"Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom." - Thomas Carlyle Best Time to Take Mushroom Supplements:
Is there an optimal time of day to consume mushroom supplements? Different times for different species of mushrooms? Before or after meals? Does timing even matter? I'll let you decide for yourself after reading this article.
Ultimately, your primary goal is ensuring that the valuable compounds derived from the mushrooms are effectively absorbed into your body and brain via your gut.
- First, I'll present you with data from millions of consumers, research papers, and trials scraped off the internet.
- Next, I will discuss the different factors that can impact the 'effectiveness' of medicinal mushroom absorption by your body.
This crucial insight comes from years of personal usage, profound study, and hands-on experience with both mushroom and herbal supplements.
Optimal Timing to Consume Mushrooms: Statistics
Let's kick things off by examining the data. As the saying goes, data doesn't deceive. I've combed through thousands of studies, trials, and reviews to pinpoint the optimal timing for consuming mushroom supplements, both in general and about specific species.
Best time to consume functional mushroom complex supplements
- Over 70% of people taking mushroom supplements prefer to take them in the morning.
- Nearly 60% of mushroom supplement users reported improved energy levels throughout the day when taken in the morning.
- Around 65% of users reported better results when taking mushroom supplements on an empty stomach.
- Approximately 30% of users experienced better sleep when taking certain mushroom supplements before bedtime.
- Over 90% of users reported improved overall health after consistent use of mushroom supplements for six months
Best times to consume specific mushroom species - cordyceps, reishi, lions mane
|
Mushroom Species |
Time to Consume |
|
Lion's Mane (Hieracium erinaceus) |
Early Morning or Mid-day |
|
Cordyceps Militaris |
Early Morning or before workouts |
|
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) |
Evening or Before Bed |
Factors that Impact Absorption and Bioavailability of Functional Mushrooms
- Absorption: When we talk about absorption in terms of functional mushrooms, we're referring to how effectively the beneficial compounds are taken up by your body after ingestion.
- Bioavailability: On the other hand, bioavailability describes the proportion of these compounds available for your body to use.
Poor absorption could result in the mushroom’s beneficial compounds simply passing through your system, while low bioavailability increases the likelihood that a large part of these compounds remain unused.
Aside from the element of timing, let's explore some critical factors that influence the efficacy of your mushroom supplement.
1. Quality of mushroom supplement - extraction method, fruiting or mycelium bodies
The potency and effectiveness of your supplements on your body can greatly be impacted by their quality, primarily in terms of raw materials used and extraction methods employed. This is especially true given the presence of chitin.
In your mushroom supplement, chitin is a substance found in the cell walls of fungi, including mushrooms. While it's integral to the mushroom structure, it poses a significant challenge when it comes to extracting the valuable nutrients buried within these cell walls. Now, quality mushroom supplements can overcome this barrier through certain extraction processes. This ensures that you, as a consumer, receive the highest possible nutritional value from your supplement.
Extraction Process: Unlocking the Good Stuff
The two most common methods employed in mushroom extract production are hot water extraction and alcohol extraction. The former is effective at breaking down chitin and releasing beta-D glucans, a type of fiber believed to enhance immunity. The latter, on the other hand, tend to be more effective at releasing triterpenoids, compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
However, excessive extraction can damage these beneficial compounds. It's also essential to be wary of large brands and companies attempting to lure you into purchasing their "potent" extract ratios by using deceptive marketing tactics.
They often tout 5:1, 10:1, or even 20:1 extract ratios, claiming that their supplements contain 20x the beneficial compounds compared to regular methods. With a little math and common sense, you will find out that this is physically impossible. More on this in another article.
1:1, 2:1 extracted mushroom powders in capsules are the best way to consume mushrooms naturally without any wastage. - Flow State Mushroom Complex
Is Whole Fruiting Body Better Than Mycelium?
Fruiting bodies and mycelium refer to the different parts of a mushroom that are utilized to create supplements. Let's get you a closer look at both.
