Last updated: October 1st, 2019
I’ve been extremely interested in medicinal mushrooms for a number of years now.
But, I recently listened to a podcast episode featuring Joe Rogan and Paul Stamets that absolutely blew my mind.
In case you haven’t heard the episode yet, make sure to listen to it when you have an hour or two.
This podcast episode / interview will make you question everything that you know about mushrooms…
Ever since listening to this particular podcast episode, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with mushrooms.
And, the mushroom that has interested me the most is lion’s mane.
Lion’s mane is an all-around amazing medicinal mushroom that has the potential to:
- Improve your cognitive performance
- Assist with focus, memory and recall
- Stimulate nerve growth and regeneration
- Improve your immune health
After learning about the powerful benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms, I performed tons of research, and eventually purchased a bag of Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract.
(My research indicated that the “Real Mushrooms” brand contains the highest-quality organic lion’s mane mushrooms available.)
So, this article is my Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract review.
In this article, I’ll dish out my thoughts on Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract (available on Amazon).
Plus, I’ll also provide you with interesting scientific evidence, health benefits, and everything else that has to do with lion’s mane mushrooms.
Let’s get started…
Contents
Why you may want to start eating lion’s mane mushrooms (the potential health benefits)
Lion’s mane mushrooms might look hilarious (like pom poms).
But, the potential health benefits that come with eating lion’s mane mushrooms are enormous.
The Chinese have consumed lion’s mane mushrooms for thousands of years, as an ordinary aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
And, one of the major reasons why lion’s mane mushrooms have remained so popular throughout history is because of the neurotrophic properties of lion’s mane mushrooms.
From PubMed:
Neurotrophic factors are important in promoting the growth and differentiation of neurons. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is essential for the maintenance of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Hericenones and erinacines isolated from the medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus can induce NGF synthesis in nerve cells…
To put it simply, there’s good evidence that indicates lion’s mane mushrooms can improve the function of your forebrain, and help to grow your nerve cell tissue.
The lion’s mane mushroom’s ability to improve nerve growth is also extremely promising when it comes to the treatment (or possibly even prevention) of certain neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Surprisingly, the lion’s mane mushroom is one of the select few mushrooms that has shown a regenerative capability in the peripheral nervous system.
So, this is a very special mushroom in terms of improving your brain health.
Here’s another area where the lion’s mane mushroom has shown potential benefits:
Lion’s mane mushrooms might reduce instances of anxiety and depression.
One study investigated the clinical effects of lion’s mane mushrooms, and found that using lion’s mane mushrooms has the potential to reduce depression and anxiety.
This study was an interesting one, because 30 women were given either lion’s mane mushroom cookies or placebo cookies for a period of four weeks. And, the group of women who took lion’s mane mushroom cookies showed lower levels of irritation and anxiety than the placebo group.
Other possible health benefits of consuming lion’s mane mushrooms may include:
- The prevention or treatment of chronic, cognitive, and neurological diseases
- Antifatigue
- Antibiotic
- Anticarcinogenic
- Immunostimulation
- Anti-inflammation
- Antioxidative
Overall, it’s clear that there are a wide range of potential health benefits that come with using lion’s mane mushrooms.
But, here’s what’s most relevant to the readers of ADHD Boss:
If suffer from anxiety or mood disorders, there’s a chance that lion’s mane mushrooms could help you feel better.
Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract review
Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract is an organic, scientifically verified source of lion’s mane mushrooms.
I had to do a lot of research to find the best lion’s mane mushroom extract on the market. And, this is the product that I eventually stumbled upon and purchased.
I purchased Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract because the company is extremely transparent for a health supplement company.
For example, I like that Real Mushrooms admits that their supplier is Nammex, which is one of the largest, longest-standing medicinal mushroom suppliers in existence.
Nammex is a large-scale organic mushroom supplier with operations in Canada and China.
Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking.
China…
When you hear the word China, you immediately think of low-quality, questionable ingredients.
Well, I thought that too. But then I researched Nammex’s facilities in China, and realized that Nammex maintains strict quality control measures, and has been operating in the mushroom industry for many decades.
After chatting with a representative from the Real Mushrooms team, I was told that it’s too expensive to grow mushrooms as supplements in the USA. So, if you want to consume genuine organic mushrooms at an affordable price point, they’re typically going to come from China.
Luckily, Real Mushrooms powders are also USDA certified organic, lab tested in China, and lab tested once again in North America.
To put it simply, all of my concerns about the quality of Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract were eventually relieved.
Nammex (the supplier of Real Mushrooms) has pictures of their actual facilities all over their website.
Jeff Chilton, the owner of Nammex, has also published an authoritative book on cultivating mushrooms.
The book is called The Mushroom Cultivator (available on Amazon).
