[IQ MAXXING] - Selecting the perfect Lions Mane Supplement

[Noriju]

TLDR; Read only the bulletpoints.

First of all, you might think:
"Why do i need this guide?"

Because:
As it is with skincare, 99% of Lions Mane products are bullshit!
Most are just rice-grain in a pill with a smidge of mushroom.

Now that you know why you should look out. I'll detail exactly what you should look for along with the "why".


LIONS MANE:
The good supplement

• The supplier must specify beta-glucan or polyphenol content.
  • If the supplier specifies triterpines the label is likely fake.
    This is because in Lions Mane, triterpenes are only found in negligeable amounts.
  • Polyphenols are sometimes left out. Don't be alarmed. The gold standard is Beta-glucans.
• It is ideal if the supplier has thrid party tests confirming said glucan/polyphenol content.

The supplier must specify this because: The beta-glucans are a measure to estimate how "potent" the mushroom is:
A high amount of beta glucans = Stronger effect.
A low amount of beta glucans = Lesser effect.
As long as it's specified the amount doesn't really matter.
This is the 1st shit test, and if the brand passes, it's already likely to be good..

The rule of thumb for mushrooms goes: The active compounds that we want, are found in the fruiting body.
Guess what? As the single exception in the mushroom world, the compound(s) in Lions Mane responsible for neurogenisis are only found (in significant amounts) in its mycelium.
Both the fruiting body and the mycelium have been proven to prevent cognitive decline.
Like the mycelium, the fruiting body also has (in larger amounts) certain compounds that we want.
Therefore we want both. As the effects would work synergystically.

• The supplement must contain the fruiting body
• The supplement must contain the mycelium

The mycelium should be cultivated in liquid substrate.
Many cultivate the mushrooms in brown rice or wood chippings etc...
This is shit because the manufacturer grinds up the mycelium and fruiting body (with rice substrate) to a pill that is 90% rice. Not good.

• Mycelium based supplements must be specified as "Cultivated in liquid substrate"
  If not specified -> run away screaming! (or enjoy your 3 calorie nothing-pill)
• At the first sight of the word "rice", move on to the next candidate.

EXTRACTION METHODS:
There are >70 active compounds in Lions Mane, and we dont know what any of them do, so we want to keep them all.
Ideally you want a supplier that does both a hot water extract, AND an alcohol extract,
Because the compounds in lions mane are either water-soluble, or alcohol soluble. For a full spectrum you’d want both.
But good luck finding that.
In this case prioritise Hot water, because alchohol extracts will eliminate the majority of the compounds we want.

• Prioritize Hot-water extracts
• Consider if the minimal extra benefit from alchohol extracts concern you.
  (Low benefit/cost ratio)

To my knowledge Oriveda (NOT SPONSORED - i wish) is the only manufacturer who ticks all these boxes.

Happy shopping out there! And may you grow ever smarter...

 

[Adee]

TLDR; Read only the bulletpoints.

First of all, you might think:
"Why do i need this guide?"

Because:
As it is with skincare, 99% of Lions Mane products are bullshit!
Most are just rice-grain in a pill with a smidge of mushroom.

Now that you know why you should look out. I'll detail exactly what you should look for along with the "why".


LIONS MANE:
The good supplement

• The supplier must specify beta-glucan or polyphenol content.
  • If the supplier specifies triterpines the label is likely fake.
    This is because in Lions Mane, triterpenes are only found in negligeable amounts.
  • Polyphenols are sometimes left out. Don't be alarmed. The gold standard is Beta-glucans.
• It is ideal if the supplier has thrid party tests confirming said glucan/polyphenol content.

The supplier must specify this because: The beta-glucans are a measure to estimate how "potent" the mushroom is:
A high amount of beta glucans = Stronger effect.
A low amount of beta glucans = Lesser effect.
As long as it's specified the amount doesn't really matter.
This is the 1st shit test, and if the brand passes, it's already likely to be good..

The rule of thumb for mushrooms goes: The active compounds that we want, are found in the fruiting body.
Guess what? As the single exception in the mushroom world, the compound(s) in Lions Mane responsible for neurogenisis are only found (in significant amounts) in its mycelium.
Both the fruiting body and the mycelium have been proven to prevent cognitive decline.
Like the mycelium, the fruiting body also has (in larger amounts) certain compounds that we want.
Therefore we want both. As the effects would work synergystically.

• The supplement must contain the fruiting body
• The supplement must contain the mycelium

The mycelium should be cultivated in liquid substrate.
Many cultivate the mushrooms in brown rice or wood chippings etc...
This is shit because the manufacturer grinds up the mycelium and fruiting body (with rice substrate) to a pill that is 90% rice. Not good.

• Mycelium based supplements must be specified as "Cultivated in liquid substrate"
  If not specified -> run away screaming! (or enjoy your 3 calorie nothing-pill)
• At the first sight of the word "rice", move on to the next candidate.

EXTRACTION METHODS:
There are >70 active compounds in Lions Mane, and we dont know what any of them do, so we want to keep them all.
Ideally you want a supplier that does both a hot water extract, AND an alcohol extract,
Because the compounds in lions mane are either water-soluble, or alcohol soluble. For a full spectrum you’d want both.
But good luck finding that.
In this case prioritise Hot water, because alchohol extracts will eliminate the majority of the compounds we want.

• Prioritize Hot-water extracts
• Consider if the minimal extra benefit from alchohol extracts concern you.
  (Low benefit/cost ratio)

To my knowledge Oriveda (NOT SPONSORED - i wish) is the only manufacturer who ticks all these boxes.

Happy shopping out there! And may you grow ever smarter...

Lions Mane

​

 

[Recession.]

only real nootropics like ceroblysin will have any effect not this bullshit

 

[Noriju]

only real nootropics like ceroblysin will have any effect not this bullshit

Lions mane doesn't work?
Although promising papers fixate on the treatment of alzheimerz, the effects are apparent and significant.
I've found it quite stimulating.

Are you basing this opinion off your own experience?
I can't use anecdotal evidence for anything other than throwing it in the trash.
I would like to hear your reasoning.

 

[holy]

Lions mane doesn't work?

For IQ points or fluid intelligence gains, no, it doesn't.