Where do you grow your mushrooms?
Our lion’s mane mushrooms are cultivated in Europe under carefully controlled conditions by experts in mycology who have more than two decades of expertise in researching and developing fungi.
Why don’t you source your mushrooms from China?
Mushrooms cultivated in China are generally significantly cheaper to source. Nevertheless, there's not always a certainty of consistent traceability and quality.
Over the years, we've assessed numerous mushroom products from China, but none have successfully met our stringent quality benchmarks. With our meticulous quality assessments and continuous research and development projects, the Erbology mushrooms stand out as some of the most potent available in the market.
How do you know that the Erbology mushrooms are of the highest quality?
We test our mushrooms for their key nutrients, including beta-glucans.
When comparing the nutritional values, our mushroom powders typically rank significantly higher than other mushroom products available on the market.
Why can the polysaccharide amount be misleading?
It's important to mention that a lot of brands don't share information about key nutrients or don't check for them. Some brands might show the polysaccharide amount. But polysaccharides can include things like beta-glucans and starch. So, having a high polysaccharide count doesn't always mean lots of beta-glucans. You could end up with plenty of starch and almost no beta-glucans.
What is the difference between whole mushroom powders and mushroom extracts?
Whole mushroom powders are dried and pulverized, while extracts go through extra steps like water and alcohol extraction.
Whole mushroom powders contain a more balanced and wider composition of nutrients, including soluble and insoluble beta-glucans.
In contrast, mushroom extracts are more concentrated in specific compounds like soluble beta-glucans and triterpenes, as well as other secondary metabolites. However, some nutrients, especially the insoluble beta-glucans, are lost during the extraction process.
I've heard that mushroom dual extracts are superior to whole mushroom powders. Is that accurate?
No, there's no scientific proof suggesting that dual extracts are better than whole mushroom powders.
Many brands indeed assert that dual extracts are more powerful, and that a higher extraction ratio and beta-glucan content lead to better results. However, these assertions are deceptive.
To start with, the extraction ratio just shows how much mushroom material is used to make a certain amount of extract. It doesn't indicate the quality of the mushroom material or its growing conditions.
Furthermore, a higher extraction ratio could compromise the variety of nutrients. This means it might be rich in water-soluble beta-glucans, but lacking in other beneficial nutrients.
Fungi are complex organisms. Their quality and effectiveness depend on various factors, including the substrate used and overall growth conditions.
But aren’t extracts better absorbed?
That's actually another misleading claim that many brands make.
Unlike mushroom extracts that contain water soluble beta-glucans, whole mushroom powders include both soluble and insoluble beta-glucans. Based on scientific research, water insoluble beta-glucans are also pharmacologically active. Some studies even suggest they have stronger immunostimulating effects compared to water-soluble beta-glucans.
Now, let's talk about absorption. Water-soluble beta-glucans are considered easier for the body to absorb, while insoluble beta-glucans take more time to be absorbed. This is because they need to be broken down by your gut bacteria.
We use proprietary production methods, including constant mixing and pulverising, which further breaks the mushroom cell walls and boosts the availability of substances inside them.
Additionally, putting mushroom powders in warm or hot liquids can help break down their cell walls even more.
So, there's no need to worry about nutrient absorption when you choose whole mushroom powders.
Some other brands advise a dosage of 2,000mg. Why do you propose a lower amount?
The quality of available fungi can differ significantly. When it comes to our mushrooms, a small amount can have a substantial impact in terms of strength. As a result, we recommend starting with ½ teaspoon (1,000mg) once or twice a day.
As with other functional foods, we always suggest beginning with smaller amounts and potentially increasing gradually.
