Mushroom supplements are increasingly popular, in part because they have so many different uses.
Some mushroom supplements focus on general health and addressing certain conditions. Others include more recreational mushrooms, offering fun psychoactive experiences. However, they all have one thing in common: dosing suggestions.
In many cases, you can take too many mushroom supplements. The good news is that it’s easy to follow proper dosing instructions. Let’s take a closer look at mushroom supplements and how to avoid taking too many of them.
The Basics of Mushroom Supplements
In general, the term “mushroom supplements” refers to a wide range of products. There are mushroom extracts promoted as functional, fun, calming, and much more. Considering how broad the mushroom category itself is, that makes sense.
A mushroom is simply the part of a fungus that produces spores. Mushrooms sometimes, but not always, have a stem-and-cap structure. There are thousands of varieties, including everything from poisonous mushrooms to edible mushrooms used in cooking, medicinal mushrooms, and psychedelic mushrooms.
Mushroom supplements are products sold over the counter that contain a variety of mushroom extracts, among other ingredients. Lion’s Mane mushrooms, Reishi mushrooms, and Amanita Muscaria mushrooms are just three examples. They each have distinct effects:
- Lion’s Mane. Lion’s mane mushrooms are thought to help reduce certain symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Reishi. Reishi mushrooms have shown promising although very early results in research related to improving digestive health. These mushrooms are thought to help create a better balance of bacteria in your digestive tract.
- Amanita Muscaria. Amanita Muscaria mushrooms create a psychoactive experience for users. These supplements tend to be used recreationally. However, some users microdose for potential benefits like improved creativity.
Many other types of mushrooms can be found in mushroom supplements. So many fungi fall under the mushroom umbrella that there are plenty of options.
The Harvard T.S. Chan School of Public Health explains that mushrooms have a long history of use in folk medicine. Potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and even anti-cancer effects have led to increased interest in mushrooms in recent years.
Are Mushroom Supplements Safe?
A note when it comes to mushrooms with dangerous side effects: Mushroom supplements have to be safe to be sold. According to the National Institutes of Health, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires supplement makers to:
- Have evidence of their products’ safety
- Make only true claims about a product’s effects, and avoid misleading statements
However, eating too much of a mushroom supplement can still be dangerous, causing negative effects. That’s not unique to mushrooms, either. Excessively large doses or large quantities of many safe substances can lead to negative outcomes. We’ll take a closer look in the next section.
Can You Take Too Many Mushroom Supplements?
We already learned that mushroom supplements are held to a basic standard of safety in terms of their production. The FDA requires that manufacturers have evidence of their supplement’s lack of potential to cause harm.
However, consuming mushroom supplements could still present a risk for various reasons.
These all relate to individual-specific medical concerns and lack of compliance with dosing instructions. They don’t contradict the basic assumption that mushroom supplements are generally safe.
Some potential concerns related to mushroom supplements include:
Allergic Reactions to Mushrooms and Mushroom Supplements
An allergy to a specific type of mushroom could be triggered by a supplement containing it.
Mushroom allergies are relatively rare. An article published in the scientific journal Allergology International explains further. “Although mushrooms are commonly used as food throughout the world, food allergy to mushrooms is not very common.”
However, mushroom allergies still affect some people. If you know you have a mushroom allergy, avoid any products containing mushrooms.
Overuse and Overconsumption of Mushrooms and Mushroom Supplements
In the broadest sense, people have limits when it comes to most things that are generally safe to consume. Too much of just about anything — including excessive amounts of mushroom supplements — can lead to negative effects.
For example, Medical News Today explains the concept of water intoxication. This most basic and essential nutrient is foundational for personal health and supports critical functions of the body.
However, consuming too much water can change your electrolyte balance in a harmful way. That can lead to a disruption of your brain’s normal functions, among other negative side effects.
Overeating and overuse of over-the-counter medications are two more broadly relevant examples. Mushroom supplements aren’t unique in this regard.
So, if you’re wondering if you can take too many mushroom supplements, the answer is a firm “Yes.” At the same time, it’s relatively easy to avoid overuse of mushroom supplements or eating too many mushrooms.
The simplest way to avoid this issue is to pay attention to and follow dosing suggestions for mushroom supplements. Similarly, keep track of your own consumption of them. It’s not a complex process — it’s just something you need to pay attention to when using these products.
This is important guidance for all mushroom supplements, no matter their intended effects.
However, it’s critical to consider when it comes to psychoactive mushroom supplements, like those containing Amanita Muscaria. This mushroom is well-known for offering an experience that’s engaging and uplifting. Many users believe it’s not as intense or overwhelming as using psilocybin mushrooms.
However, too large a dose can lead to a generally bad experience, among other negative effects. Feeling overwhelmed or out of control is the last thing anyone wants when it comes to psychoactive mushrooms.
Our advice is to start small: Take just one dose at a time, or even a half-dose. Work your way up in measured, incremental steps to find the dose that works best for you — without going overboard.
Delta 8 Resellers is proud to offer mushroom supplements from the very best manufacturers. We’re committed to consistently delivering high-quality experiences to our customers.
