Mushroom gummies are new and innovative products that are taking the world of supplements by storm. Many people love mushroom gummies’ benefits, but some people don’t even know what gummies offer. When you find the right ones, you can enjoy the numerous benefits of a mushroom-rich diet without the drawbacks of the more traditional ingestion options.
Vastly improved convenience and flavor almost go without saying, but do mushroom gummies actually work? That depends. Like all supplements, standards and production quality can vary widely from one brand to the next. With that said, if you can find a reliable brand, the benefits of mushroom gummies can be considerable.
Precisely what are mushroom gummies benefits? Since mushrooms are uniquely nutrient-rich, there are almost too many potential upsides to list. For example, you’ll find over 200 bioactive metabolites inside Cordyceps mushrooms, including countless amino acids, polypeptides, fatty acids, proteins, and other beneficial compounds.
The benefits you can expect depend on which mushrooms are used, and we’re still learning about many. As recently as 2023, researchers discovered that many mushrooms appear effective at reducing the risk of dementia. But what are the primary and significant benefits of adding gummies to your diet?
In this article, we'll cover:
7 Top Mushroom Gummies Benefits
What are the most important and pronounced benefits of mushroom gummies? That depends on many things, from who made the gummies to where the mushrooms were sourced. You can find functional mushroom gummies explicitly made for the brain, immunity, focus, or mood. But broadly speaking, mushroom gummies could be good for:
Relieving Stress
Cordyceps, Reishi, and a few other mushrooms have been shown to promote relaxation. The adaptogenic effects of mushrooms have been used to alleviate anxiety and convulsions. They even achieve similar effects to antidepressants in some cases. That’s why you can find mushroom gummies for anxiety formulated explicitly to alleviate stress.
Bolstering the Immune System
Some mushrooms contain bioactive compounds, like beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which have been shown to have powerful immunomodulatory effects. People with auto-immune conditions frequently take medicinal mushrooms for that reason.
Delivering Energy
Mushrooms like Cordyceps have been used for millennia to enhance endurance. That’s because they contain a bioactive ingredient called adenosine, which helps create ATP for the body. Cordyceps can also improve performance during exercise.
Boosting Cognitive Function
Mushrooms like Lion’s Mane contain erinacines and hericenones, which are believed to support brain health by promoting the creation and stimulation of neural regeneration. Mushroom gummies for focus are designed to leverage those benefits further.
Protecting with Antioxidants
Several mushrooms are extremely rich sources of antioxidants, which are believed to protect cells from free radicals. That can slow aging, protect you from exposure to radiation and tobacco smoke, and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Improving General Health
Many mushrooms produce beneficial effects for your cardiovascular health. They can lower blood pressure and cholesterol, strengthen your digestive health by promoting gut microbiota, and even protect against age-related skin damage.
Enjoying Yourself
Mushroom powders are bitter, which is why people try to disguise their flavor in teas or inside capsules. Apart from tasting excellent, gummies can be formulated with various mood-enhancing ingredients. In short, gummies can deliver a better experience.
But that’s not all. Some people with health conditions find mushrooms offer unique benefits. For instance, some medicinal mushrooms are believed to be particularly good at helping a person fight cancer. Others have been studied for use in fighting dementia. And many have been used for ages to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure.
If you’d like to dive deeper, you can learn more in our article about functional mushroom benefits.
Are Mushroom Gummies Safe? What are the Potential Side Effects?
Mushroom gummies are considered safe when taken as directed. However, some people have health conditions that don’t pair well with certain types of mushrooms. For example, Chaga mushrooms can lower blood sugar levels, which can be unsuitable for some people with hypoglycemia. Many mushrooms interact with common medications, too.
Any dietary supplement can have side effects, but functional mushroom gummies’ side effects largely depend on the varieties of mushrooms used in their formulas.
For example, Reishi mushrooms can cause dizziness, itchiness, headaches, and nosebleeds, while Cordyceps mushrooms can cause dry mouth and nausea. Some people are also sensitive to some varieties and may experience allergic reactions.
