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5 Must-Have Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules for Sharpening Your Focus
What to look for in 2024’s highly-rated mushroom supplements + how these winning formulas can improve your memory and mood.
With jam-packed schedules and never-ending responsibilities, most of us can feel like we’re being pulled in a hundred different directions every day. Unfortunately, this can take a huge toll on our mental health, making it more difficult to focus; leading to burnout.
Enter a potent and effective lion’s mane mushroom supplement. Research has shown it can give your mind and body the support it craves.
Key Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom Supplements
Sharpens Focus & Memory
Lion’s mane contains two unique compounds, hericenones and erinacines, which have been shown to enhance mental focus and help improve memory.
A clinical trial in Japan revealed that adults with memory concerns showed significant improvement after ingesting lion’s mane supplement capsules over those who didn’t.
Promotes Positive & Consistent Mood
Lion’s mane mushroom has been cited in clinical studies with demonstrated improvement in mental health scores. Its ability to exert benefits in the brain can encourage a more positive and stable mood.
Fortifies Gut Health
Studies have found that lion’s mane extract may reduce the growth of unwanted bacteria in the gut, which impacts proper digestion. At the same time, lion’s mane stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria, helping to bolster the gut microbiome.
But before you go ahead and press “buy now” on just any lion’s mane mushroom supplement, there are a few things to keep in mind. Not all products are created equal. That’s why we’ve provided a list of some key ingredients to look for, as well as what to avoid.
Key Ingredients in a High-Quality
Lion’s Mane Mushroom Formula
1000 mg lion's mane
You want the formula to include a sufficient amount of lion’s mane mushroom. For best results, we recommend choosing a product with at least 1,000 mg per serving.
Mushroom Blend for extra benefits
There is a growing trend in the health community called “mushroom stacking” which aims to get the most out of functional mushrooms by combining multiple varieties together. Popular ones include lion’s mane, reishi, turkey tail, cordyceps, shiitake, and chaga.
These mushrooms can yield impressive benefits for your mind and body, which includes promoting mental clarity, gut and heart health, and reducing oxidative stress. As long as the formula contains 1,000 mg of lion’s mane, you’ll appreciate the extra ingredients and the healthy incentives they can help deliver for your overall well-being.
Fruiting body for maximum potency
Mushrooms are composed of two primary parts: mycelium and a fruiting body. The mycelium (pl., mycelia), is a network of roots that exist underground. The fruiting body is the more familiar part of the mushroom, and consists of the stalk and cap.
There is a continuing debate among experts over whether mycelium or the fruiting body hold the most benefits. However, most of the research into the benefits of functional mushrooms focuses on the fruiting body, which is why all of the products featured below are formulated with the fruiting body.
Watch Out For
Misleading labels
Some lion’s mane supplements claim to be formulated with high quantities of mushrooms. However, if you examine the label, specifically the extract ratio, it will usually read 4:1 or 10:1. This means 10 grams of raw mushroom material was used to create 1 gram of extract. The finished product is the extract, so it may look like there’s more in the formula than there actually is.
With that in mind, if a supplement claims to contain high amounts of a mushroom extract, such as 10,000 grams, but you see a ratio of 10:1, be aware that only a small amount of extract is in the formula, usually 1 gram. If an extract ratio is not included, or it says 1:1, you know you’re getting the amount the mushroom capsules claim.
Products not third-party tested
When a brand claims to meet specific health and safety requirements, you want to ensure a viable source backs them up. Third-party testing is performed by an independent organization not associated with the company manufacturing the supplement. It’s their job to evaluate the quality, safety, purity, and potency of the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of lion’s mane?
Lion’s mane supports cognitive, gut, and immune health. It helps the brain by encouraging healthy nerve cells and reinforcing the gut microbiome, which is linked to multiple aspects of mental wellness. Lion’s mane also promotes a stronger immune system by providing naturally occurring beta-glucan fibers.
Is lion’s mane a psychedelic mushroom?
No, lion's mane does not have a hallucinogenic effect on the brain. Unlike psychedelic mushrooms, functional mushrooms can offer extraordinary health benefits without altering the mind. Lion's mane has been extensively studied for its cerebral and sensory development benefits, which can lead to improved memory and a sense of calmness with continuous use.
Are there any side effects of lion’s mane?
There are no serious side effects associated with lion’s mane mushroom supplementation. However, some people may experience mild digestive discomfort when trying new supplements. If you are sensitive, you may want to begin with a smaller dose and gradually increase to the suggested amount. As always, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional before adding a new supplement to your regime.
Now that we’ve covered what to look for and avoid in lion’s mane mushroom supplements, it’s time to shop! Check out our Brilliant recommendations below, including our own Live Conscious® Lion’s Mane + Mushroom Blend.
2024’s Must-Have Lion’s Mane Supplements
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
What We Like:
Room To Improve:
Final Thoughts
Product Specs
How We Choose Products
Like you, we’re picky about products — and serious about quality.
Whether we’re featuring an award-winning product from one of our five beauty and wellness brands — or somebody else’s — a Brilliant recommendation doesn’t see the light of day until it has been medically reviewed for accuracy and has fulfilled our Brilliant Criteria.
At Brilliant, although we often feature products that we sell, we’re not afraid to highlight and celebrate other brands who are doing things right.
Brilliant Criteria
We take great care in handpicking high-quality products to feature on Brilliant. Here’s how we choose them:
- High-Quality Ingredients: We dig deep into the latest research and look for products that contain science-based ingredients for optimal impact.
- Pure, Holistic Formulas: We prioritize products that contain clean, wholesome ingredients shown to be effective. A product should only contain what it needs and nothing else — period.
- Brand Credibility: Each product on our list is produced by a company with trusted credibility. We've also verified that each brand adheres to labeling requirements set forth under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
- Value: We evaluate products based on industry averages and price per serving or application. We also consider quantity and return policy.
Why Trust Us?
As veteran leaders in the wellness space with an award-winning brand portfolio of 100+ health and beauty products, we are committed to honesty and transparency, providing unbiased insights into the benefits and limitations of the information and products we evaluate — including our own. Every Brilliant Buying Guide is thoroughly vetted for medical accuracy by our Fact Checkers prior to publication.
With our discerning selection process, you can feel confident that the products we recommend meet the highest benchmarks of quality, transparency, and efficacy. If we wouldn’t use a product ourselves, it’s not Brilliant.
Citations
1. Puei-Lene Lai, et al. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2013; 15(6): 539-54, https://doi.org/10.1615/intjmedmushr.v15.i6.30
2. Spelman, Kevin, et al. Journal of Restorative Medicine, vol. 6, no. 1, 1 Dec. 2017, pp. 19–26, https://doi.org/10.14200/jrm.2017.6.0108.
3. Chong, Pit Shan, et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020, 21(1), 163, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010163
4. Kushairi, Naufal, et al. Antioxidants, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2019 Aug; 8(8): 261, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/8/261
5. Julson, Erica. Healthline, 19 May 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom. Accessed 20 Nov. 2023.
6. Bedosky, Lauren, and Justin Laube. EverydayHealth.com, 3 Oct. 2022, www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/lions-mane/guide/.
7. Monagas, Maria, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 13, no. 36249773, 30 Sept. 2022, p. 981978, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9561911/, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.981978.
8. “Lion’s Mane.” PubMed, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK599740. Accessed 20 Mar. 2024.
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