My point is that the Nammex brand is incredibly transparent and trustworthy. And, this makes Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract trustworthy by extension (since Real Mushrooms is supplied by Nammex).
As for the actual product review:
This product is good. Really good.
Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract tastes like lobster, mixes into hot water extremely easily, and doesn’t leave an aftertaste in your mouth. It’s an all-around pleasant powder that simply works as intended.
I add one half teaspoon of extract to my coffee every morning. If I drink yerba mate in the afternoon, then I’ll usually add another half teaspoon of lion’s mane extract to my yerba mate as well.
This powder is all-around great, and I don’t have any complaints about it.
Comparing Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract vs. Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules
If you’re in the market for lion’s mane mushrooms, there’s a good chance that you’re deciding between Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract and Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules.
These are the two most recommended lion’s mane mushroom products available at this time. Both of these lion’s mane products receive plenty of positive praise from customers.
However, there’s a pretty big difference between these two products.
Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract is made from 100% organic mushrooms without any added mycellium, grains, or fillers. This is pure lion’s mane mushroom powder made from actual fruiting bodies. The Real Mushrooms extract contains 30%> beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are the main medicinal ingredient in lion’s mane mushrooms that are responsible for improving your immune health.
Meanwhile, Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules don’t have a whole lot of evidence pertaining to the real-life health benefits of their product. The main ingredient of Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules is lion’s mane mycelium, which is essentially the root system of the mushroom that has been grown on grain in an artificial laboratory setting. This means that Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules don’t contain genuine mushroom ingredients. Grain-based mycelium ingredients are mostly composed of grain.
I personally don’t feel comfortable spending my money on grain.
This is why I prefer to source 100% pure mushroom powder every single time, which is the case with Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract.
So, while both of these lion’s mane products receive plenty of positive feedback, it’s the Real Mushroom’s Lion’s Mane Extract that comes out ahead in terms of product quality, price, and effectiveness.
Using lion’s mane mushrooms over the long-term is the only way forward
Eating lion’s mane mushrooms is a long-term health decision.
I don’t really recommend lion’s mane mushrooms if you’re interested in a short-term cognitive boost (like you would get from taking something like modafinil).
You’ll most likely experience the benefits of eating lion’s mane mushrooms over the long-term.
Lion’s mane mushrooms have the potential to improve your cognitive performance, nerve cell growth and immune health over the long run.
Medicinal mushrooms are considered adaptogens. So, they take some time to “work” on your brain and body.
However, it is worth noting that some people claim to experience the health benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms immediately. This could be placebo. Or it could be real. It’s hard to tell.
In my case, I felt more clearheaded and motivated after supplementing with lion’s mane mushrooms for 2-3 days. I’m pretty sensitive to subtle changes in my brain and body. But most notably, I experienced significantly reduced sinus pressure, crazy vivid dreams, and improved energy levels after taking lion’s mane mushrooms for a couple of weeks. This is why I believe that Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract works well.
Lion’s mane mushrooms will probably always be a part of my health regimen in one way or another. In the future, I would love to experiment with other medicinal mushrooms as well.
My final recommendation to you
You should eat lion’s mane mushrooms if you’re interested in maximizing your long-term health and wellness.
That’s pretty much the bottom line here.
Real Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Extract is available on Amazon, if you’re interested in a convenient and scientifically proven source of lion’s mane mushrooms.
Personally speaking, I will continue to use the Real Mushrooms brand of medicinal mushrooms, because I believe that Real Mushrooms’ supplier (Nammex) offers the highest-quality mushroom extracts that you’ll find for the price point (for now, at least).
Do you eat lion’s mane mushrooms?
If so, have you noticed any improvements in your cognitive performance, anxiety, energy levels or immune health?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this extremely important medicinal mushroom. Please leave your opinion in the comments section below.
Hi. Do you have a suggestion for trying something like this while you are currently on medication for ADHD and depression and anxiety? The only “natural” thing on is NAC and haven’t noticed anything after a year. Thx!
Hi Amber. Thank you for your comment.
I can’t really make any recommendations because you’re taking medication.
But, if you ask your doctor for supplement recommendations, I’m sure she’ll be able to help you out. She’ll be in the best position to help you, since she will be aware of the potential interactions that your medications might have with supplements.
I hope this makes sense. Thanks again, and I wish you the best Amber.
This is an insanely blatant ad for Real Mushrooms.
No Andrew, this is an independent product review. I was not compensated by any company for this product review. I remain as neutral and unbiased in my research and product testing as possible.
The host defense guy, the scientist mushroom expert guy, says that you need both the mycelium and the fruit bodies. He claims both are contained in the host defense brand. I guess it all comes down to trust in the unregulated supplement market. I’m leaning toward your recommendation at first, partly because it’s less expensive and seems legit. Fruit bodies, yay!
Thank you for your comment JJ!
