Best Mushrooms For Brain Health 2024

When it comes to consuming foods to support the brain's ability to stay healthy and function correctly, there may be no better choice than eating mushrooms. A staple of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, medicinal mushrooms have long been known to boost brain health and cognitive function.

While more laboratory tests are needed to shed light on exactly how they do this, there is no doubt that medicinal mushrooms can help you soar up the cognitive function scale in no time at all. The only issue is, with so many different mushroom species out there, it can be very hard to work out which one to use.

Then there is the issue of how to consume an edible mushroom for its medicinal qualities. While you can just eat fresh mushrooms whole or put them in stir-fries, you will need to consume a large number of the fruiting bodies of most mushroom species, which makes using a supplement a far easier, cheaper option.

That is why we have made the following guide to the best medicinal mushrooms for brain health. We will give you all of the information to help you work out which mushroom species are right for you, and make picking a supplement that offers all of the health benefits you are seeking as fast and easy as possible.

The 6 Best Mushroom Dietary Supplements For Supporting Brain Health

Nootrum Mushrooms - The Best Mushroom Supplement For Improving Brain Health Overall

Nootrum Mushrooms is a mushroom supplement made with potent doses of ten different medicinal mushroom extracts. This makes it capable of enhancing cognitive function, boosting your overall brain health, and providing a variety of other mental and physical health benefits, like improving memory.

Nootrum Mushrooms contains cordyceps sinensis powder, reishi mushroom extract, shiitake mushroom extract, lion's mane mushroom extract, and a blend of maitake mushroom, turkey tail mushroom, chaga mushroom, royal sun agaricus mushroom, white button mushroom, and black fungus extracts.

Lion's mane mushrooms will boost the immune system and brain health and functions, neurite outgrowth, blood flow to the brain, nerve growth factor, the growth of brain cells and nerve cells, and peripheral nerve regeneration, and reduce inflammation and blood pressure, sugar, lipid, and cholesterol levels (1).

Cordyceps mushroom is used for promoting mental clarity, a healthy immune system, brain, heart and testicles, and better cognitive function, physical performance and brain cell growth, and combatting the signs of aging, inflammation, mental decline, arthritis, diabetes, diarrhoea, headaches and tumours (2).

Reishi mushroom will support brain health and the urinary tract and immune system, boost your sleep quality, strength and stamina, reduce stress, anxiety, blood sugar and blood pressure levels and your mood, and prevent or treat metabolic syndrome, fatigue, and certain other health conditions (3).

Shiitake mushrooms are rich in vitamin d and b vitamins and offer many potential health benefits for the mind and body. They can improve your immune system, heart and brain health and functions, energy levels, and ability to lose weight, and help reduce inflammation and combat some chronic diseases (4).

Maitake mushrooms are high in antioxidants, beta glucans, minerals and vitamins. They can reduce your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, boost immune function, brain health and cognitive function, and treat a number of the most severe diseases, illnesses and health conditions (5).

The turkey tail mushroom is a type of polypore mushroom found worldwide that is full of antioxidants and polysaccharide k. It can improve immune system and gut health, cognitive function, digestion, and exercise performance, reduce inflammation and blood sugar levels, and help combat type 2 diabetes (6).

The chaga mushroom is a fungus found on birch trees and it is high in melanin and various polyphenols, triterpenoids, and polysaccharides. It can boost your gut health and immune functions, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and prevent or combat cell mutation, fatigue and many chronic illnesses (7).

The royal sun agaricus mushroom can reduce stress and hunger cravings, prevent mood swings, allergic reactions and physical weakness, boost immune and liver health and functions, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and treat alopecia, arthritis and heart, digestive and other chronic health issues (8).

White button mushrooms can prevent oxidative stress and damage, reduce inflammation, boost your gut and immune health and functions, improve the production of white blood cells, treat or prevent a range of chronic health conditions, protect the prostate, and accelerate the growth of lean muscle (9).

