Despite having similar names and appearances, mushroom extract powder differences can be significant in the most fascinating and unexpected ways. So, what is the difference between a mushroom extract vs. powder?
A mushroom extract is more concentrated, which is advantageous if you want to avoid or treat the signs and symptoms of a chronic condition. On the other hand, a powder can have an overwhelming taste but is typically less expensive and simpler to incorporate into your diet.
Extracts entail extraction, which is the conversion of a mushroom's characteristic to a liquid. Typically, dried mushrooms are milled or ground to generate powders. And because certain extracts are later dried and made into powder, confusion results.
Below we will explore mushroom extract powder vs. mushroom powder and see which one is better for you. But first, let’s begin by understanding what extracts and powders are.
What Is Mushroom Extract?
Healthy mushrooms' cell walls contain the most advantageous bioactive chemicals they can offer (called chitin). An extraction process is required to get through these cell walls and get the "good" substance. It is necessary to extract medicinal mushrooms to release their incredible therapeutic ingredients.
You can accomplish this using alcohol, hot water, or both (dual extract). The beneficial components are separated and concentrated from the decoction of whole fruiting body mushrooms after they have been collected, dried, powdered, and boiled down in alcohol or water. The fiber and moisture will be left behind.
Mushroom Extraction Process
Three methods of extracting mushrooms are frequently employed:
Hot water extraction, which has been utilized for thousands of years in Eastern nations, is one of the most popular ways to make a mushroom extract. It works by dissolving therapeutic components by boiling fresh mushrooms with water. After that, the water evaporates, leaving behind a flavorful and nourishing mushroom powder.
Contrarily, alcohol extraction substitutes alcohol for water in the procedure. That's because some medicinal bioactive compounds can be hard to bring out. Since they won't dissolve in water, alcohol must be used to pull them out.
Finally, dual extraction describes the process by which producers of mushrooms dissolve therapeutic components using hot water and alcohol. The end product will have chemicals from the mushroom that are both soluble in alcohol and water, making them available to your body.
These sophisticated extraction techniques produce mushroom extracts, which scientists employ to study the benefits of mushrooms for our health and well-being.
In a nutshell, the benefits of the mushroom extract are that the process dissolves the tough cell walls of the mushroom, removing the chitin barrier and allowing the body to absorb the active components.
What Is Mushroom Powder?
A mushroom powder is created by drying medicinal mushrooms and then milling or grinding them into a fine powder. There is no extraction technique used to create mushroom powders. As a result, beneficial components from these goods are complex for human systems to absorb, and many are not accessible without extraction.
Harvesting healthy mushrooms is the first step in making mushroom powder. Some businesses collect and heat the mycelium, fruiting body, reproductive structures, and growing medium to dehydrate them. They are then milled or ground into a fine powder.
Small fruiting bodies are combined with all the therapeutic mushroom elements. In contrast to a mushroom extract that simply contains the entire fruiting body, the mushroom powder may include a combination of ground-up mycelium, spores, substrate matter (grain), or sclerotium. This reduces efficacy.
Now, let’s talk about the benefits of mushroom powder.
Mushroom Powder Benefits
Lion's mane mushroom powders can decrease the symptom of many conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer's disease(1), depressive disorders(2), and anxiety.
Dried mushrooms are used to create Lion's mane powder. It can be consumed in powder form by blending it with water or adding it to smoothies and drink mixes, as well as by preparing tea. Typically, a mushroom powder is used in Lion's mane supplements like capsules and mushroom coffee.
Traditionally ground into a fine powder and used to make herbal tea. This has been used to treat heart diseases, and fight certain cancers(3), and diabetes(4).
Reishi mushroom powder is used in many Asian countries to boost the immune system, increase energy, and for general health. In addition, the mushroom fights infections(5) and inflammation, combats oxidant injury(6), and helps the body adapt to stressful conditions.
Mushroom Powder Vs. Mushroom Extract
Now onto the main question, what is the difference between mushroom powder vs. extract?
Purity and potency are the critical differences between mushroom extract and powder. The effects and benefits of mushroom extracts are stronger than those of lower potency, frequently grain-filled mushroom powders because they are more concentrated and contain higher percentages of beneficial chemicals.
However, the quality of the medicinal mushrooms and the parts used might impact the efficacy and potency of both mushroom extract and powder. The entire fruiting body of functional mushrooms contains the most beneficial chemicals. The mushroom supplements will be less potent and effective if mycelium entangled with the grain is included in the formulation since the grain takes up space but has no therapeutic value.
FAQs Mushroom Extract vs. Mushroom Powder
Is Mushroom Extract A Powder?
Extracts are obtained from extracting a part of a mushroom, such as the mycelium or fruiting body. Powders are made by drying the whole mushroom and pulverizing them. However, extracts can sometimes be dried and ground resulting in extract powders.
How Do You Use Mushroom Extract Powder?
here are several ways to use mushroom extract powder. For example, you can add them to your tea, coffee, and other beverages like smoothies or cook with them by adding powders to your favorite meals.
What Should I Look For When Buying Mushroom Extract?
When choosing a mushroom extract, look out for the ones that contain only fruiting bodies, are wild harvested, organic, and have a high extraction ratio. More importantly, look for the beta-glucan content rather than the quantities of polysaccharides in them.
Key Takeaways
The difference between a mushroom extract vs. powder is that mushroom extracts are more concentrated than powder and undergo a series of processes to obtain a final product. Although a powder can be challenging to swallow, it is usually less expensive and easier to add to your diet.
You can test both and choose the one you like most or mix the two. But make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before starting mushroom supplements.
References
- Neuronal Health – Can Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms Help?, (1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3924982/
- Therapeutic Potential of Hericium erinaceus for Depressive Disorder, (2)https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/1/163
- Antitumor activity of water extract of a mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, against HT-29 human colon cancer cells, (3)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19367670/
- Antihyperglycemic and antilipidperoxidative effects of dry matter of culture broth of Inonotus obliquus in submerged culture on normal and alloxan-diabetes mice, (4)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18434051/
- Antiviral activities of various water and methanol soluble substances isolated from Ganoderma lucidum, (5)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10624872/
- Antioxidant properties of several medicinal mushrooms, (6)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12358482/
Let Us Know Your Comments