Medically reviewed by Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS.
Mushroom supplements have grown in popularity rapidly in the past few years due to the paradigm shift within the nutritional supplement industry toward research-backed ingredients and honesty, integrity, and transparency of labeling from suppliers and distributors, and the demand thereof by consumers.
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Users of mushroom extracts seek these supplements for a variety of reasons: immunity, energy, cognition, motivation, physical performance, anti-aging, and more. Thankfully, clinical evidence abounds for all these effects from medicinal mushrooms. Mushrooms have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. This is a prime example of a fusion of Eastern and Western medicine, where modern scientific research is corroborating and confirming the historical anecdotes surrounding these functional food supplements.
Here we’ll look at my top 3 recommendations for the best mushroom supplements of the year and the differences among them.
In a hurry? Here’s the gist:
1. Freshcap Ultimate Mushroom Complex
2. Real Mushrooms 5 Defenders
3. Naturealm Sacred 7
Best for Immunity: Real Mushrooms 5 Defenders
Best for Cognition: Freshcap Ultimate Mushroom Complex
Best Budget Option: Naturealm Sacred 7
Honorable Mention: Genius Mushrooms
1. Freshcap Mushrooms Ultimate Mushroom Complex Mushroom Extract
Ultimate Mushroom Complex (formerly Thrive 6) from Freshcap Mushrooms is a mushroom supplement blend of the following 6 mushrooms: Chaga, Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Maitake, Turkey Tail.Ultimate Mushroom Complex uses only organic, hot-water-extracted, whole fruiting body mushrooms sourced from Nammex, the premier source for mushrooms in North America.
Ultimate Mushroom Complex contains no added mycelium, grain, or fillers; just 100% real mushrooms, with a guaranteed beta-glucan content of at least 28%. Beta-glucans are the bioactive compounds in mushrooms responsible for their benefits.Ultimate Mushroom Complex is USDA certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and paleo.
Due to its third-party lab-tested and verified beta-glucan content of at least 28%, its use of whole fruiting bodies from Nammex, and its support of both immunity and cognition (as well as energy levels and physical performance with its inclusion of Cordyceps), FreshcapUltimate Mushroom Complex would be my #1 choice for the best mushroom supplement out right now and gets the “Best for Cognition” award. Read my comprehensive standalone review ofUltimate Mushroom Complex here. You can findUltimate Mushroom Complex mushroom powder from Freshcap here.
Use code OPTIMIZE at checkout for 10% off.
Prefer capsules instead? Find them on the Freshcap website here.
2. Real Mushrooms 5 Defenders Mushroom Extract
5 Defenders is a blend of 5 immune-boosting mushrooms from Real Mushrooms. The 5 mushrooms are Chaga, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Shiitake, and Maitake. LikeUltimate Mushroom Complex, 5 Defenders uses only organic, hot-water-extracted, whole fruiting body mushrooms sourced from Nammex, the premier source for mushrooms in North America.
Real Mushrooms was founded by Skye Chilton, son of Nammex founder Jeff Chilton, so the mushrooms are quite literally straight from the source. 5 Defenders is analytically tested and verified to have at least 20% beta-glucans and less than 5% starch (alpha-glucans in the form of glucose). 5 Defenders is certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan.
5 Defenders, as the name suggests, is primarily focused around immunity. While you should get some energy-boosting and anti-fatigue effects from the mushrooms in 5 Defenders, it does not contain Lion’s Mane or Cordyceps, which are directly responsible for augmenting cognition and physical performance. For that reason, 5 Defenders takes 2nd place and the “Best for Immunity” award. Read my more comprehensive standalone review of 5 Defenders here.
Use code OPTIMIZE at checkout for 10% off.
Prefer capsules instead? Find them here.
3. Naturealm Sacred 7 Mushroom Extract Powder
Sacred 7 is a blend of 7 equally-weighted mushrooms from Naturealm. It includes Chaga, Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, and Turkey Tail mushrooms. Think of Naturealm Sacred 7 as basically a combination ofUltimate Mushroom Complex and 5 Defenders. You’re getting both immunomodulatory and cognition-boosting effects. Because the weighting is spread evenly across 7 mushrooms though, you get comparatively less of each of those, so you may want to increase the dosage a bit.
LikeUltimate Mushroom Complex and 5 Defenders, Naturealm’s mushrooms are sourced from Nammex, so you’re getting 100% whole fruiting body mushrooms with no added grain, mycelium, or fillers. Sacred 7 is guaranteed to have at least 20% beta-glucans. The battle for 2nd place was close; 5 Defenders slightly edges out Sacred 7 in my mind because Real Mushrooms is within the Nammex family and has been around longer than Naturealm, andUltimate Mushroom Complex has a higher guaranteed beta-glucan content than both 5 Defenders and Sacred 7 (>28% compared to >20%).
