Lets talk about the difference between Fruiting Bodies and Mycelium - this is a touchy subject that has come to the forefront of the mushroom realm recently, and for good reason. People want to know what is the best option for their health and wellness - and there seems to be some conflicting information on the internet.
Here is some clarity:
What Is Myceliated Grain—And Why It Falls Short
Mycelium on rice or oat grain products are a cheap and quick way to grow the mycelium of a mushroom into a substrate at scale, and then serve to you labeled as "mushrooms" and claiming the same benefits as actual mushrooms. This simply is not true - and is a way to bypass the cost, time and energy it takes to grow a mushroom to its full fruiting body (the thing that grows above ground) and then extract it to a water soluble powder or tincture.
The Problem with Grain Fillers: Beta-Glucans vs. Alpha-Glucans
A myceliated rice/oat grain product has around 40-80% of its mass tallied in as rice or oats, so you are essentially getting less of the things you actually want to put in your body - Like Beta-Glucans & polysaccharides - and instead way more Alpha-Glucans (starch sugars) which most standard beta-glucan tests don't distinguish between the two, so label claims can be misleading as well.
Why Fruiting Bodies Are the Traditional Medicine
Fruiting bodies are the original medicines used for centuries in teas, tinctures and decoctions - nobody was digging up mycelium and using it for its benefits. In herbalism we understand when to harvest a plant or flower at its highest potency of medicine - for fungi its the fruiting bodies. Through many studies we understand now that this is where there is a higher concentration of active compounds - beta-glucans, triterpenes, hericenones, polysaccharides - the beneficial compounds that we are seeking.
How to Choose a Quality Mushroom Supplement
So when seeking a mushroom supplement, tincture or tea - make sure it is derived from the fruiting body of the mushroom - otherwise you are taking in rice starches, and missing out on the real deal.
At The Loving Fungi, we only ever use true fruiting bodies - never myceliated grain - so you can trust that what you're getting is the real medicine, nothing less.
With great love,
Willis