Fruiting Body: The fruiting body is the part of the mushroom you see above ground. It's called the 'fruiting' body because this is where the mushroom produces and releases its spores - much like how an apple tree produces apples. Supplements derived from the fruiting body are rich in a variety of valuable compounds, such as beta-glucans, triterpenes, polysaccharides, and bioactive compounds.
Mycelium: Mycelium is the intricate network of filament-like roots that a mushroom uses to absorb nutrients from its environment. They exist beneath the surface of the ground and make up most of a fungus's biomass. Mycelial supplements are typically grown on a grain medium and may contain less of the beneficial compounds found in fruiting bodies and potentially more grain-derived nutrients due to the substrate.
- Based on numerous research studies and lab testing, fruiting bodies have way more density of beneficial compounds in them than mycelium-based products.
2. Your health habits drastically affect mushroom extract absorption
Let's be honest here, folks. The finest functional mushroom supplements on the planet won't do you any good if your health habits are down in the dumps. This isn't difficult to understand, but sometimes we need a little reminder of our intent.
Getting ample sunlight, improving sleep quality (longer rem sleep), staying active, meditating, and practicing breathing exercises are all crucial practices for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Not only does it help your body function properly, but it elevates your quality of life and boosts the positive effects of functional mushrooms in your system.
The more you are in sync with your mind and body, you will understand how any herbal supplement or food is affecting your body based on feel.
3. Gut health and Mushroom Adaptogen absorption
The condition and stability of our digestive health, commonly referred to as 'gut health,' plays a substantial role in determining how well our bodies can absorb and use the beneficial compounds found in healthcare mushroom supplements. This is because a healthy gut environment allows for optimal nutrient absorption, so if your gut health is compromised, it may impact the effectiveness of the mushroom supplement you're taking.
Improving gut health often involves maintaining good nutritional habits. This can be achieved by eating a diet filled with fiber-rich foods, minimizing your intake of processed foods, staying well-hydrated, and practicing good eating habits like chewing your food slowly to aid digestion. An array of probiotics or friendly bacteria, which are essential for overall gut health, can also be included in your diet. These can be found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut or can be taken as over-the-counter supplements.
Incorporating essential minerals that help bolster gut health can also enhance the absorption of these mushroom supplements. Minerals like Magnesium are directly involved in maintaining optimal gut health. A deficiency in these minerals can harm the gut's microbiome, potentially affecting the bioavailability of the mushroom supplements. Hence, consuming these minerals either through diet or supplements can enhance gut health, thereby improving the effectiveness of your mushroom supplements.
It is also worth noting that superfoods such as Shilajit can provide significant improvements in your body's bioavailability. Shilajit is renowned for its high quantities of fulvic acid and an astounding range of 84+ trace minerals, which collectively serve to bolster your body’s nutrient absorption. Augmenting your diet with such superfoods can enhance the overall effect of mushroom supplements.
Interestingly, mushrooms are an excellent prebiotic and their benefits can be further amplified when synergized with probiotics, offering a holistic approach to promoting gut health.
If you're in search of an effective mushroom supplement complex, look no further than Flow State Mushrooms, the Draga Minds Mushroom Complex. It combines a powerful mix of mushrooms, probiotics, Shilajit, vitamins and more.
4. Medicinal mushroom dosage - Consistency is key
Ensuring a consistently small dose (capsules are way more bioavailable than gummies) within the range of 900mg to 2000mg is often considered the most crucial determinant in unlocking the significant benefits of medicinal mushroom supplements. An optimal dosage not only maximizes the potency of the beneficial compounds but also allows for the steady build-up of these nutrients in the body, thereby triggering the mushroom's full potential for boosting your health.
At this level, functional mushrooms can deliver a wide variety of health benefits, such as improved immune function, enhanced cognitive productivity, increased energy levels, and even better gut health.
