In our fast-paced modern world, the need to integrate traditional medicine into contemporary life has never been more important. Once, health was straightforward—rooted nutrient-dense whole-foods that deeply nourished both the mind and body, free from the additives and preservatives that dominate today’s diets. Back in the day, it was simple, stripped back; REAL foods, as medicine - the way nature intended. No nasties, no additives, chemicals, preservatives.
Among the many treasures of traditional nutrition, mushrooms stand out as powerful allies in the pursuit of health and vitality. For centuries, they have been revered for their medicinal properties, offering support for everything from immunity and energy to overall whole body health. Today, we’re seeing this ancient wisdom reemerge in the modern market.
That said...
There are several grey areas in the modern medicinal mushroom market—ranging from growing medium to extraction methods and the concentration of active ingredients. In this blog, we explore how we can truly harness the long-standing benefits of mushrooms for health and healing, and identify key considerations for selecting high-quality mushroom extracts.
Organic Certification
Cleanliness, purity and keeping chemical residues from synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilisers used in farming practices out of the product, so out of your brain and body. Generally, this also means retaining higher nutritional or active ingredient value. If that’s not enough, organic farming practices are not only better for the people, but the planet too.
Dual Extraction Method
Some compounds are water-soluble, others are alcohol-soluble. A dual extraction uses both water and alcohol during extraction to capture a broader range and optimal concentrations of the beneficial compounds. By using both methods, you get a more potent and comprehensive profile of the mushroom’s bioactive components.
Fruiting Body
When it comes to the use of any food as medicine, the part of the plant or fungi has varying concentrations and types of beneficial compounds. The ‘fruiting body’ of fungi is considered to contain the highest concentrations of active ingredients and nutrients. While mycelium (the root-like part of the mushroom) can also offer benefits, the fruiting body is often preferred for its concentrated health-promoting properties.
10:1 Ratio & Proper Dosing
This indicates a high-quality, super-concentrated extract with standardised dosing. A 10:1 ratio means that 10 kg of raw mushroom material is used to produce 1 kg of extract. This ratio is generally preferred in supplements and extracts because it results in higher levels of active, beneficial compounds—essentially providing more medicinal goodness.
30% Beta-D-Glucans
A higher concentration (like 30%) signifies a well-executed extraction process that retains the beneficial compounds. In other words, a great marker of products quality and purity. Beta-D-glucans are well known for their immune modulating, and broad health-promoting properties 1
- Gut health
- Infections
- Immune regulation
- Blood sugar and cholesterol regulation
- Innate immunity
- Adaptive immunity
Their effectiveness also depends on their molecular weight and structure. A 30% concentration indicates a significant presence of these bioactive compounds which may improve their physiological effects.
Independent Testing
Independent testing means a business or brand has sent ingredients or products for third-party lab testing to ensure true value of nutritional or active ingredient concentrations and low, safe levels of contaminants. This reflects a brand’s dedication to delivering high-quality and reliable products. They’ve not just taken the suppliers word for it!
Navigating the food and product industry can be confusing, and often times overwhelming! Amidst the misinformation and marketing claims, it’s important we educate ourselves and ensure we’re getting the return on time, energy, and money investments we make towards our health. By remaining discerning and seeking transparency from brands, we can empower ourselves to make informed choices. In a world full of ambiguity, let’s embrace a proactive approach to wellbeing, ensuring that what we consume aligns with our the quality of health and life we desire!
Why mushrooms might you ask? Keep an eye out, we might just be taking traditional nutrition for modern life to the next level.
References:
- Jayachandran, M., Xiao, J., & Xu, B. (2017). A Critical Review on Health Promoting Benefits of Edible Mushrooms through Gut Microbiota. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(9), 1934. <https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091934>
- Smiderle, F. R., Baggio, C. H., Borato, D. G., Santana-Filho, A. P., Sassaki, G. L., Iacomini, M., & Van Griensven, L. J. (2014). Anti-inflammatory properties of the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris might be related to its linear (1→3)-β-D-glucan. PloS one, 9(10), e110266. <https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110266>