I have been giving my mom Host Defense Lion’s Mane extract at a dose of 5 droppers full once daily for prefrontal dementia with launguage aphasia. Started out with capsules and switched to extract after about 6 months because it is easier. The improvement in her ability to live independently is DRAMATIC.
More than that it is very easy to determine the effects because of the major and almost immediate improvement in speaking and comprehension. If the lions mane is discontinued there will be a decline in a few weeks. When lions mane is restarted there will be noticeable improvement in about 48 hours.
Pretty crazy but true. There are small studies in Japan and somewhere else, maybe Sweden ? that have produced these same results.
Awesome Cherie. Really happy to hear your mom has shown such a drastic improvement after using Host Defense.
Stefan,
I’m with you about being somewhat obsessed after watching that Rogan podcast. I too did a bunch of research about Lion’s Mane. I tried Real Mushroom’s Lion’s Mane powder, Host Defense’s capsule’s, and then Host Defense’s extract. Admittedly, everyone’s personal biology is different, as I’m sure any rational, honest thinking person would agree. Of the above three version’s of the mushroom the extract seems to have been the most noticeable. I take 3ml a day. Having said that, I will absolutely be trying the Real Mushroom’s powder because I am not married to any one brand. I’m married to what works!
Thank you for your in-depth review. The search for something that will help ease the ADHD symptoms we have will never cease and your review should be helpful with that search.
As a side note: I have been taking a 250mg capsule of time release Niacin to help push the Lion’s Mane deeper that it does by itself and it seems to help.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment Tim. That’s very cool to hear you’re getting results with the extract! I hope you experience even greater results after experimenting some more with other types of mushroom powders.
I feel compelled to point out a flaw in this article. In the above when the comparison of this product to the the Lion’s Mane offered via Host Defense. In that you say, “The main ingredient of Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules is lion’s mane mycelium, which is essentially the root system of the mushroom that has been grown on grain in an artificial laboratory setting. This means that Host Defense Lion’s Mane Capsules don’t contain genuine mushroom ingredients. Grain-based mycelium ingredients are mostly composed of grain.” The most significant chemical produced by Hericium erinaceus is the Erinacines, the most important of which – Erinacine A – only occurs in the Mycelium of the mushroom. While Hericenones are produced by the fruiting body of the mushroom, they are not as potent. A thorough recommendation would be to suggest someone not only consumes the extract of the fruiting body of the mushroom but also the cultured Mycelium.
Where can I purchase
cultured Mycelium?
Any suggestions where to purchace cultured Mycelium?
Host Defense is the one he mentions above your comment. He explains that Host Defense is the mycelium(cultured), the other is from the fruiting body’s of the mushroom.
Which is why I prefer Host Defense. Paul Stamets is the best; I suggest his Joe Rogan interview. Mindblowing knowledge.
What if I take the real mushroom. No extracts. Is it as good? What would be the posologie?
Real mushrooms are excellent!
Swanson premium lion’s mane and Swanson full spectrum lion’s mane also work great, and are much cheaper.
I have Severe OCD/ADHD/Major depressive disorder and with 3g daily (3 bottles of Swanson brand, 19$) I am able to do what people who pay 80$ for are doing…
Premium has all fruiting body, while Swanson full spectrum has 1/2 fruit 1/2 biomass (from mycelium)
My son Alex takes 500mg of Swanson full spectrum every morning to help with his ADHD too, no need to take crazy stimulants that cause long term damage to the brain and body.
I love Swanson’s products as well Andrew. Great tip.
Hi Stefan! Any suggestions for use if you don’t want lobster flavored coffee? Do you think it will mix well with other flavored foods/drinks? Thank you!
Ha that’s a great question. I think you could mix it with orange juice and chug it very quickly 🙂
Hi stefan. Hope all well. Love to connect with you at some point man.
Thanks Robin! Will talk soon!
Thank you. your review is most helpful
No problem. Thank you!
Hi. This is a call for help. My friend’s mother is suspected to have “mild” aphasia since she’s showing the symptoms clearly. She didn’t have a noticeable alarming stroke, she just felt like this after having a long day … Could it be PPA (PRIMARY PROGRESSIVE APHASIA) . We’re really concerned and I really feel this could help. Could someone here help with their experiences? A doctor I could connect with online and share details? Any help would mean a lot.
Wish I could help Advait but I have no clue. Please consult a doctor for best results. Best wishes to you and your friend’s mother.
Would you suggest this for a child with ADHD? I’m looking for something to help my 5-year-old with pretty severe ADHD without medicating him. Thanks so much.
That’s a great question Bethany and I would recommend checking with his doctor beforehand. With that said, Lion’s Mane is a genuine food which SHOULD be safe for kids in small quantities. But please double-check with your son’s doctor beforehand just to be safe.