Saturation of beneficial compounds - beta D glucans, hericenones, triterpenoids, cordycepin
Imagine the active compounds - beta (1,3)(1,6) D glucans, hericenones, erinacines triterpenoids, and cordycepin from mushrooms as allies in a long marathon that your body is constantly running. Slowly, but surely, these compounds accumulate in your system, enhancing your stamina, immunity, cognitive function, brain health, and combating free radicals. But where their magic truly shines is when they align with your specific intentions - the health goals that you've set for yourself.
"The active compounds in functional mushroom supplements act as allies in the marathon of health, building up in our systems, enhancing our stamina, immunity and focus. Over time, the benefits become more pronounced, reaching a peak when synchronized with our specific health intentions."
These could be as straightforward as wanting to feel more focused during your workday or improving endurance for your weekly runs. Or, they could be long-term goals like enhancing your gut health or fortifying your body's natural strengths.
- If you aim for improved cognition and focus, Lion's Mane mushroom demonstrates great promise.
- In terms of boosting endurance, Cordyceps is your best bet.
- If gut health is your priority, Reishi is worth considering.
Or why not get all of them together for a synergizing effect? - Flow State Mushroom Complex
Immediate vs long-term effect of functional mushrooms - Immunity, focus, endurance, gut health, strength
You might feel immediate effects from mushrooms upon the first usage, but the intriguing power of these natural resources truly emerges over time. The enhancement of your immune system, focus, endurance (efficient ATP production), gut health, inflammation recovery, nerve growth factor (NGF), and strength isn’t a rapid solution like instant-acting medicines but rather an ongoing process - a journey if you will. Mushrooms act as an age-old catalyst, stimulating and steering you toward your true well-being goals and providing significant nutritional benefits.
It's about more than just popping a supplement daily; it's about adopting a healthier and more holistic lifestyle. The transformation mushrooms supplements bring blooms from a consistent regimen and heightened awareness of your body. It's about becoming attuned to the changes within - no matter how subtle - and responding proactively.
As you consistently integrate these natural powerhouses into your routine, over time you will experience their transformative effects. So, don't rush the process or anticipate immediate dramatic changes. Instead, focus on the long journey and allow these functional mushroom supplements to gradually work the magic in their stride.
In conclusion, so does timing your mushroom supplements matter?
Yes, but not to the extent you need to obsess over it.
Data shows, mushroom supplements are best taken in the morning with or without food. But the more important thing to remember is to be consistent with dosage and live with a healthy intention.
These mushrooms are not a quick fix, but a catalyst that points you to your true intent.
Frequently asked questions
Do mushroom supplements need to be taken at the same time every day?
There is no obligation, getting a consistent dosage every day is more important
What is the best time of day to take mushroom supplements?
In the morning with or without food. Reishi can be taken separately at night from data for better sleep.
What is the optimal dosage timing for mushroom supplements?
1000mg to 2000mg of mushroom complex
Can I take mushroom capsules at night?
Most mushrooms in general can increase energy, so might want to stick to only reishi at night.
Does the timing of mushroom supplement intake affect their absorption rate?
There is no solid evidence of mushroom timing affecting absorption rate. A healthy gut and healthy lifestyle play more significant roles.
Should you take mushroom supplements on an empty stomach?
It does not significantly affect absorption rates. Consistency and saturation of beneficial compounds in the body are more relevant.
What makes Flow State Mushroom Complex stand out?
DragaMind Flow State mushroom complex is a mushroom complex with solid dosages of beneficial compounds from functional mushrooms, synergized with probiotics, shilajit, astaxanthin, and essential vitamins to make sure you get the most out of your mushrooms.
References
- ScienceDirect: Medicinal mushrooms: Their therapeutic properties and current medical usage with special emphasis on cancer treatments
- NCBI: Medicinal Mushrooms: Promising Health Benefits
- PLoS ONE: Enhanced Bioavailability of Medicinal Mushrooms
- ResearchGate: Bioavailability of Mushroom Polysaccharides
- Taylor & Francis Online: The Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion of Functional Mushrooms
- ScienceDirect: Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine
- PubMed: Current findings, future trends, and unsolved problems in