Because of these reasons and because it’s not yet available in capsule form, Naturealm Sacred 7 takes 3rd place. Note though that at the time of writing, it is the most affordable option in terms of price per gram, so it also takes the “Best Budget Option” award. Read my more comprehensive, standalone review of Sacred 7 here.
Honorable Mention: Genius Mushrooms
Genius Mushrooms from The Genius Brand is a blend of Reishi, Cordyceps, and Lion’s Mane mushrooms. It is focused primarily on cognition, energy, and physical performance, and not so much on immunity (though you should still get some immune-boosting benefits from the Reishi). I wrote a dedicated review on Genius Mushrooms here.
The product is highly-reviewed on their website and on Amazon, but there are a few reasons why it doesn’t beat the above mushroom supplements in my opinion. First, I can’t find any information on where they source their mushrooms. I reached out to The Genius Brand requesting that information and they provided a pretty vague response:
“Our mushrooms are sourced from a private farm here in the United States!”
– Genius Brand Customer Support
Secondly, their stated beta-glucan content is lower than the above options: 15%.Ultimate Mushroom Complex guarantees at least 28% and 5 Defenders and Sacred 7 guarantee at least 20%.
Lastly, only 2 of the 3 mushrooms are whole fruiting bodies; the Cordyceps in there is mycelium. Without getting too technical, we know that mycelium and myceliated grain are suboptimal forms of mushroom supplements compared to whole fruiting bodies. You can read more about fruiting bodies vs. mycelium in my Ultimate Mushroom Complex review. Interestingly though, The Genius Brand is still claiming that the mycelium is at least 15% beta-glucans and less than 5% starch.
At the time of writing, Genius Mushrooms is also more expensive per serving than all the above options.
Popular brands Host Defense and Four Sigmatic were not included due to questionable quality and/or the use of mycelium. I acknowledge that I could be wrong about that assessment. Unsurprisingly, in my research, those brands seemed to have comparatively more complaints of GI distress.
Update April 2020: Paul Stamets himself has admitted that Host Defense uses myceliated grain and that the Host Defense products are upwards of 60% useless starch. They provide no specs or guarantees of ingredients or bioactive compounds. No thanks.
Results Summary
1st Place
Ultimate Mushroom Complex
2nd Place
5 Defenders
3rd Place
Sacred 7
By Function
Best for Cognition
Ultimate Mushroom Complex
Best for Immunity
5 Defenders
Best Budget Option
Sacred 7
Medical Disclaimer: While I love diving into and extracting useful information from clinical research related to health, fitness, supplements, and more, I am in no way a medical expert. The content on this website is for informational purposes only; it is not professional medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the statements on this website have been evaluated by the FDA. Products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Read my lengthier medical disclaimer here.
Thank you! Just the information I was looking for. I’m shocked about Host Defense! Sacred 7 just got a new customer.
This article was super helpful. I just bought the Sacred 7.
Thanks, Catherine! Glad you found it helpful!
So you basically quoted Paul Stamets…where is your source? He is one of the leading mycologists in the world, so I have a hard time believing he doesn’t produce high-quality mushrooms. Also, what educational background do you have to make such a bold statement?
One can simultaneously be a leading mycologist and also a good marketer who sells low-quality products. My educational background is irrelevant to that fact. The Host Defense website itself states that their products are mycelium grown on grain substrate. Their patent itself states it’s about 70% grain, which was later confirmed in the study I linked below. You can also just do some Googling:
– I didn’t want to believe it, but Paul Stamets’ Host Defense mushroom products apparently are of very low quality and at least partially a scam.
– Redefining Medicinal Mushrooms
– Measurement of β-Glucan in Mushrooms and Mycelial Products – with brand names
– So is Paul Stamet’s Brand Host Defense Garbage in terms of Lions Mane?
I think my first comment may not have posted properly! I was asking if you felt the companies above were solid companies to purchase from regardless of the product. I’m specifically interested in Turkey Tail (not the blend) due to research indicating that it’s helpful to colorectal cancer patients (not as a replacement to chemo, but in addition to chemo). I didn’t know any better and did order the Host Defense. I will use it until my order from FreshCap arrives. Thank you so much for this blog post as I found it hugely beneficial.
Yes, definitely! Toss that Host Defense in the trash when your new FC order arrives! 😉
So glad you found the post beneficial!
You don’t have to post this but wanted to share this information with you as well.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6367522/
Thanks for sharing, Freya!
Great article man good job.
What are your thoughts on Organo Gold quality of mushrooms compared to the three mentioned above?
Hey Melissa, I haven’t heard of them. I’ll check it out.
Hi there,
Just interested in how you rate/what you think of Oriveda (www.oriveda.com)
Thanks,
Kate
Hi Kate,
I’ve seen Oriveda mentioned around the web – mainly on Reddit – a few times but I have no experience with them. Admittedly I don’t know much about them.