Medicinal mushrooms have taken the wellness world by storm. From coffee blends to daily capsules, more people are turning to mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Chaga for focus, immune support, and overall vitality. But with so many brands flooding the shelves, it’s easy to get overwhelmed — or worse, end up with a product that doesn’t actually do much.
If you’re trying to figure out what makes a mushroom supplement truly effective, here’s what you should know before you buy.
1. Fruiting Body Matters More Than You Think
Let’s start with one of the most important distinctions: fruiting body vs. mycelium.
The fruiting body is what we typically picture when we think of a mushroom — the stem, the cap, the spore-producing part. It’s also where most of the active compounds are found, including beta-glucans, which are linked to immune function and other health benefits.
Mycelium, on the other hand, is like the underground root system. While it plays a crucial role in how mushrooms grow, many supplements use mycelium that’s grown on grain — meaning you’re often getting a mix of fungal tissue and leftover rice or oats. That can seriously dilute the product’s potency.
Tip: Check the label. The best products will say “100% fruiting body” and be up front about avoiding grain fillers.
2. Extraction Unlocks the Benefits
Raw mushroom powder might sound earthy and wholesome, but here’s the catch: your body can’t absorb many of the active compounds without extraction.
Medicinal mushrooms have tough cell walls made of chitin — a substance that’s hard to break down. That’s where hot water (or dual) extraction comes in. It helps release the beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other compounds so your body can actually use them.
If a product doesn’t mention extraction, chances are it’s just ground-up mushroom. It might add flavour, but it likely won’t deliver the full benefits.
Tip: Look for terms like “hot water extracted,” “dual extracted,” or “standardized to X% beta-glucans.”
3. Lab Testing = Peace of Mind
Supplements aren’t regulated the same way pharmaceuticals are — which means quality can vary wildly between brands. The best companies go above and beyond by testing their products for purity, potency, and safety.
You want to see:
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Verified levels of beta-glucans
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Screens for heavy metals and contaminants
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Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from third-party labs
If a brand isn’t willing to share test results? That’s a red flag.
4. Don’t Be Fooled by “Polysaccharides”
Some labels boast about “high polysaccharide content.” Sounds good, right? Not necessarily.
Polysaccharides include both beta-glucans and inactive sugars — like starch. If the product is made from mycelium on grain, those starches inflate the number but don’t add any real benefit.
Tip: What you want is a specific beta-glucan percentage (e.g. “>30%”), not just total polysaccharides.
5. Check for Fillers and Sourcing Transparency
This one’s simple but important. Some brands cut corners with flavouring agents or unnecessary fillers. Others avoid mentioning where their mushrooms are grown or processed.
Quality brands will be clear about:
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Where their mushrooms are sourced
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How they’re extracted
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What is (and isn’t) in the final product
And they’ll usually keep the ingredient list short and clean.
The Bottom Line: Ask More from Your Mushrooms
Not all mushroom products are created equal. If you’re using them to support your health and energy, you deserve to know that what you’re taking is actually effective.
Look for:
✅ 100% fruiting body
✅ Proper extraction
✅ Clear beta-glucan content
✅ Third-party lab testing
✅ No fillers, no fluff
At Bloomable, this is the standard we hold ourselves to. Because mushrooms should do more than sound trendy — they should work.