12/30/2025
The Complete Guide to Mushroom Supplements: What Nobody Tells You Before You Buy
How to spot the difference between supplements that work and expensive placebos
Introduction:
Why Most Mushroom Supplements Don't Work
You've seen the ads. Mushroom coffee promising laser focus. Lion's Mane gummies for memory. Cordyceps capsules for energy.
You tried them. You felt... nothing.
Here's the truth: It's probably not your fault, and it's not that mushrooms don't work.
The problem is what's actually in most mushroom supplements—and more importantly, what's NOT in them.
After years of formulating mushroom products and studying extraction science, we've learned that the mushroom supplement industry has a transparency problem. And it's costing consumers millions of dollars on products that can't possibly deliver results.
This guide will teach you exactly what to look for (and what to avoid) so you never waste money on ineffective mushroom supplements again.
Chapter 1: Fruiting Body vs. Mycelium – The Great Mushroom Debate
What's the Difference?
When you picture a mushroom, you're imagining the fruiting body—the cap and stem that grows above ground. This is where the highest concentration of beneficial compounds like beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other bioactive molecules are found.
Mycelium is the root system of the mushroom. It grows underground (or in supplement manufacturing, on grain substrates like rice, oats, or sorghum).
Why This Matters for Your Supplements
Here's where it gets problematic:
Growing mycelium on grain is significantly cheaper and faster than cultivating full fruiting bodies. Many supplement companies grow mycelium on grain, then grind up the ENTIRE thing—mycelium AND the grain it grew on.
The result? A product that can be 50-70% starch filler from the grain substrate.
It's like buying orange juice and discovering it's mostly water with orange flavoring.
How to Check Your Supplements
Look at your supplement label for these terms:
What you want to see:
"Fruiting body"
"Fruiting body extract"
"100% fruiting body"
Red flags:
"Mycelium"
"Mycelium on grain"
"Myceliated grain"
"Full spectrum" (sometimes used to disguise mycelium products)
No specification at all
The Beta-Glucan Test
Beta-glucans are one of the most researched beneficial compounds in mushrooms. Quality fruiting body extracts typically contain 25-50% beta-glucans.
Mycelium-on-grain products? Often 5-15% beta-glucans—with most of that being grain-derived beta-glucans, not mushroom-derived.
If a company won't publish their beta-glucan content, ask yourself why.
Chapter 2: Extraction Methods – Why Potency Isn't Everything
The Bioavailability Problem
Here's something most supplement companies don't want you to know:
Potency doesn't matter if your body can't absorb it.
Mushrooms have tough cell walls made of chitin—the same material in crab shells. Your digestive system struggles to break down chitin, which means raw mushroom powder passes through your system largely unabsorbed.
This is why extraction is essential.
Common Extraction Methods (Ranked)
1. No Extraction (Raw Powder)
Absorption rate: ~10-20%
Process: Dried mushrooms ground into powder
Problems: Chitin locks in beneficial compounds; poor bioavailability
Cost: Cheapest
2. Hot Water Extraction
Absorption rate: ~30-40%
Process: Mushrooms simmered in hot water for hours
Benefits: Extracts water-soluble compounds (beta-glucans)
Limitations: Misses fat-soluble compounds (triterpenes)
Cost: Moderate
3. Dual Extraction (Water + Alcohol)
Absorption rate: ~40-50%
Process: Hot water extraction followed by alcohol extraction
Benefits: Captures both water-soluble and fat-soluble compounds
Limitations: Still misses mineral content; some compound degradation
Cost: Higher
4. Spagyric Extraction
Absorption rate: ~90-100%
Process: Water extraction + alcohol extraction + calcination (fire extraction of minerals)
Benefits: Captures complete spectrum including minerals
Time required: 4-6 weeks (vs. hours for other methods)
Cost: Highest (but most effective per dose)
The Spagyric Difference Explained
Spagyric extraction is a 500-year-old alchemical process that we've refined for modern mushroom supplements.
Here's how it works:
Step 1: Water Extraction Hot water pulls out water-soluble compounds like beta-glucans, which support immune function.
Step 2: Alcohol Extraction Alcohol captures fat-soluble compounds like triterpenes and sterols, which support stress response and cellular health.
Step 3: Calcination This is what makes spagyric unique. The remaining plant material is burned to whiteite ash, then purified. This releases mineral salts that are typically discarded in other extraction methods.
Step 4: Recombination All three extracts are reunited, creating a complete full-spectrum extract with enhanced bioavailability.
The result: Your body can actually absorb and use what you're paying for.
Chapter 3: Label Transparency – What Companies Hide and Why
The "Proprietary Blend" Problem
You've seen it on labels: "Proprietary Mushroom Blend – 500mg"
This tells you almost nothing. That 500mg could be:
400mg of cheap filler + 100mg of actual extract
5 mushrooms at 100mg each
1 mushroom at 450mg + trace amounts of others
Companies use proprietary blends for two reasons:
To protect genuinely unique formulations (rare)
To hide that they're under-dosing expensive ingredients (common)
What Transparent Labels Look Like
A trustworthy mushroom supplement label should show:
✓ Each mushroom species listed separately
✓ Exact amount of each ingredient
✓ "Fruiting body" specification
✓ Extraction ratio (e.g., 10:1)
✓ Beta-glucan percentage
✓ Third-party testing verification
Questions to Ask Before Buying
Before purchasing any mushroom supplement, you should be able to answer:
Is this fruiting body or mycelium?