Black fungus extract is made from medicinal mushrooms high in probiotics, antioxidants and fibre. It will boost gut, liver and brain health and functions, reduce your cholesterol levels, protect your cells from free radicals and oxidative damage, and improve blood flow to the brain and your circulation (10).

By combining potent doses of so many clinically proven 10:1 extracts of medicinal mushrooms with anti inflammatory properties, Nootrum Mushrooms can safely and effectively reduce oxidative stress, boost immunity, and support cognitive function and brain health from virtually every angle.

Add in the fact that it is also very reasonably priced and affects the part of the brain responsible for things like the growth of brain cells and nerve cells, and Nootrum Mushrooms is a perfect choice for anyone who is interested in consuming mushrooms to support their nervous system and brain health.

Pros

• Uses a wide range of mushroom species including lion's mane mushrooms that boost your mental and physical health
• All of the active compounds used are very high quality, extremely potent 10:1 extracts
• Has no artificial flavors and uses only organic medicinal mushrooms
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• As one of the newer mushroom supplements on the market, reviews from past users are limited
• Has to be bought direct from the official Nootrum website

Nutriflair Premium Mushroom Complex - The Best Mushroom Supplement With Reishi Mushroom

Nutriflair Premium Mushroom Complex is a vegan friendly, GMO free medicinal mushroom supplement that is designed to enhance memory, focus, immunity, mental clarity, vitality and your overall health, by combining lion's mane extract with the extracts from the fruiting bodies of nine other mushrooms.

Its formula contains lion's mane mushroom (hericium erinaceus), cordyceps mushroom, reishi mushroom, chaga mushroom, maitake mushroom, turkey tail mushroom, shiitake mushroom, enoki mushroom, agaricus mushroom and oyster mushroom extracts.

Agaricus, cordyceps, chaga, maitake, reishi, shiitake, turkey tail, and lion's mane mushrooms have all been seen in the other supplements we have looked at in various dosages, and they will again offer all of the same body and brain health benefits to some extent.

Enoki mushrooms are rich in polysaccharides, proteins and antibacterial, antiviral and anti inflammatory compounds, as well as other nutrients. They may aid gut, heart and brain health and functions, weight loss, and immunity, reduce inflammation, and combat chronic allergies, diseases and viruses (11).

Oyster mushrooms are unique, as they are a type of carnivorous fungus that eats insects and absorbs many of the bioactive compounds that they contain, to assimilate their antioxidant properties.

This is said to give them the ability to improve your bone mineral density and vitamin d levels, prevent or treat anaemia, arthritis, osteoporosis and certain other health issues, regulate your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and boost your immune and brain health and functions and overall well being (12).

There are, admittedly, a couple of issues with Nutriflair Premium Mushroom Complex that we do have to point out though.

For starters, many of the proven medicinal mushrooms are present in dosages that are far lower than what is required in order for them to be able to produce their optimal effects, with one such mushroom being the most beneficial in the formula, lion's mane mushroom (hericium erinaceus).

Two of the mushrooms, enoki mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, also need more scientific evidence to conclusively prove that they are actually capable of reducing oxidative stress and benefitting the brain, while their consumption has also caused some people to experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort.

Despite these issues though, Nutriflair Premium Mushroom Complex is one of the only supplements to use reishi, oyster and lion's mane mushrooms at the same time, all three of which are reasonably dosed.

This makes it a good supplement for people who are specifically looking to use this combination of mushrooms to boost their brain health, especially as it is also very reasonably priced.

Pros

• One of the only supplements to feature a potent dose of reishi, oyster and lion's mane mushrooms
• On the cheaper end of the spectrum for a supplement that contains lion's mane extract (hericium erinaceus)
• Vegan friendly and non GMO

Cons

• Most of its ingredients are present in lower doses than you will find in the best supplements, including lion's mane extract (hericium erinaceus)
• Some of the bioactive compounds need more researched more to prove they benefit brain health
• There have been some reports of users experiencing side effects

Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms - The Best Mushroom Supplement With Lion's mane Mushroom

Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms is a supplement created to provide antioxidant and immune system support and improve your memory and focus. It is non GMO, vegetarian friendly, made in GMP certified facilities, and uses a formula that revolves around a potent dose of lion's mane extract.

