Energy + Focus Starter Pack (Gummies)How to Read a Mushroom Label
Five lines tell you everything
The short version
- Extract and powder are not the same thing
- A ratio like 8:1 tells you how concentrated the extract is
- A proprietary blend hides the amounts. A good label shows them
- A lab report should come from an outside lab and have a date on it
Two bags. Both say lion's mane. Both say 1,000 mg. One costs three times as much.
The answer is on the back, in about five lines. Here is how to read them.
Line one. Extract or powder
- Powder is dried mushroom, ground. Nothing concentrated
- Extract has been concentrated, usually with hot water, so more mushroom fits in less space
Neither is a trick. They are just different things, and a label should say which one it is.
Line two. The ratio
A ratio tells you how concentrated an extract is. 8:1 means 8 pounds of dried mushroom went into one pound of extract.
So 1,000 mg of 8:1 extract started as a lot more mushroom than 1,000 mg of powder. That is usually the price difference between the two bags.
Line three. Which part, and what it grew on
A mushroom has two parts. The mushroom you can see, called the fruiting body. And the root like network underneath, called mycelium.
Some products are mycelium grown on grain, dried and ground with the grain still in it. That is allowed. It should be stated. Look for which part was used, and whether grain or other fillers are listed.
Line four. Amounts, not blends
A proprietary blend shows one total and a list of names. It does not show how much of each thing is inside. There could be a lot of the mushroom or a pinch.
A clear label gives a number for every active ingredient. Ours reads like this, right on the pack.
| Focus chocolate | In the bar |
|---|---|
| Organic 8:1 lion's mane extract | 3,500 mg |
| L theanine | 500 mg |
| Alpha GPC | 500 mg |
| Organic cacao, 58% | 320 mg theobromine |
Line five. Beta glucans and polysaccharides
Beta glucans are natural compounds found in mushrooms. Some labels list them as a marker of how much real mushroom is inside.
Polysaccharides is a much wider word. Plain starch counts. So a big polysaccharide number can come from grain as easily as from mushroom. A beta glucan number says more.
How to read a lab report
A lab report is also called a certificate of analysis, or COA. Check five things.
- Who ran it. An outside lab, named, not the brand itself
- The date. Recent
- Identity. It is the mushroom the label says it is
- Heavy metals. Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, each with a pass
- Microbes. Yeast, mold and bacteria, each with a pass
Ours are on the lab reports page.
Words that sound good and say little
- Full spectrum. No fixed meaning
- Maximum strength. Compared to what
- Proprietary. A reason not to tell you
The same rules for kava and kanna
Plants get the same test. Amount per serving, a daily limit, a lab report and a clear warning. Noble vs tudei kava walks through a kava label. What is kanna covers the other one.
Read ours
Focus Chocolate RitualOrganic 8:1 lion's mane, Alpha GPC and L theanine in 58% organic cacaoShop the chocolate
Focus Gummy RitualEvery amount is printed on the pack. Lab tested. 100% compostable packaging.
Fast answers
What does 8:1 extract mean?
It takes 8 pounds of dried mushroom to make one pound of extract.
Is mushroom extract better than powder?
It is more concentrated. Whichever you buy, the label should say which it is and how much is inside.
What is a proprietary blend?
A total amount with a list of ingredients and no amounts for each one.
What is a COA?
A certificate of analysis. A lab report showing what was tested and what was found.
What are beta glucans?
Natural compounds found in mushrooms. Some labels list them to show how much real mushroom is inside.
What is the difference between fruiting body and mycelium?
The fruiting body is the mushroom you see. Mycelium is the network underneath.
Keep reading
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.
