Mushrooms are the latest wellness trend, with more and more people interested in what they could do for their health and wellbeing. Traditionally, mushrooms have been used in eastern medicine throughout Asia for centuries. But, it’s only in recent years that the western world has started to take note.
Since preparing, cooking, and eating raw mushrooms isn’t always convenient and often not enjoyable, mushroom powder and other supplements have become increasingly popular. Mushroom supplements come in many forms, including capsules, gummies, teas, but the most popular appears to be powder.
Most people blend the powder into hot water to drink straight, but it can also be added to smoothies, oatmeal, soup, and other foods. Mushroom powders from VidaCap are some of the best on the market. VidaCap is a well-respected and reputable brand known for delivering high-quality mushroom supplements.
So what exactly is mushroom extract powder, and what can it do for your health?
What Is Mushroom Extract Powder and How Is It Made?
Typically, the mushroom powder is just what it sounds like, dried mushrooms that have been crushed into a powder. This results in a highly concentrated supplement compared to when eating whole mushrooms.
However, there is a difference between mushroom powder and mushroom extract powder. While they start with similar raw materials, they are processed differently. While powders are created by grinding dried mushrooms, extracts are dried, processed, and then turned into a powder.
Basically, raw mushrooms are harvested, dried, and milled into a fine powder. Then, the powder is cooked in either water or an alcohol/water mix to draw out the beneficial compounds. Hot water is used if water-soluble compounds are to be extracted, while alcohol or an alcohol/water mix is used for alcohol-soluble compounds.
Once the cooking process is complete, the resulting liquid is filtered and used to create several types of mushroom supplements. Three of the most common include
- Liquid mushroom extract: Some companies bottle the resulting liquid and sell it as a liquid mushroom extract.
- Mushroom extract powder: To create a mushroom powder, a spray dryer evaporates the liquid, leaving behind a powdered mushroom extract. This powder can be mixed into smoothies, teas, or other foods.
- Mushroom extract capsules: The mushroom extract powder can be infused into capsules, which are convenient and easy to use.
Proponents of mushroom extract powder believe that extracts are more bioavailable than whole mushroom powder due to extensive processing. Bioavailability refers to how efficiently the human body can digest and absorb an ingredient. The higher the bioavailability, the more value you get out of a substance.
What Are the Benefits of Mushroom Extract Powder?
There are many different mushroom species, and while many of their benefits overlap, some come with their own unique set of therapeutic effects. Therefore, the benefits depend on what type of mushroom extract you use.
Here are a few of the most popular types of mushroom powder extracts and their benefits
Reishi Mushroom Extract
Commonly referred to as “the king of mushrooms,” reishi is renowned for promoting longevity and vitality. The combination of polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and triterpenoids are responsible for many of its health-promoting effects, one of the most noteworthy being its ability to boost the immune system. This is largely due to its ability to increase the activity of white blood cells that fight infections.
Additionally, reishi may also reduce fatigue and depression, support heart health, and improve liver function, among other benefits.
Lion’s Mane Extract
Lion’s mane is most notable for its brain-boosting effects, making it a popular nootropic. This is in large part due to its nootropic content, specifically erinacines and hericenones, which have been researched for their protective and restorative effects on nerve and brain tissue.
Generally, the lion’s mane is touted for its ability to improve focus, memory, and clarity. However, it also supports digestive and heart health because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
Turkey Tail Extract
Turkey Tail is famous for its polysaccharide content – a type of carbohydrate known as beta-glucans. While most mushrooms contain polysaccharides, turkey tails contain Krestin (PSK) and Polysaccharide Peptide (PSP), two types of polysaccharides known to possess powerful immune-boosting properties.
Boasting one of the highest levels of beta-glucans in mushrooms, lion’s mane supports immunity by promoting cytokine production. This enhances the presence of Natural Killer Cells and improves other immune functions.
Final Thoughts on Mushroom Powder Extract
Mushroom extracts are becoming increasingly popular since the western world has started to learn more about how such supplements could improve health and wellbeing. Mushroom extract powder is one of the most sought-after products and can be added to certain foods and beverages, depending on your preference.
If you’re looking for top-quality mushroom powder, be sure to check out VidaCap. Currently, their mushroom powder varieties include reishi and lion’s mane extracts. However, they also have a mushroom capsule range that includes other types of species too, such as turkey tail, cordyceps, and Chaga.
Whichever mushroom brand you opt for, make sure you purchase mushroom powder from reputable brands that have a good track record among customers.
