1. What Are Functional Mushrooms?
Functional Mushrooms are mushrooms discovered to naturally contain beneficial properties to overall health and wellness. There are estimated over 2,000 species of mushrooms that are considered edible or therapeutic, but almost all functionals mushrooms support your immune and digestive systems, as well as high levels of antioxidants. Certain functional mushrooms have more targeted benefits, with the most popular being Lion's Mane, Cordyceps, Reishi, and Chaga.
Lion's Mane has two special compounds that help bolster brain function by supporting new neuron growth and connections between cells, which effectively improves memory, attention and creativity.
Cordyceps have been shown to help increase Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) production which is our main energy source for muscle activity and improving oxygen uptake and delivery.
Therefore, it is important to understand which functional mushroom you are supplementing and the effective properties they contain.
2. Are Functional Mushrooms Safe?
Yes, functional mushrooms can be beneficial to everyone. However, there are certain exceptions. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those being treated for an ongoing illness should consult with their physician prior to using any functional mushroom supplement. Certain functional mushrooms can have altering effects on medication effectiveness.
3. What Should I Expect to Feel?
Like any supplement, noticeable effects can vary with each user. Generally these positive benefits can be noticed within the 1st month of use, but we've had many customers who've noticed within the 1st week!
Organic Lion's Mane (100% Fruiting Body Extract) - this mushroom can feel very cerebral with properties specific to cognitive enhancement. Think back to a day when you felt really dialed in on your work/competition/task. A day where your productivity felt unmatched and effortless. Lion's Mane mushroom users often recognize complete control of their focused attention, much like an archer honing in on their target.
Organic Codyceps (100% Fruiting Body Extract) - Unleash the horses as the Cordyceps mushroom bumps you into your next gear. This energy extract can feel like a rush of blood flow and a breath of fresh air, which is why we call our Ultra Endurance Gummies the "Second Set of Lungs". High adaptogenic properties as well can make you feel like any obstacle is able to be crushed.
4. Will They Make Me Hallucinate?
No, functional mushrooms are NOT psychedelic mushrooms. Functional mushrooms do not contain the properties seen in psychedelic mushrooms and therefore do not have the hallucinogenic effects on the brain.
5. What's The Difference Between Mycelium & Fruiting Body Mushroom Extracts?
There's a huge difference and education is necessary!
Many industrial mushrooms extracts are made with the early stages of mushroom growth called mycelium. Mycelium is the root system, growing initially to break down organic matter and collect the nutrients and water for the actual mushroom body to grow. Mycelium does not contain the beneficial properties like the fruiting body, but rather acts as a transport system for these essential nutrients.
In addition, industrial mushrooms farmers often grow this mycelium in wood, straw, or another substrate that acts as a "filler" for the extract produced. This means, if you're purchasing products that aren't Fruiting Body Extracts only, then you're most likely consuming more wood and straw than anything beneficial.
At Noble Leaf, our mushrooms are organically grown in the U.S., utilizing only the fruiting body extract of the mushroom, third-party tested with small batch production to elevate the potency, purity and effect. So rest assured, you've found a company that actually wants to help people!