In addition to the lion's mane extract, Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms also contains chaga mushroom 10:1 extract, maitake mushroom 4:1 extract, shiitake mushroom 4:1 extract, and reishi extract with 30% polysaccharides.

All of the medicinal mushrooms in Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms were present in Nootrum Mushrooms and they will again deliver all of the same benefits, only to differing degrees, due to the different dosages used.

They aid mental and neuronal health as they promote neurite outgrowth, quality sleep and fat loss, and boost energy levels, heart, gut, immune and brain health and functions, concentration, focus, blood flow to the brain, the growth of brain cells and blood vessels, nerve growth factor, memory, and your mood.

They can then also combat anxiety, brain fog, cell mutation, fatigue, inflammation, stress, mild cognitive impairment or decline, high blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, and many other illnesses and chronic health conditions.

There is unfortunately a problem with Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms that we do have to discuss. This is the fact that, with the exception of lion's mane extract (hericium erinaceus), all of the mushrooms are present in dosages far lower than what is required to produce their optimal effects.

This might slide on a budget mushroom supplement but Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms is not particularly cheap either.

That issue aside though, it does boast one of the most potent doses of lion's mane mushrooms that you will find in a mushroom supplement. That is why we feel Stonehenge Health Dynamic Mushrooms is one of the best options if you want to use lion's mane mushrooms to keep your brain healthy and working.

Pros

• Boasts one of the most potent doses of lion's mane mushroom you will find in a mushroom supplement
• Uses a varied range of mushroom extracts that benefit your brain and overall health in many ways
• Can boost neurite outgrowth and nerve growth factors and combat or prevent Alzheimer's disease

Cons

• One of the most expensive mushroom supplements on the market
• Lion's mane mushroom is the only ingredient present in a sufficient dose

Elm & Rye Mushroom Complex - The Best Mushroom Gummies To Boost Brain Health

Elm & Rye Mushroom Complex is quite a unique mushroom supplement as it is available in a choice of traditional capsules, mushroom gummies, and even a coffee creamer. This makes it a perfect option for people who have issues or simply do not like swallowing regular pills.

The Elm & Rye Mushroom Complex gummies are made from a selection of high quality, lab tested mushrooms that we have already encountered multiple times. They consist of maitake mushrooms, lion's mane mushrooms, reishi mushrooms, cordyceps mushrooms, and chaga mushrooms.

Capable of doing everything from boosting brain health and promoting neurite outgrowth to combatting Alzheimer's disease, Elm & Rye Mushroom Complex can support your cognitive health and functions and overall well being, while only having to take one gummy each day also makes it very enjoyable to use.

There are, however, some issues with Elm & Rye Mushroom Complex gummies that we have to mention.

While using a proprietary blend means we can't see how much of each mushroom is used or accurately predict the effects it will produce, being one of the most expensive mushroom supplements that we have come across means it will not be a suitable option for people shopping on a tight budget.

Despite this though, if you want to make the most of the beneficial effects that mushroom supplements can offer but have issues swallowing pills or capsules and are not shopping on a budget, Elm & Rye Mushroom Complex gummies are still one of the best options on the market for you to try.

Pros

• A gummy or a coffee creamer is a good choice ideal for people who can't or don't like swallowing traditional pills or capsules
• Uses a good range of mushrooms, such as lion's mane, that are all proven to benefit your physical and mental health and functions

Cons

• One of the more expensive mushroom supplements on the market
• A proprietary blend masks the dosages of all the ingredients, including the lion's mane extract, and makes it impossible to predict the effects they will produce

Genius Mushrooms - The Best Budget Mushroom Supplement For Brain Health

Genius Mushrooms is a mushroom supplement formulated to improve your mental clarity, immune function, ATP production, energy levels, memory, mood, oxygen utilization, aerobic capacity, and athletic endurance, while being reasonably priced so that everyone can afford to use it.

