounts of polysaccharides (tested as 35% Beta-glucans). Since the polysaccharides appear to produce the beneficial effects on gut microbiota, the higher the polysaccharides, the better the effects on our gut microbiota. This makes our Red Reishi 1:1 the best overall choice!
THE BORING STUFF NOBODY READS BUT PROBABLY SHOULD
**SCOOPS: Nootropics Depot does not provide scoops or spoons with any of our products. Scoops are highly unreliable for accurate measuring. Mama didn't raise no fool! Scoops measure volume rather than weight, which is problematic because all powders have different densities. You wouldn't use a spoon to weigh yourself, would you? A milligram scale is needed to accurately measure powder products. Tools set us apart from the animals.
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*DISCLAIMER: Always consult with a qualified health physician before taking any new dietary supplement. If you can't find a qualified one, try an unqualified one. The products and statements found on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. You hear that FDA? We are not talking about diseases! These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, nor would we want them to.
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