These side effects are usually mild and generally associated with high dosages. Mushroom allergies are relatively uncommon. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor before starting any health supplement — especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications.
Another Secret Benefit of Mushroom Gummies
One secret benefit that’s often overlooked? Consistency. It can be challenging to add mushrooms to your diet. Acquiring fresh mushrooms and preparing them takes considerable time, effort, and expense. Mushroom powders simplify things, but they’re plagued with a bitter taste and various dosage problems.
By contrast, mushroom gummies are a pleasure to eat and experience. That makes it easier to form healthy habits, maximizing your mushroom benefits in the long run. Because it’s easy to take mushroom powder once or twice, it’s also easy to stop taking the supplement if you don’t find any pleasure in doing so, and that’s when your benefits stop.
But what types of mushrooms provide which benefits?
Mushroom Gummies Benefits by Mushroom Type
Cordyceps
Although they are best known for increasing focus and endurance, Cordyceps mushrooms can do a wide variety of things. For example, they’re believed to reduce bone loss, stabilize the heartbeat, and improve respiratory health. They may also lower your blood cholesterol — especially the most dangerous low-density type (LDL).
Reishi
The benefits of Reishi mushrooms are too numerous to list. These mushrooms are best known for improving the quality of your sleep, fighting off fatigue, and improving the immune system.
They can alleviate the symptoms of about a dozen health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, respiratory disease, kidney disease, and liver disease.
Turkey Tail
Being exceptionally high in polysaccharides, Turkey tail mushrooms help bolster the immune system, boost stamina, fight fatigue, and support gut health.
With an equally high antioxidant content, there’s some evidence Turkey tail mushrooms are also helpful for bone health, cognitive function, and easier aging. They may also help fight bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Lion’s Mane
Containing nootropic substances like hericenones and erinacines, Lion’s mane mushrooms are believed to stimulate the growth of brain cells and protect both nerve and brain tissue.
As a result, they help improve focus and memory. There’s also some evidence Lion’s mane can relieve depression and anxiety, reduce the risk of heart disease, and improve the immune system.
Shiitake
Though these mushrooms are generally eaten for culinary reasons, their beneficial effects do resemble those of several functional mushrooms. Shiitake mushrooms are best known for reducing inflammation and cholesterol and improving immune system response. That’s because Shiitakes are uniquely rich in both eritadenine and beta-glucans.
Chaga
Uniquely beautiful, Chaga mushrooms are rich in melanins, polyphenols, polysaccharides, flavans, and triterpenoids. Their exceptionally high antioxidant content is believed to lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, and support the immune system. Some people even use them for fighting cancer.
Mushroom Gummies Can Add More
As you can see, many mushrooms have overlapping characteristics. For instance, Lion’s manes and Turkey tails are both excellent for bolstering the immune system. Shiitakes are high in beta-glucans, but so are at least a dozen other mushrooms.
When you combine several mushroom varieties with similar qualities, the cumulative effect can be even more significant than when any variety is taken individually. That’s why higher-quality mushroom supplements often combine several mushrooms into a single formula. That way, you don’t have to take a dozen mushroom powders to experience a considerable effect.
Some supplements take a step further and combine additional herbs, nootropics, or psychoactive elements into their formula. For example, Goomz uses Blue Lotus Flower to enhance your mood, Kava Root for added relaxation, Kanna to alleviate anxiety, and a small amount of natural caffeine to boost energy.
There are around 3,000 edible mushroom varieties. You don’t need to eat them all, but getting your hands on all the top contenders will give you the best results.
Are Mushroom Gummies Good For You?
Do mushroom gummies work? One person can be highly sensitive to a particular variety of mushrooms, while another can take substantial doses without ill effects.
Some people experience immediate and radical improvements in their well-being, while others experience minor or mild health benefits.
With a reliable manufacturer, gummies can be every bit as good for you as eating perfectly prepared fresh mushrooms. Of course, like all forms of nutrition, not everyone reacts to supplements the same way. Different people may need to utilize different options to achieve the results they want.
But if you want the perfect way to add mushrooms to your diet, you should start by checking out the best mushroom gummies on the market.