Mushrooms are a wonderful natural source of nootropic compounds to strengthen focus, recall, and cognition. In this article, we discuss the best mushroom supplements for brain health.
The best mushroom supplements for brain health are crammed with natural extracts and packed with incredibly beneficial nutrients and compounds from one of nature’s true superfoods. They deliver amped-up cognitive function and other brain benefits.
You May Also Like:
The Best Shiitake Mushroom Supplement: 5 Top Brands Reviewed
Liver Health Formula Reviews: The 7 Best Products To Detox And Cleanse
Mushrooms’ medicinal history
Classified as fungi, mushrooms have provided health and medicinal benefits for more than a millennium, with recorded uses dating back as far as 450 B.C.
Of the 2000 identified edible species, a whopping 270 species are now considered potential therapeutic or preventative agents believed to promote wellness.
Mushrooms are classified as fungi and are brimming with proteins, fibers, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. They are also low in calories, fat, sodium, and sugar and have been credited with at least 130 different therapeutic applications.
Recent research has shown the hericenones and erinacines isolated in certain mushrooms’ fruiting body — or cap — stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain. This boosts cognitive thinking, memory, and even combats such neurodegenerative disorders as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
Mushroom supplements and the brain
In fact, many mushroom supplements are so beneficial to the brain that they are considered nootropics — meaning they contain critical extracts that protect against cognitive decline.
Given the slew of mushroom health benefits, it should be no surprise that extract supplements made from the wondrous fungi have become popular remedies for a full range of conditions — and may improve brain function.
In one extreme case, psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in some psychedelic fungi species, has drawn attention for treating PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Brain-boosting compounds
The best mushroom supplements for brain boosting have been created from a string of other mushroom species that offer powerfully beneficial compounds called secondary metabolites.
Shitake mushrooms are packed with beta-glucans, which are found in the cell walls of various fungi and in the best mushroom supplements for brain health, according to a 2021 Journal of Translational Medicine study.
Scientists have also found shiitake mushrooms help fight cognitive decline in mice.
The biggest names in the game
The best mushroom supplements for brain health also draw heavily from the compounds found in the legendary Lion’s Mane mushroom, which research indicates can prevent a wide range of serious maladies, including high cholesterol, diabetes, and even cancer.
But Lion’s Mane mushrooms have also drawn attention because of their potential neuroprotective properties and potential to boost nerve growth factor (NGF) —meaning they promote the production and protection of neurons in the brain.
By doing so, Lion’s Mane protects against serious diseases like multiple sclerosis and dementia. Studies also show it can improve cognitive function and the ability to manage anxiety.
Reishi mushrooms have been labeled ‘nature’s Xanax’ due to their calming properties derived from the compound triterpene. They have been credited with improving sleep, managing anxiety, fighting depression, and improving brain focus.
Studies on both cells and animals have also put a spotlight on polysaccharides in Reishi mushrooms. These also promote neuron growth in the brain and may even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Cordyceps mushrooms contain a unique compound called cordycepin which studies have shown may help mitigate learning and memory impairment associated with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
These and other benefits from these mushrooms and more have been extracted into the best mushroom supplements for brain function. We have pinpointed the top choices to boost your noodle.
The best mushroom supplements for brain health
Aceworkz Mushroom 10X Complex features the extracts of 10 types of mushrooms including Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Shiitake, Cordyceps, and more, promising increased focus, better memory, and elimination of brain fog.
Premium Nutriflair Mushroom Complex vegetarian capsules are“filled to the brim” with the brain-empowering compounds from 10 types of mushrooms and are 100-percent natural, gluten-free and non-GMO (meaning they are created without any genetic engineering or fillers).
Genius Premium Mushroom capsules boast key compounds from Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps mushrooms, to create an organic formula that promises memory enhancement, focus, and brain performance while also improving your mood. “The product was definitely a boost to my cognitive functioning. I feel sharper and more attentive with less brain fog,” says one satisfied customer.
Brain MD’s Smart Mushrooms powder promises to transform any coffee, tea, or smoothie “into a cognitive and immunity booster drink.” The six-mushroom compound, which is farmed organically, serves up just 12 calories and .2 grams of fat in each 3-gram serving, delivering “optimal mental performance.”
Real Mushrooms’ Lion’s Mane Extract Capsules are made from certified organic mushrooms and are gluten-free and non-GMO, meaning they are created without any genetic engineering. Real Mushrooms’ products are made from the more beneficial fruiting body of the mushroom — not the mycelium — so that the quantities of key medicinal compounds in each supplement are maximized.
Made from authentic Lion’s Mane extract, this supplement is packed withbeneficial beta-glucans, hericenones, and thousands of other nutrients to provide unparalleled brain function with every capsule. Real Mushrooms medicinal supplements are sourced from China, one of the only places you can obtain pure organic mushroom extracts for supplement use in their purest form, with zero grain fillers.
Summing up
The best mushroom supplements are packed with the brain-boosting extracts of nutrients and compounds from individual mushrooms — or in organic combination formulas — that studies have said will boost your brain power.
So, if you’re in the market for supplements to increase your ability to think clearly with less possibility of a mental decline — the best mushroom supplements for the brain offer plenty to think about.
Further Reading:
Discover Magazine Beyond Psilocybin: These Mushrooms May Offer Brain-Boosting Compounds, Too
U.S. News & World Report Can Lion’s Mane Mushroom Improve Brain Function?
Everyday Health Mushroom Extract Supplements 101: Potential Benefits, Known Risks, and More
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
