Understanding Mushroom Extracts: Reishi and Lion's Mane Explained
Walk into any health store these days, and you'll see shelves lined with mushroom supplements. But here's something many people miss: there's a big difference between regular powders and extracts. If you're looking at products containing these two popular fungi, understanding what extracts actually are can help you make smarter choices about what you're buying. What Makes an Extract Different An extract isn't just ground-up mushrooms. It's a concentrated form where specific compounds have been pulled out and concentrated through water or alcohol extraction processes. Think of it like the difference between eating an orange and taking vitamin C tablets. Both come from the same source, but one is way more concentrated. Reishi mushroom extracts go through processing that breaks down the tough cell walls these woody fungi have. Without extraction, your body has a hard time accessing the beneficial compounds locked inside. The extraction process concentrates pol...