They both have their benefits, often distinct and uniquely valuable. In a relative comparison, think of the fruiting body as being apples and the mycelium as oranges. Reading the label and understanding what it contains will help you determine the contents of a product.Īn extract of the fruiting body will be a very different product than one that includes only the mycelium. Quality may be relative when it comes to the contents of a mushroom supplement. Since the process is controlled from start to finish, in accordance with BRCGS international food safety standards, consumers can be assured that the highest quality control standards have been observed. Critical oversight by experienced mycologists ensures proper species identification and optimized cultivation practices. Our use of environmentally-controlled indoor farms with filtered air and water allows us to minimize contaminants. Quality begins with the cultivation and production facilities where mushrooms are grown and processed. Since mushrooms are decomposers and bio-accumulators, they may absorb and assimilate environmental toxins. Several factors contribute to quality when it comes to mushroom supplements. Is Quality Relative for Mushroom Supplements? Whole mushroom powder contains the full benefit of the macro- and micronutrients, as well as the bioactive compounds and prebiotic fiber, all in a bioavailable form. The mushroom parts are then milled to a fine powder, which exposes more surface area and makes the powder easier to digest. Both the fruiting body and mycelial biomass are harvested and processed with steam-heat to soften the chitinous cell walls followed by a moisture-removal process with heated and filtered air. Whole mushroom powder is a very different product that undergoes less processing. In either case, the product will contain the heat-stable, soluble compounds that were extracted. Alcohol extracts may be offered as a liquid with a dropper dispenser or dried and sold as a powder. The extract is then concentrated by removing the solvents (water or alcohol) to obtain a powder with the desired concentration of beneficial substances like beta-glucans. The mushroom materials may be processed (or extracted) several times in water and then again in alcohol, though alcohol will be removed from the final product. Mushroom extracts are prepared by cooking the mushroom mycelium and/or fruit bodies at a high temperature in water to extract water-soluble compounds or in alcohol to extract alcohol-soluble substances. Mushroom mycelia are harvested for use as dietary supplements and healthy additives. Organic matter (also known as the mycelial biomass) is composed of the mycelium and its supporting substrate that contains extracellular compounds including enzymes, polysaccharides, and protective secondary metabolites that may provide therapeutic benefits. Some mycelia contain beneficial nutrient compounds not found in their fruiting bodies. This controlled system makes it easier to exclude contaminants that would necessitate high-temperature processing that could inactivate nutrients. It endures even after the fruiting body has faded.įermentation using a solid substrate supports the cultivation of mycelial mass by simulating its growth in its natural environment. The mycelium serves the majority of functions in the mushroom’s life cycle, including the production of enzymes to digest nutrients in its environment, protection against competitive or damaging organisms, and generation of fruiting bodies. For this reason, mycelia are easier for people to digest. Mycelia have thin, permeable cell walls that allow enzymes to pass out and nutrients to be absorbed. By isolating and testing each compound’s effect individually, researchers discovered that while the amounts of NGF secreted into the medium in the presence of the compounds from the mycelium were greater than those from the fruiting body, both had a noticeable impact.įrom this study, it can be inferred that the greatest NGF support occurs when compounds from both the fruiting body and mycelium are combined.The compounds were found to promote nerve growth factor (NGF) biosynthesis in the observed rodents’ cultured astrocytes (cells in the central nervous system).In a study to determine the effects of compounds found within lion’s mane, hericenones were isolated from the fruiting body, and erinacines isolated from the mycelium. The benefits of consuming lion’s mane are greatest when one consumes both parts of the mushroom, rather than one or other. Research has shown that there are distinct compounds in the fruiting body and the mycelium. Consider lion's mane, which is known for having nutrients that support nerve health and brain function. While the fruiting body is the most recognizable part of a mushroom, the belief that it is the only part with any value is incorrect.
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