The best mushroom supplements 2024 – tried and tested
Find our reviews of the best mushroom supplements available in the UK, tried and tested, from drinkable powders to capsules
What are mushroom supplements good for?
Functional mushrooms seem to be everywhere, which isn’t surprising thanks to their suggested benefits of improved focus and energy, regulating stress and strengthening immunity. When used as a wellness tool, so-called ‘adaptogenic’ mushrooms – like reishi, lion’s mane and cordyceps – are said to help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. These varieties, as well as the likes of maitake, shiitake and chaga, are also said to have medicinal properties that may extend to helping us fight obesity and slow the ageing process. However, despite such publicised acclaim, as the research currently stands, there is not enough evidence to fully validate these or other alleged health benefits.
Some popular functional mushrooms and their potential benefits:
- Chaga: may help wounds heal and be anti-inflammatory
- Cordyceps: may build stamina and endurance
- Lion’s mane: may help anxiety and sleep problems, sharpen the brain and modulate the immune system
- Maitake: may regulate metabolism and blood sugar levels
- Reishi: may support immunity, fight fatigue and slow ageing
- Shiitake: may support immunity and fight infection.
Read more about adaptogenic mushrooms here.
What we looked for during testing
Available as capsules, tablets, tinctures, dried powder or tea/coffee blends, there’s a mushroom supplement available to suit most lifestyles. When selecting products to review, we were looking for a guaranteed concentration of 30 per cent or more polysaccharides (as beta-glucan). These are the active constituents, thought to offer a number of benefits. For instance, polysaccharides may strengthen the immune system and act as a fuel source (prebiotic) for healthy gut bacteria. As they’re a source of soluble fibre they may support digestion, stabilise blood sugar, help manage cholesterol and support the heart and potentially provide anti-inflammatory effects.
A dual extraction process was also an important factor. This is because the various beneficial compounds in the mushrooms are both water soluble (beta glucan) and alcohol-soluble (triterpenoids), so using both extraction methods is likely to result in a greater concentration of active constituents.
Jump to:
- Best mushroom supplements at a glance
- Best mushroom supplements to buy in the UK 2024
- How much should I take?
- How should I take a mushroom supplement?
- How we tested mushroom supplements
Best mushroom supplements at a glance
Best capsules
- Together Health Mushroom 5, £27.99
- FourFive Lion’s Mane Mushroom: Energy & Focus, £22
- Grass & Co FOCUS Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules with Ginseng + Omega 3, £25
- Nutravita Advanced Mushroom Superblend Complex, £12.95
- Solgar Reishi Shiitake Maitake Mushroom Extract, £33.95
- WeightWorld Organic (bio) Mushroom Complex, £19.99
Best tablets
- Nutrition Geeks Lion’s Mane Focus +, £39.96
Best powders
Best mushroom supplements to buy in the UK 2024
Best mushroom capsules
Together Health Mushroom 5
Available from Together Health (£27.99), Superdrug (£27.99), Bodykind (£27.99)
Best overall mushroom supplement
Star rating: 4.5/5
Free from artificial additives and preservatives and manufactured using clean processes, this blend of five mushrooms (chaga, lion’s mane, maitake, reishi and shiitake) is certified organic, subject to a dual extraction process and provides more than 40 per cent polysaccharides (more than 30 per cent beta-glucan) with triterpenes. We found these vegan capsules easy to swallow with no odour or aftertaste.
Available from:
Together Health (£27.99)
Superdrug (£27.99)
Bodykind (£27.99)
FourFive Lion’s Mane Mushroom: Energy & Focus
Available from Holland & Barrett (£21.99), Four Five (£22), Amazon (£22)
Best capsules
Star rating: 4/5
With a 60-day money-back guarantee and using a double extraction process two capsules (400mg lion’s mane) provide a minimum of 40 per cent polysaccharides in combination with the brain sharpening botanicals – bacopa monnieri (also known as brahmi), maca root and guarana. Although the capsules are large and two per day is recommended, we found them easy enough to take. However, there is no indication as to whether the mushrooms are organically certified or whether this specific product has been independently tested.
Available from:
Four Five (£22)
Holland & Barrett (£21.99)
Amazon (£22)
Grass & Co FOCUS Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules with Ginseng and Omega 3+
Available Holland & Barrett (£24.50), Amazon (£24.50), Grass & Co (£25)
Star rating: 4/5
Blending lion’s mane with ginseng and algal omega-3 oil, two capsules per day supply 600mg of lion’s mane extract. Although the product is independently tested for its beta-glucan content we had to search for the information on the Grass & Co website. This product is hot water-extracted and is vegan and gluten-free.
Available from:
Holland & Barrett (£24.50)
Amazon (£24.50)
Grass & Co (£25)
Solgar Reishi Shiitake Maitake Mushroom Extract
Available Solgar (£33.95), Amazon (£33.95), Landy's Chemist (£33.95)
Star rating: 4/5
From a long-standing company this product is described as a ‘concentrated extract’ of reishi, shiitake and maitake mushrooms. It is a vegan and allergen free formulation combining powder and powdered extract and was the most expensive in our trial. There are no details of the percentage active constituents or the extraction process used. We found them easy to swallow and would be happy to continue taking these regularly.
Available from:
Solgar (£33.95)
Amazon (£33.95)
Landy's Chemist (£33.95)
Nutravita Advanced Mushroom Superblend
Available from Debenhams (£22.99), Superdrug (£22.99)
Star rating: 3.5/5
Produced to good manufacturing standards (GMP) these vegan capsules are easy to swallow but had a strong, earthy smell. A blend of six mushrooms (chaga, cordyceps, shiitake, reishi, maitake and lion’s mane), there was no information on the concentration of active constituents, whether the mushrooms were certified organic, or on the extraction process used.
