What to Look for When Buying Lion's Mane Supplements?

There is no doubt that mushrooms are among nature’s superfoods. As they grow, they absorb a wealth of nutrients from decaying plants and animals. They also contain many bioactive compounds that help them thrive in their environments, some of which are beneficial to humans and animals.

Functional mushrooms are a select group of fungal species that have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicinal practices. Dubbed “the smart mushroom,” lion’s mane is the one most often chosen to improve mood and cognitive functioning. When included in your daily wellness routine, it can also support your brain and nervous system. It promotes a diverse gut microbiome and supports the immune system as well.^‡

While many find this woodsy mushroom delicious, it is not always easy to find at your local market. For this reason, lion’s mane enthusiasts often choose to get their daily dose from a whole food mushroom powder supplement. This guide will help you determine what to look for when buying lion’s mane supplements.

The Benefits of Lion’s Mane Supplements

As a whole, functional mushrooms have a lot going for them. They are low-fat and nearly cholesterol-free. They contain essential amino acids, bioactive compounds, and minerals. Rich in complex carbohydrates, mushrooms provide significant prebiotic fiber to aid digestion.^‡

Lion’s mane supplements promote focus, alertness, and clarity.^‡ These benefits are especially helpful for people who find themselves anxious or under pressure. Improving concentration is particularly appealing to students, gamers, multi-tasking parents, busy professionals, and seniors.

Qualities to Look for When Buying Lion’s Mane Supplements

There are a number of key questions to ask when evaluating the quality of a lion’s mane mushroom supplement. The ones below will help you determine the safety and purity of your desired product.

What Is Included In The Product?

It is important to read the label of your lion’s mane supplement to understand precisely what part of the mushroom it contains. Some are full-spectrum and contain both the fruit body and mycelium. Several are only made from the fruit body, and still others contain just an extraction of one or more specific components. Extracts may be sold in liquid form or dried and sold as powders.

Lion’s mane mushrooms contain hericenones from their fruit bodies and erinacines from the mycelium. These two nootropic compounds have been found to cross the blood-brain barrier and stimulate the production of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor—proteins that promote the growth and differentiation of nerve cells.^‡ To get the benefit of both of these bioactive compounds, it is necessary to select a supplement that contains both the fruit bodies and the mycelium of lion’s mane mushrooms.

Where Is It Sourced From?

In general, mushrooms are either wild (harvested in nature) or cultivated. As mushrooms grow, they absorb nutrients from their environment. Unfortunately, they may also accumulate any environmental toxins that may be present, including pesticides and heavy metals. Bacterial contamination is also possible. For these reasons, it is important to know where the mushrooms contained in your supplement are sourced.

Mushrooms cultivated in a controlled environment under the watchful eye of trained mycologists (scientists who specialize in fungi) are a good choice for safety and purity concerns. Domestic, farm-raised mushrooms have an advantage in this regard. Filtered air and water can help remove toxins, while supervision by mycologists ensures correct species identification.

How Is It Processed?

Once mushrooms are harvested, they must be dehydrated and milled before creating the finished product. This manufacturing process can certainly affect the final quality of lion’s mane mushroom products. The Food and Drug Administration Current Good Manufacturing Practice (FDA CGMP) offers guidance for producers of foods and dietary supplements. These standards address the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of production facilities.

How Is the Product Evaluated?

As a final verification of quality, some manufacturers choose to submit their products for third-party testing and certification. These products include stamps once they are verified.

Some of the stamps that consumers look for include:

• Organic certification: verification that the cultivation process complies with the National Organic Program regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Kosher certification: affirmation that the ingredients, production facility, and manufacturing process meet the required rabbinical standards
• Non-GMO Project verified: assurance that the products were made from organisms that are not genetically modified

These certifications add an extra layer of assurance, informing consumers that the products contain what the label indicates and that they have been processed in a safe manner.

Finding a High-Quality Lion’s Mane Supplement

Om Mushroom Superfood checks all the right boxes when it comes to product quality. We cultivate each of our 11 mushroom species under optimal growing conditions to extract their unique benefits while removing environmental toxins. We strictly adhere to the FDA CGMP and have been awarded an AA rating—the highest rating offered by the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety. Finally, we submit each of our products for third-party certification.

Om Lion’s Mane Organic Mushroom Powder blend is a versatile and convenient product. Just a teaspoonful each day can help support memory, focus, nerve health, and mood. It can be stirred into a beverage or incorporated into a variety of recipes. We also offer the same high-quality powder blend as a portable capsule. For those pressed for time, our delicious Lion’s Mane Mushroom Gummies are also available. 

Lion’s mane provides valuable support for cognitive function and mood.^‡ There are many products available, so knowing what to look for when buying lion’s mane supplements will help you make a better and more informed choice.

[CTA]

^‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Functional mushroom products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.