WHAT ARE MUSHROOM CAPSULES MADE FROM?
Not all mushroom powders and capsules are the same.
If you are looking to actually get the benefits of mushrooms, you need to choose extracts made from the whole fruiting body.
Cheaper varieties are made from a different part of the mushroom called mycelium, which grows in rice grain- so the final product only contains trace amounts of the substances you want, and high levels of starch.
In high-quality mushroom powders, the raw mushrooms are carefully dried and extracted with hot water, then turned into a fine powder through a process called “spray drying”. The end result is a potent mushroom powder that contains all the beneficial compounds you’d expect in a mushroom supplement.
ARE MUSHROOM CAPSULES ORGANIC? VEGAN? KETO?
Now that you understand what goes inside mushroom capsules, what about specific dietary needs?
As for the capsules themselves, it depends on the manufacturer’s guidelines and what the capsules are made from.
Vegetarian capsules aren’t necessarily vegan or halal since it could have been made in a facility that processes pork products.
For the mushroom powders, again, it depends.
Look for organic seals of approval on mushroom products.
At FreshCap Mushrooms, for example, all mushroom products are made from the whole fruiting body, certified organic, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and made from organic pullulan capsules.
Mushrooms are also an excellent ingredient for keto and paleo diets.
With extracts, you’ll consume concentrated versions of the mushroom- making your mushroom capsules super low-calorie and perfect for all diets.
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
The best mushroom capsules are made from organic mushrooms and pullulan capsules.
Keep an eye out on ingredient lists to avoid fillers like brown rice, mushroom mycelium on grain, or wheat.
Some brands will also add what’s called a flow aid.
Have you ever tried to pour flour or cocoa powder into a cup? It doesn’t exactly flow, does it?
Some manufacturers add flow aids to improve the capsuling process. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with flow aids- but the extra ingredients are something to be aware of.
Basically, you don’t always know what you’re consuming with flow aids so it’s best to avoid them if you can.
Likewise, just because something is vegetarian, that doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
Bottom line- look for organic mushroom capsules that don’t contain any hypromellose, silicon dioxide, or microcrystalline cellulose.
MUSHROOM CAPSULES