Available from:
Debenhams (£22.99)
Superdrug (£22.99)
WeightWorld Organic (Bio) Mushroom complex
Available from WeightWorld (£19.99), Amazon (£25.99)
Star rating: 3.5/5
With a 90-day money back guarantee, this product was one of the cheaper options in our trial. The blend of 8 mushrooms (lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, maitake, oyster, shiitake, coprius comatus) is combined with turmeric and ginger and certified organic. We found it had a heavy spicy scent and found the capsules hard to swallow. There is no information on the concentration of active constituents or on the extraction process used.
Available from:
WeightWorld (£19.99)
Amazon (£25.99)
Best mushroom tablets
Nutrition Geeks Lion’s Mane Focus+
Available from Nutrition Geeks (£11.99), Amazon (£9.99), Freedom Clinics (£14.99)
Star rating: 4/5
We found two of these small tablets (267mg lion’s mane extract) were easy to swallow. They were the cheapest product in our trial with the highest stated levels of active polysaccharides (50 per cent). However, it’s unclear whether the mushrooms are certified organic or what extraction process is used.
Available from:
Nutrition Geeks (£11.99)
Amazon (£9.99)
Freedom Clinics (£14.99)
Best mushroom powders
DIRTEA Cordyceps powder
Available from Look Fantastic (£34.99), DIRTEA (£38), Amazon (£39.99)
Star rating: 4/5
DIRTEA powders use certified organic mushrooms that are subject to a dual extraction process and third-party tested, however, we couldn’t find information about the concentration of active constituents (percentage of polysaccharides) in a 2g serving. We found the finely milled powder difficult to measure but noted that it mixed easily in a cup of tea adding no taste or flavour.
Available from:
Look Fantastic (£34.99)
DIRTEA (£38)
Amazon (£39.99)
DIRTEA Lion’s Mane powder
Available from Look Fantastic (£34.99), DIRTEA (£38), Victoria Health (£34.99)
Star rating: 4/5
We needed to add a little sugar to her hot drink to disguise the slightly earthy flavour from the lion’s mane powder. However, we liked the convenience of the powder and the fact that it could be added to a variety of options from hot drinks to smoothies.
Available from:
£34.99
DIRTEA (£38)
Victoria Health (£34.99)
DIRTEA Reishi powder
Available from Look Fantastic (£34.99), DIRTEA (£38), Victoria Health (£34.99)
Star rating: 3.5/5
We decided the umami flavour of the reishi powder was best mixed with miso soup, rather than a hot drink. We found the suggested 2g awkward to measure and would rather have had a scoop included with the product.
Available from:
Look Fantastic (£34.99)
DIRTEA (£38)
Victoria Health (£34.99)
How much should I take
When you start to supplement, begin at the lowest dose, assess your response and increase if appropriate, while always keeping within product guidelines.
Dosages vary depending on the variety of mushroom and the concentration level of the product, as well as each person’s individual response. Therefore, choose a product from a reputable company that uses a certified organic mushroom (mushrooms absorb toxins and pollutants from their surroundings), and are independently tested. As mentioned above, a dual extraction process is important in order to optimise the levels of beneficial active compounds.
How should I take a mushroom supplement?
Mushrooms can be supplemented in the form of extracts (powder or liquid), milled mushroom powder or capsules (the latter may contain both powder and extract). Mushroom extract is the most potent form, as it typically contains 20-30 per cent polysaccharides (beta-glucan), depending on the manufacturer. If you are hoping a mushroom supplement will address a specific health issue, then do your research and opt for a product that contains a mushroom variety for which there is some evidence that it may be helpful.
If you have a diagnosed health condition, are on prescribed medication such as blood thinners, blood pressure tablets or diabetes medication, check with your GP prior to supplementation. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should avoid supplementation, because more research is needed to determine the safety of functional mushrooms in these situations.
Although generally safe for most of us, unless you have a fungal or mould allergy, certain people may experience side effects, such as a gastric upset or dry mouth. You should also be aware that at this time further research is needed to determine optimal dosages and safety profiles, and to fully quantify the potential risks and side effects. Like other dietary supplements in the UK, mushroom products are regulated under food law, this means they don’t require license or registration and you don’t need a prescription. It also means that because of the current lack of robust evidence, the use of health claims is restricted – it’s worth keeping this in mind when you’re reading marketing material.
How we tested mushroom supplements
All supplements were tested within the same time period, with observations recorded based on the testing criteria. We included samples from various manufacturers, offering formats such as powders, tablets or capsules containing mushroom extract, powder or a combination of both, and with a range of price points to suit different budgets.
The key areas we assessed were as follows:
Taste and flavour: is the consuming experience pleasant?
Nutrient profile: how much mushroom extract is included in the recommended daily amount? What percentage of active beneficial constituents are provided per serving? Are other nutrients or botanicals included?
Quality: how were the mushrooms grown and sourced, are they certified organic and have they been independently tested for contaminants and allergens?
Additives: does the product contain additives, for example: preservatives, artificial sweeteners or colourings?
Dietary requirements: does the product meet any specific dietary needs – is it vegetarian, vegan, gluten- and allergen-free?
Value for money: how does the product compare to other products on a cost-per-day basis?
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Authors
Kerry Torrens Bsc (Hons) PgCert MBANT is a registered nutritionist with a postgraduate diploma in Personalised Nutrition & Nutritional Therapy
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