What extraction method was used?
What's the extraction ratio?
What's the beta-glucan content?
Is it third-party tested?
Where are the mushrooms sourced?
Where is it manufactured?
If a company can't answer these questions, consider why.
Chapter 4: The Real Cost of Cheap Supplements
The Math Nobody Does
Let's compare two hypothetical Lion's Mane supplements:
Supplement A: $20 for 60 capsules
Mycelium on grain
No extraction (raw powder)
500mg per capsule
~15% actual mushroom compounds
Bioavailability: ~15%
Effective dose per capsule: ~11mg of absorbable compounds
Supplement B: $45 for 30 servings
100% fruiting body
Spagyric extraction (10:1)
350mg per serving
95% actual mushroom compounds
Bioavailability: ~90%
Effective dose per serving: ~299mg of absorbable compounds
Supplement A cost per effective mg: $0.03 Supplement B cost per effective mg: $0.005
The "expensive" supplement is actually 6x more cost-effective.
Why "Feeling Nothing" Is Expensive
Every month you spend on supplements that don't work is:
Money wasted
Time lost
Delayed results
Growing skepticism that makes you less likely to try what actually works
The cheapest supplement is often the most expensive mistake.
Chapter 5: What to Look for in Quality Mushroom Supplements
The Quality Checklist
Use this checklist when evaluating any mushroom supplement:
Non-Negotiables:
☐ 100% fruiting body (or clearly labeled ratio)
☐ Extraction method specified
☐ Third-party tested for purity and potency
☐ Full ingredient transparency (no proprietary blends hiding amounts)
☐ Manufactured in FDA-registered facility
☐ Clear country of origin for mushrooms
Ideal:
☐ Certified organic
☐ Beta-glucan content listed
☐ Extraction ratio specified (10:1 or higher)
☐ Certificate of Analysis (COA) available
☐ Made in USA
☐ Company responsive to questions
Bonus Points:
☐ Spagyric or advanced extraction method
☐ Small-batch production
☐ Founder/company story you can verify
☐ Real customer reviews with specific experiences
Chapter 6: How We Do Things Differently at Bare Remedy
Our Standards
After years of frustration with ineffective supplements—both as consumers and formulators—we created Bare Remedy with specific standards:
100% Fruiting Body We never use mycelium on grain. Every product contains only the actual mushroom—the fruiting body where beneficial compounds are concentrated.
6-Week Spagyric Extraction While other companies rush extraction in 4-6 hours, our spagyric process takes 6 weeks. This captures:
Water-soluble beta-glucans
Alcohol-soluble triterpenes
Mineral salts (discarded by other methods)
95-100% Compound Capture Our extraction process captures virtually all beneficial compounds, compared to 30-50% from standard methods.
~90 Grams of Mushrooms Per Bottle Each bottle of MyCro Booster contains approximately 90 grams of raw mushroom input, extracted and concentrated into 30 potent servings.
Full Transparency Every ingredient, every amount, every source—clearly listed. No proprietary blends hiding ineffective doses.
Third-Party Testing Every batch tested for potency, purity, heavy metals, and microbial contamination. COAs available on our website.
Chapter 7: Real Results From Real People
What Proper Extraction Actually Feels Like
When mushroom supplements are properly extracted and bioavailable, people notice. Here's what our customers report:
Father Vincent, 77: "At 77, I wake at 4am for morning prayers. I used to hit a wall by noon. Now I take UPLIFT in the morning and RELIEF at bedtime. This sustains me through evening prayers at 8pm. After trying countless supplements over the years, I finally found what WORKS."
Sarah, 52: "I tried mushroom coffee brands, capsules from Amazon, everything. Felt nothing. After 2 weeks with MyCro Booster, I finally understood what mushroom supplements should feel like. No more 3am wake-ups."
Mike, 45, CrossFit Coach: "I was skeptical—I've tried every supplement out there. But the extraction method convinced me to try it. Haven't needed pre-workout in 3 months. Recovery is noticeably faster."
These aren't overnight miracles. They're the cumulative result of mushroom compounds that are actually absorbed and utilized by the body.
Conclusion: Make Informed Choices
The mushroom supplement industry is booming—and unfortunately, that means more low-quality products flooding the market with big advertising budgets.
But now you know what to look for:
Fruiting body over mycelium (check the label)
Extraction method matters (spagyric > dual > hot water > powder)
Transparency is non-negotiable (avoid proprietary blends)
Price per effective dose (not price per bottle)
Whether you choose Bare Remedy or another quality brand, use this knowledge to make informed decisions. Your body—and your wallet—will thank you.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
If you're ready to try mushroom supplements that are properly extracted and actually absorbed:
MyCro Booster Tinctures:
RELIEF (Blue): Deep sleep, evening calm
PERFORMANCE (Red): Sustained energy, no crash
UPLIFT (Yellow): Mental clarity, sharp focus
Energy Gummies:
5 mushrooms + adaptogens in one sugar-free gummy
10:1 and 12:1 extraction ratios
660mg active compounds per gummy
MycroBooster Sample Kit: Grab our sample kit, just cover $9.99 shipping.
Includes: 3 MyCro Booster Shots + 2 Energy Gummies
GRAB YOUR SAMPLE KIT HERE - https://checkout.bareremedy.net/KillerMushroomHealingOffer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