The Genius Mushrooms formula exclusively uses organic mushrooms that we have already looked at, and it includes lion's mane mushrooms, cordyceps mushrooms, and reishi mushrooms.

These boost brain, heart and testicle functions, performance and health, focus, clarity, immunity, mood, memory, concentration, physical performance, blood flow to the brain and brain cell and nerve growth, and treat mental decline, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, tumours, diseases and inflammation.

Admittedly, Genius Mushrooms is not without its flaws, as everything except the lion's mane extract is present in a lower dose than is optimal, while the formula is also far less diverse than the top mushroom supplements. That said, this is to be expected when you are looking at budget supplements of any kind.

That is why, despite these issues and given the benefits that it can deliver, we still feel that Genius Mushrooms is one of the best mushroom supplements for people who are looking to take advantage of the physical and mental health benefits that mushrooms can offer while shopping on a very tight budget.

Pros

• Uses a range of mushrooms that are proven to enhance your mental and physical health, such as lion's mane
• The lion's mane extract is present in its optimal dose
• 100 percent organic and very reasonably priced

Cons

• Contains an very small number of ingredients, which limits its range of potential benefits
• Everything except lion's mane extract is present in a dose that is lower than optimal
• Cordyceps and reishi mushrooms will not produce optimal results in these dosages without being used in a more diverse formula

Double Wood Supplements Reishi Mushroom Extract - The Best Brain Health Mushrooms For First-Time Users

Double Wood Supplements Reishi Mushroom Extract is a soy, gluten, and GMO-free, vegan-friendly mushroom supplement that is made in GMP-certified facilities using only 1,000 mg of pure, high-quality reishi mushroom 4:1 extract, and boasts an extremely reasonable price tag.

The impressive dose of reishi mushrooms it contains is larger than anything we have seen in any other mushroom supplements, so will produce all of the mental and physical health benefits that reishi mushrooms are known for to the highest levels possible, while not being linked to any side effects.

Admittedly, containing just a single ingredient does limit the range of health benefits it can offer, as reishi mushrooms are at their most effective when used as part of a more diverse formula that combines them with other proven medicinal mushrooms, such as the lion's mane mushroom.

However, regardless of both its positive and negative points, perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of this mushroom supplement is the 100 percent money-back guarantee it comes with. This is unlike any other supplements we have seen, so makes it a supplement you can buy and try without any risk.

That is why, despite its shortcomings, we still feel that Double Wood Supplements Reishi Mushroom Extract is the best option for people who either only want to use reishi mushrooms or who are worried about taking mushroom supplements for the first time and want to try a product without any risk.

Pros

• Very reasonably priced
• Contains a very potent dose of reishi mushrooms
• Comes with a 100 percent money back guarantee

Cons

• Not combining resihi extract with other ingredients like lion's mane mushrooms limits the range of effects it can produce

Final Thoughts On The Best Mushroom Supplement To Improve Your Overall Brain Function & Health

Using a medicinal mushroom supplement is a very quick, easy and effective way to boost your immune, nervous system and brain health and functions, and your overall well being. There are a range of these supplements that do a very good job, but the best option for most people will be Nootrum Mushrooms.

With a high dose of lion's mane mushroom powder and nine other 10:1 medicinal mushrooms, Nootrum Mushrooms can boost brain health and functions, nerve growth factors and neural growth, ease chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, and boost your overall health, all while being fairly priced.

If for any reason it does not sound like the right mushroom supplement for you, then one of the other options on our list surely will. For everyone else though, we highly recommend that you give Nootrum Mushrooms a try and see just how effectively it can boost your brain function and health for yourself.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.